The Rialto Honors Legendary Songwriter Johnny Mercer With Tribute Concert

Georgia-born Johnny Mercer is among the most successful lyricists of the American Songbook. He wrote more than 1,500 songs and won four Oscars. In 1971, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

This Friday, Georgia State University’s Rialto Center for the Arts is honoring Mercer with a tribute concert. The acclaimed trumpeter and vocalist Joe Gransden and singer Tierney Sutton will perform with the Georgia State Jazz Band. “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes spoke with Gransden and the Rialto’s new executive director Lee Foster.

“He’s [Johnny Mercer] probably one of the greatest lyricists of all time. I describe those lyrics as timeless. Most of them refer to today’s society, just like they did back when they were written. My favorite song is ‘I’m Old Fashioned.‘ I look at those lyrics, and I relate to a lot of the things he wrote,” Gransden said.