What is the Johnny Mercer Educational Archives?

JOHNNY MERCER on the WORLD WIDE WEB (Internet)
http://www.johnnymercer.com

October 16, 2009

My hobby is studying the works of Johnny Mercer. This began several years ago when I heard a recording of “And the Angels Sing”. One thing led to another, and my fascination with Mercer’s work started me on a serious research path. I never even realized that some of the songs I remember hearing in my childhood, were those of Mercer's. I have collected photographs, recordings, and original sheet music. There is an enormous selection of Mercer tunes that no one has recorded in years.

This research led to the creation of a WEBSITE,  JohnnyMercer.com , devoted exclusively to Mercer’s legacy. I began working on this website in October 1996.  It now has its own domain (meaning that the address on the computer is simply JohnnyMercer.com). The site maintains a guest-book.  Johnny Mercer's fans, including many popular vocalists,  have taken a moment to sign in.

The site has had  over 2,000,000 visitors since September 1997, from people all over the globe, except for Antarctica. Maybe there are no computers there?

Another purpose of the site is to aid the media, as well as performers, in researching items on American lyricists, music, and Johnny Mercer.

This website is just my hobby, and is entirely non commercial in nature.

I am frequently asked, how can I thank you for putting this all together?  The answer is simple, please sign the Guest Book:

http://www.johnnymercer.com/Guestbook/index.html

If you browse through the pages of the Guest Book you will see the names of famous singers, writers, and people from all over the world, with varying levels of interest in Johnny Mercer. What I am trying to do, is just share whatever information I have with others. This entry, from July 2000, is my all time favorite..

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Name: Lynda
Email: kal67@tesco.net
Location: St Andrews, Fife Scotland, UK
Date: Tuesday, July 25,2000 at 08:37:00
Comments:

While looking on the Internet for the lyrics to the song Goody Goody I found this web site. Steve rapidly sent me the lyrics by email. However, when he found the lyrics were for an old lady with dementia of my acquaintance who loved the song and repeatedly sang it he put together a wonderful gift and sent it to her. Not only did he record some of the song's numerous releases on cassette tape, he also sent the music sheet and many copies of various artists who recorded the song (which I put into a file) and a CD of Johnny Mercer songs. I took the gift to the lady at a day centre she attends. When the tape was played not only did 'my' lady sit and sing the song over and over again, another lady joined in she remembered the song too. The tone for the day was set, even the staff and volunteers were walking around singing Goody Goody! Everyone went through the file seeing who they remembered. Every one enjoyed listening to the tape. One man sat tapping his foot and hands along with it and another old lady was obviously put into the singing mood and after the tape was turned off she started singing old songs that she remembered, it turned into quite a sing song with everyone singing. Steve - I really don't know how to thank you for your kindness and can only hope that the knowledge that you not only gave an old lady a wonderful gift that she will treasure rewards you over and over again - you also brightened up the day for more than one person. Many Thanks.

http://www.johnnymercer.com

Steve Taksler
..a collage of Johnny Mercer Music...created by my wife Sharon,  for the Broadway Show ...DREAM, 1997.

This website, devoted to the legacy of Johnny Mercer, is dedicated to the memory of my father, Arthur Joel Taksler.  From the time I was a little boy, I can clearly hear him singing   The Blues In The Night... "my mamma done tol' me, when I was in knee pants...my mamma done tol' me son, ....the Blues in the Night"...