Johnny Mercer

Biography

Johnny Mercer (1909-1976) was the Academy Award-winning songwriter and lyricist of “Moon River” (music by Henry Mancini, from the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s), “Days of Wine and Roses” (music by Mancini, from the film of the same name), and many more. Mercer also worked as a lyricist with such composers as Harold Arlen, Hoagy Carmichael, and Duke Ellington, among others. After his death, his widow gave some of his unfinished lyrics to Barry Manilow to create complete songs.