THE JOHNNY MERCER EDUCATIONAL ARCHIVES

New York City, NY

Having known Johnny Mercer, and having recorded and sung many of his wonderful songs on our radio shows from the Taft Hotel; I am so happy to have the opportunity to tell you the following story, that I remember lovingly, of a chat that I had with Johnny during a session at lunchtime in The Taft Grill Room. The orchestra that I sang with was George Hall and His Taft Hotel Orchestra. We were on the C.B.S. network every day at 12 noon to 12:30, six days a week and of course, it attracted many writers and contact men, looking for radio performance of the songs they were plugging. It was the full network and we had a great listening audience and so, it was considered a major plug.

One day, I sat talking to Johnny Mercer. During our conversation I asked him of all the songs he had written, which was his favorite. He answered me by saying, in his delightful southern drawl, "You know Dolly, when you write a song it's like being your baby, and you love them all whether they become hits or not."

So once again, I asked Johnny which song that he wrote was his favorite, and again he said he liked his babies. However, he said his favorite song was one that he did not write. It was written by Gus Kahn and Isham Jones, the band leader. The song was, "It Had to Be You." I used that song on stage in my performance and I always told that story.

I sang many songs by Johnny Mercer, recorded some that I really thought were terrific and had a great deal of joy out of singing them. Two of my favorites which I recorded....are titled "Let that Be a Lesson to You" words by Mercer and music by Richard A. Whiting recorded 11/15/37, from the film Hollywood Hotel; another Mercer song that I love and also recorded was a wonderful song titled "I Could Kiss You For That" words by Mercer and music by Jimmy McHugh. I recorded it on 12/4/40.....

Hope this will be interesting to you about dear Johnny Mercer. He was one of a kind and I feel so lucky that I knew him.

Best love and all good wishes for you Steve.

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