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DANBURY, Conn. – Johnny Mercer may not be a household name anymore, but his songs, including “Moon River,” “Jeepers Creepers,” and “That Old Black Magic,” are part of American musical history, and will be celebrated Saturday night at Western Connecticut State University.
The event, “Too Marvelous: The Songs of Johnny Mercer,” will feature former Broadway performer and WestConn adjunct lecturer Don Stitt performing 42 of Mercer’s classic hits, according to a WestConn press release. Michael Lavine will join Stitt on piano for the event.
“My script ties the songs together and tells how Mercer made his way so rapidly,” Stitt said. “The history of Johnny Mercer has been whitewashed. I’m telling more of the story and connecting the dots. In his early 20s, he became dominant in music publishing and radio and then became a sought-after vocalist. Mercer worked with big names starting in the 1930s and remained a major force in songwriting for more than 40 years.”
The free event begins at 7 p.m. in Alumni Hall at the university’s Midtown campus, 181 White St.
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