Historic District - South in Savannah in Chatham County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Johnny Mercer

(1909 - 1976)

Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 2008

1. Johnny Mercer Marker

Inscription. World-renowned songwriter John Herndon Mercer was born in Savannah and spent much of his youth in this house at 226 East Gwinnett Street. His lyrics reflected the sounds of Southern conversation, influenced by the African-American music and the natural world he experienced. During his career Mercer wrote more than one thousand songs, and nearly four hundred were used in motion pictures. Of these, eighteen were nominated for Academy Awards® ; four of which ("On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe," "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening," "Moon River," and "Days of Wine and Roses") won Best Song. Mercer was a co-founder of Capitol Records and the founding president of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Johnny Mercer is buried in Savannah’s Bonaventure Cemetery.

Erected 2006 by Georgia Historical Society and the Friends of Johnny Mercer. (Marker Number 25-26.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the Georgia Historical Society series list.

Location. 32° 3.986′ N, 81° 5.591′ W. Marker is in Savannah, Georgia, in Chatham County. It is in the Historic District

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- South. Marker is at the intersection of E Gwinnett St and Lincoln St on E Gwinnett St. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 226 East Gwinnett Street, Savannah GA 31401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Nina Anderson Pape (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Warren A. Candler Hospital (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lafayette McLaws (approx. 0.2 miles away); Francis Bartow (approx. 0.2 miles away); Forsyth Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Birthplace of Eighth Air Force (approx. ¼ mile away); The Georgia Volunteer (approx. ¼ mile away); British Evacuation (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Savannah.

Regarding Johnny Mercer. Songs
Lyrics by Mercer, unless noted.

He wrote many other songs, some of which have entered the Great American Songbook:

"Lazybones" (1933) (music by Hoagy Carmichael)
"P.S. I Love You" (1934) (music by Gordon Jenkins)
"Goody Goody" (1936) (music by Matty Malneck)
"I'm an Old Cowhand from the Rio Grande" (1936)
"Hooray for Hollywood" (1937) (music by Richard A. Whiting)
"Too Marvelous for Words" (1937) (music by Richard A. Whiting)
"You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby" (1938) (music by Harry Warren)
"Jeepers Creepers" (1938) (music by Harry Warren)
"And The Angels Sing" (1939) (music by Ziggy

Johnny Mercer House and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 14, 2008

2. Johnny Mercer House and Marker

226 E. Gwinett Street (right hand door)

Elman)
"Day In, Day Out" (1939) (music by Rube Bloom)
"Wings Over the Navy" (1939) (music by Harry Warren)
"Fools Rush In" (1940) (music by Rube Bloom)
"Blues In The Night" (1941) (music by Harold Arlen)
"I Remember You" (1941) (music by Victor Schertzinger)
"Tangerine" (1941) (music by Victor Schertzinger)
"This Time the Dream's on Me" (1941) (music by Harold Arlen)
"Hit The Road To Dreamland" (1942) (music by Harold Arlen)
"That Old Black Magic" (1942) (music by Harold Arlen)
"Skylark" (1942) (music by Hoagy Carmichael)
"Dearly Beloved" (1942) (music by Jerome Kern)
"I'm Old Fashioned" (1943) (music by Jerome Kern)
"One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)" (1943) (music by Harold Arlen)
"Dream" (1943) (words and music by Johnny Mercer)
"Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive" (1944) (music by Harold Arlen)
"Out of This World" (1945) (music by Harold Arlen)
"Laura" (1945) (music by David Raksin)
"Trav'lin' Light" (1946) (music by Jimmy Mundy and James Osborne "Trummy" Young)
"Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home" (1946) (music by Harold Arlen)
"Come Rain Or Come Shine" (1946) (music by Harold Arlen)
"Autumn Leaves" (1947) (music by Joseph Kosma)
"Glow Worm" (1952) (music Paul Lincke)
"Satin Doll" (1953) (music by Duke Ellington)
"Something's Gotta Give" (1954) (words and

Johnny Mercer Grave site at Savannah’s Bonaventure Cemetery - "And the angels sing" image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, February 1, 2008

3. Johnny Mercer Grave site at Savannah’s Bonaventure Cemetery - "And the angels sing"

music by Johnny Mercer)
"Moon River" (1961) (music by Henry Mancini)
"Days of Wine and Roses" (1962) (music by Henry Mancini)
"Charade" (1963) (music by Henry Mancini)
"Lorna" (1964) {music by Mort Lindsey)
"Midnight Sun" (music by Lionel Hampton and Sonny Burke)
"Summer Wind" (1965) (music by Henry Mayer)
"Drinking Again" (with Doris Tauber)
"When October Goes" (music by Barry Manilow)

Additional keywords. Academy Award winners, Oscar winners, Oscars

Johnny Mercer Memorial Bench, at graveside in Savannah’s Bonaventure Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, February 17, 2008

4. Johnny Mercer Memorial Bench, at graveside in Savannah’s Bonaventure Cemetery

Credits. This page was last revised on February 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 1, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 4,558 times since then and 85 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 1, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.