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JOHNNY ROTELLA
VAN NUYS, CA
Just a few words about when I met Johnny Mercer and how we got together to
write a few songs. We co-wrote three songs and we had plans to write many more.
If Johnny were with us today we would have a catalogue of beautiful songs.
I have been a musician/songwriter all my life. I learned the sax as a
small boy in New Jersey and as I grew up I became interested in writing music. I
composed the music for my high school graduating class in 1938.
After playing with the big bands of Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Raymond
Scott and others I moved to California and became a studio musician. That was in
1948. This is when I played with Jerry Gray, Billy Vaughn and many more
recording artists. In the late 50's and early 60's Johnny and I met on some
sessions and we became great friends from then on. He always loved to be with
musicians.
I was a close friend of Marshall Robbins who ran Johnny's publishing firm
Commander Publications. We used to hang out in the office every week. Finally
Johnny and I decided to write something together. We composed I'VE WAITED FOR A
WALTZ. Columbia recorded it with Tony Bennett but unfortunately it was never
released. Our second song was BABY-0 which Dean Martin recorded for Reprise.
That was followed by YOUNG and FREE which to date has not been recorded.
All this time Johnny and I spent a lot of time together. He always loved
to eat at any hamburger stand. Watch the crowds go by and talk about anything.
Just hang out. We always mentioned our families, music, musicians and bands. He
was the greatest.
Just look at all the songs he wrote with those great collaborators. I was
blessed to have known Johnny and to have written a few songs with him.
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