About This:
Tony DeBlois' interest in Johnny Mercer stems from an encounter at sea. Tony was performing aboard the Royal Majesty cruise ship. A passenger, Frank Newton, was quite taken with Tony's playing as well as his singing. He was so fascinated by Tony's talent that he arranged to be seated with Tony and his Mother, Janice, every night for dinner. Frank, a devoted fan of the late composer/lyricist Johnny Mercer, told them about Mercer's genius, his life and his songs. Frank told Tony he should be singing Mercer songs...that his voice would bring Mercer's genius to life. When they returned to the States, Frank sent Tony a pile of Mercer CDs, and Too Marvelous For Words: The Magic of Johnny Mercer Songbook.

So Tony immersed himself in Mercer, listening to as many songs as he could -- quite a feat, since Mercer wrote over 1500 songs. Soon he called his friends and jazz mentors, Bill and Bo Winiker. He told them, with great excitement in his voice, that it was time to make their second jazz CD together, and that it would be all Mercer. Janice thought up the perfect title for the tribute... Mercer, Mercy Me