Happy 100th Birthday Johnny Mercer!

**MacBubba45** · 17th November 09, 04:52 PM

Johnny Mercer would have been 100 Wednesday, Nov. 18th. From this years Savannah Scottish Games program "Singer—Songwriter—Savannahian—Scotsman"

And The Angels Sing

**KFCarter** · 17th November 09, 04:58 PM

Thanks for that! Of course, he's a favorite son around here and still has family in Savannah.

His statue will be unveiled tomorrow at the newly redone Ellis Square. It's based on the famous photo of him leaning on a fire hydrant in NYC, reading a newspaper.

**MacBubba45** · 17th November 09, 05:08 PM

Here he is!

First Mercer song I remember on the radio that I fell in love with (and didn't even know who he was then) was the Australian Frank Ifield version of "I Remember You" on KBOX in Dallas, TX. It was on the Top 40 station.

**KFCarter** · 17th November 09, 05:16 PM

That's the photo! His grand-nephew (an occasional employee at the theatre and fine guitarist) was the model for the sculptor and she did a great job with the statue. It's a life-sized bronze that will be placed on the edge of what will be one of the busiest squares in Savannah... the expectation being that people will pose for photos with Johnny.

**MacBubba45** · 17th November 09, 05:23 PM

I haven't heard all this! But I haven't been in town since Mother's Day. Did you hear his niece speak at the Scottish Games? I wanted to meet her but didn't get the chance.

Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive

**KFCarter** · 17th November 09, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by MacBubba45

I haven't heard all this! But I haven't been in town since Mother's Day. Did you hear his niece speak at the Scottish Games? I wanted to meet her but didn't get the chance.

Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive

I did hear her. She's a regular at the Lucas. This past March at the music festival she sang a number of Mercer tunes on our stage during the adjudication period for the American Traditions vocal competition. She's a wonderful lady and a treasure trove of info and stories as you can imagine.

**MacBubba45** · 18th November 09, 03:53 AM

Skylark

**KFCarter** · 18th November 09, 04:40 AM

Sublime link! Man, they don't write 'em like that any more!!

**KFCarter** · 18th November 09, 09:02 AM

BTW, for those who don't know, Johnny Mercer was a descendant of Hugh Mercer who was an assistant surgeon in BPC's army.

**MacBubba45** · 18th November 09, 10:11 AM

Autumn Leaves

Wish I could be there for the unveiling of the statue. Guess that's happening about now. Except for the theatre named after him and the street on Wilmington, I don't know of anything else in town that had his name on it. I guess the closest thing was Moon River Brewing Co.