Savannah is celebrating one hundred years of Johnny Mercer, known fondly as Our Huckleberry Friend. November nineteenth, 2009 would have celebrated his 100th birthday. Born and raised here, Johnny Mercer is one of Savannah’s most well-known citizens and across the US is recognized as one of the best lyricists of the first half of the twentieth century. Johnny Mercer wrote over 1500 songs, was nominated for eighteen Academy Awards, won four Academy Awards, was Founding President of the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, co-founded Capitol Records, and had thirteen Top Ten Hits, four of which were number 1 hits. Mercer was the first to sign Nat King Cole, the famous jazz pianist and singer, a record deal and he worked closely with Bing Crosby.
The foundation known as The Friends of Johnny Mercer (FJM) began in 1994 to honor his memory with celebration, recognition, and interesting stories from the past. Each year since the FJM was founded, it has found new ways of reviving the excitement and glory of Johnny Mercer through concerts, brunches, school assemblies, and other events. In 2000, the FJM began a scholarship competition in his name- the Johnny Mercer Music Scholastic Award. During the year, funds are raised and donations collected to benefit two students, a male and female, from local high schools. In this competition, many SAA students have participated and won. The prize is $1000 for both winners and this year, the winners will participate in the last concert of the year for Johnny Mercer- the Johnny Mercer Birthday Tribute Concert. All the art departments at SAA were required to work Johnny Mercer appreciation into the curriculum. One example is the Visual Arts Department’s display that was in the lobby. Another is the Skylark Jazz Band’s involvement with the FJM. In past years, under the direction of Mr. Hutchinson, the Skylarks have performed in some of the small celebrations. This year, they are participating in several of the Centennial’s main events, including the tribute concerts.
What sets the Centennial apart from past Johnny Mercer celebrations is that it is year-long. Starting January 2009 until Johnny Mercer’s birthday (November nineteenth), at least two events will be held each month in his honor. Most are concerts and festivals. SAA students will be part of many of these, including the American Traditions Competition- a live concert competition for the Johnny Mercer Music Award and SAA’s Mercer Appreciation Concert. Altogether there are about 40 events.
David Oppenheim, former President and current Historian of The Friends of Johnny Mercer, said of the events, “The biggest- well, really there are two. First, on November fifteenth, is the Johnny Mercer Birthday Tribute Concert. It’s free and we’ve been doing it every year since 2004 at the Johnny Mercer Theatre. Every year, it’s the week before or of his birthday. Then there’s our big reveal. November 18th, A life-size statue of Johnny Mercer- in bronze, will be unveiled in one of Savannah’s prominent squares downtown. We’re hoping that the city will sign off on having it in Ellis Square, but we’re still waiting.”
Mr. Oppenheim, as the historian, had a great deal of interesting information about Johnny Mercer’s life. He said that the statue is based off of a famous still of Johnny. He leans against a fire hydrant reading a newspaper in New York while the city bustles around him. The statue is currently being sculpted by local sculptor Susie Chisholm. Her model for the statue is actually Johnny’s great-nephew Stephen Gerard, Jr.
Of SAA’s involvement with the year’s festivities, David was glad. “Since the music is so old, many people my age haven’t even heard it. I’m so happy that there are young people still playing these old songs. They’re really wonderful. I mean- if young people aren’t exposed to it, it dies off. And we lose the memory and the history of this great music.”
When asked how he got interested in Johnny Mercer, David said he used to work on old radios and Victrolas. After listening to these old songs, he became interested in the singers and lyricists. He soon learned that most of the songs were written by Johnny Mercer and was surprised at how little was done to keep Johnny Mercer’s memory alive. He, along with several other Johnny Mercer nuts, started the FJM to accomplish this. With initial funding from Mayor Floyd Adams, the FJM has become a respected organization and its benefits to the community are incalculable.
If you are curious about the events, there is a list on www.johnnymercercentennial.com. As thanks for SAA’s enthusiasm and participation, David Oppenheim donated The Life, Times and Song Lyrics of Our Huckleberry Friend to the Savannah Arts Academy Library on behalf of The Friends of Johnny Mercer and Cherokee Publishing Company by Ken Boyd.