Spoiler : In his 66 years, lyricist, songwriter and singer Johnny Mercer, born 106 years ago today in Savannah, Georgia, managed an astonishing number of achievements. Mercer founded Capitol Records. He wrote lyrics for more than fifteen hundred songs. He was nominated for 19 Oscars (he won four).

Spoiler : Mercer, Johnny (birth name was John Haerndon Mercer) Born in Savannah, Georgia 11/18/1909; died 6/25/1976 following surgery for a brain tumor in Los Angeles, California. Married to dancer Ginger Meehan (1931-his death). At age seventeen Mercer formed a small theater group that David Belasco invited to New York to appear in a one act play. Mercer stayed in New York and acted in bit roles on stage (1927-1929). Singer with bands of Paul Whiteman and Benny Goodman (1938-1939). Director for ASCAP (1940-1941). Mercer, Buddy DeSylva and Glenn Wallich organized Capitol Records in 1942. Winner of four Academy Awards, but never learned to play piano. Mercer wrote his first song at age fifteen. Mercer composed over 1,500 songs during his career, over 750 of them were published including Ac-cent-u-ate The Positive, Days Of Wine And Roses, That Old Black Magic, Blues In The Night, Fools Rush In, Moon River and Laura. President of the Television Academy (1956-1957).

Spoiler : Vocalist on radio programs including Benny Goodman's Swing School for CBS (1936-1939); The Bob Crosby Show (1939-1940); Your Hit Parade for CBS (1946); Call for Music for CBS and NBC (1948). Host of Johnny Mercer's Chesterfield Music Shop for NBC-Radio (1944); The Johnny Mercer Show on CBS (1953-1954). Panelist on Musical Chairs for NBC-TV (1955). With Harold Arlen wrote the theme, One For My Baby that was used on the NBC-TV series, Meet McGraw (1957-1958).