Johnny Mandel
1925 - 2020Anita O'Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer
Ian McCrudden, Robbie Cavolina
Anita O'Day, Buddy Bregman
This documentary explores the life of jazz singer Anita O'Day. As a child, Anita had a tonsillectomy, during which her uvula was accidentally removed. The surgery prevents her from singing vibrato and holding long notes, but lends to her much-revered percussive style. Anita overcomes her vocal hurdle, as well as many others -- including poverty, heroin addiction and jail time for a drug arrest -- to become one of the most prolific and respected jazz vocalists of the 20th century. Initial release: 30 April 2007
Anita O'Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer
Johnny Mercer: The Dream's on Me
Bruce Ricker
Johnny Mercer, Bill Charlap
Admired and praised by the likes of Irving Berlin and Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer has been described as "one of our great folk poets" and "the most perfect American lyricist". Throughout his extraordinary career, he collaborated with hundreds of composers to write legendary movie songs such as "Hooray for Hollywood", "Jeepers Creepers" and "Moon River". Mercer then went on to co-found Capitol Records in 1942 and became a successful Broadway producer of St. Louis Woman and L'il Abner.
Johnny Mercer: The Dream's on Me
