Johnny Mercer sells Capitol stock
From: cllrdr@earthlink.net
Date: 10/16/99
Time: 9:25:16 PM
Remote Name: 209.179.223.208
Comments
To Whom It may Concern;
When I was quite young, I remember a news broadcast item to the
effect that Johnny Mercer was paying back a substantial debt that his
deceased father had once accrued, even though the statute of limitations
had run out, and, besides, Mercer's father was dead and JM was under no
legal obligation to do so. The news announcer said something about
"honor." I cannot begin to tell you what a profound effect
this had on the shaping of my character during my formative years. It
wielded a much greater influence on me, ultimately, than even JM's
extraordinary musical canon.
I was similarly impressed by another Mercer act in the 1960s, and
that's why I am writing to you. I am trying to find a copy of the letter
that Mercer wrote to Downbeat magazine upon the occasion of his selling
his stock in Capitol Records. He wrote passionately, somewhat angrily
and, of course, intelligently and articulately about what the takeover
of the new kid music, as exemplified by the Beatles and Beach Boys et
al, had wrought upon the once noble house that was Capitol. For a
writing project I am working on, it would help me a lot for me to have
that quote or, at least, the approximate date that Mercer washed his
hands of Capitol.
Thank you in advance for your kind attention to this matter.
Regards,
BIll Reed
PS. Month before last in the web magazine Songbirds, I conducted
an extensive interview with Jo Stafford in which she speaks of her
association with Capitol and with Mercer. The address is www.mrlucky.com/songbirds
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