- Collection:
- Johnny Mercer Collections
- Title:
- Ervin Drake oral history interview, 1996-12-13
- Creator:
- Drake, Ervin
- Contributor to Resource:
- Paton, Christopher Ann, 1956-
- Publisher:
- Atlanta, Ga. : Georgia State University Library
- Date of Original:
- 1996-12-13
- Subject:
- Lyricists
Lyric writing (Popular music)
Popular music
Johnny Mercer Foundation - People:
- Drake, Ervin
Mercer, Johnny, 1909-1976 - Location:
- United States, 39.76, -98.5
- Medium:
- oral histories (document genres)
- Type:
- Sound
- Format:
- audio/mpeg
- Description:
- Ervin Drake was an American songwriter that was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983. He was a board member of the Johnny Mercer Foundation.
In this interview, which took place on December 13, 1996, the conversation ranges widely over a variety of subjects and time periods. Drake credits Johnny Mercer as one of the important influences on his early career as a songwriter. He discusses Mercer's conversational style of lyric writing, a style that he, Drake, tried to emulate during the 1940s and 1950s. Drake mentions Mercer's generous nature in helping other young songwriters, noting particularly his assistance of songwriters like Marilyn and Alan Bergman. Drake talks about the early seventies, a period in which he got to know Mercer better personally through the meetings of the American Guild of Authors and Composers. Drake mentions Mercer's memorial service in New York in 1976, and he talks briefly about Ginger Mercer and the Johnny Mercer Foundation. The conversation includes short comments about golfing: he reflects both on his own golfing skills and those of other songwriters, particularly Richard Whiting. Drake speaks briefly about several Mercer songs, including "Come Rain or Come Shine" "A Woman's Prerogative" "He Didn't Have the Know How, No How" and "Frasier." "There Are No Restricted Signs in Heaven" "A Room Without Windows" "Know How" and the musical Her First Roman are among the works by Drake that are discussed. - Metadata URL:
- http://digitalcollections.library.gsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/music/id/1948
- Language:
- eng
- Additional Rights Information:
- This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for educational uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- M142_DrakeE, Johnny Mercer Oral History Project, Popular Music and Culture Collection, Special Collections and Archives, University Library, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA.
- Extent:
- 45:55
- Original Collection:
- Popular Music and Culture Collection
Johnny Mercer Papers - Holding Institution:
- Georgia State University. Special Collections
- Rights:
-
