John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer (November 18, 1909 – June 25, 1976) was a popular American songwriter and singer. As a songwriter, he is best known as a lyricist but also composed music. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others. From the mid-1930s through the mid-1950s, many of the songs Mercer wrote and performed were among the most popular hits of the time. He wrote the lyrics to more than a thousand songs, including compositions for movies and Broadway shows. He received nineteen Academy Award nominations. Mercer was also a co-founder of Capitol Records.