Johnny Mercer Image courtesty of Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library

In a unique locally produced radio broadcast, pianist and producer Les Block and KFAI radio personality David Cummings will present an all star celebrity tribute to revered songwriter Johnny Mercer on the anniversary of his 100th birthday. The two-part broadcast airs November 18th and 25th. 
 
The show will feature interviews with renowned singers, performers and writers most associated with Mercer's songs. Among the celebrities who have agreed to be interviewed for the show are singers Tony Bennett, Nancy Wilson, Dave Frishberg, Barbra Streisand, Johnny Mathis, Andy Williams, Diahann Carroll, Dr. John, Margaret Whiting, Barry Manilow, Monica Mancini, Daryl Sherman, David Allyn, composer and arranger Johnny Mandel, Mercer biographer Philip Furia, and Robert Kimball, author of The Complete Lyrics of Johnny Mercer. In addition, such legends as Fred Astaire, Mel Torme, Jack Lemon, Woody Herman and Steve Allen will come alive through the presentation of archived interviews on Mercer. 
 

Mercer, who lyricist Oscar Hammerstein claimed was "the most perfect American lyricist alive," was also a highly successful singer with thirteen Top Ten hits including four #1 smashes. As a songwriter, he received 18 Academy Award nominations and four Oscars. He was also one of the three founders of Capitol Records and the company's president. From among the 1500 published Mercer songs, those that will be featured on the show include “One for My Baby,” “That Old Black Magic,” “Too Marvelous for Words,” “Blues in the Night,” “Moon River,” “The Days of Wine and Roses,” “I Remember You,” “Skylark,” “Satin Doll,” “The Country's in the Very Best of Hands,” “Accentuate the Positive,” “Laura,” “Autumn Leaves,” “Early Autumn,” “Midnight Sun” and “Come Rain or Come Shine.” 
 
The tribute will be broadcast in two parts on KFAI Radio, 90.3 FM Minneapolis, and 106.7 FM St. Paul on consecutive Wednesdays, November 18 and 25, 6:00-9:00 AM. The program will be streamed live on the Internet and subsequently available on the station's archives at www.kfai.org/rockininrhythm  

This article reprinted with permission from the November 2009 issue of Jazz Notes of the Twin Cities Jazz Society. 

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