Johnny Mercer (1909-1976), a Georgia native, began writing songs at the age of 15 and eventually became one of the foremost figures of 20th century American popular music. For nearly five decades, Mercer had a prolific career as a lyricist, composer, and performer. He is credited with writing 1,700 songs, was nominated for 18 Academy Awards, and was one of the founders of Capitol Records.

In recognition of this centennial, Georgia State University Library’s Popular Music Archive, which houses the Johnny Mercer Collections, is presenting events throughout the year which highlight the music and life of one of American's greatest songwriters. The centennial events are made possible by generous support from the Johnny Mercer Foundation.