Mercer, Johnny (1909-1976)

US lyricist and composer. He collaborated with the great songwriters of his day on such popular hits as ‘That Old Black Magic’ (1942), ‘Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive’ (1944), ‘Come Rain or Come Shine’ (1946), and ‘Moon River’ (1961). In 1942 he was a founder and first president of Capitol Records. He wrote some 1,500 songs for films and Broadway musicals, including the hit musical L'il Abner (1956). Mercer was born in Savannah, Georgia.