Billy McKenny
Currently no information available.
1931 "Wabash Moon", co-lyric Morton Downey, Dave Dreyer tune.

   Linda Rodgers Melnick
b. March 5, New York, NY, USA. This daughter of famed composer Richard Rodgers is perhaps best known for the score of the musical 'Three To Make Music. Not surprisingly, her chief collaborator is her elder sister, Mary Rodgers.
Among Linda Melnick's Songs are:
"Three to Make Music", the plays themesong.
"Tiki Tiki Timbo", collaborated with Phyllis Duskin and Marshall Barer. (Publisher: Dorton Music Corp.)

For the Golden Records LP "A Child's Introduction to Jazz"; The record sleeve cover reads "Story and Lyrics by Mary Rodgers and Marshall Barer", and "Music by Linda Melnick". "Musical Directors: Don Elliott and Jim Timmens."
There were about 6 songs she wrote for this album, and quite possibly five other original songs, describing the development of Jazz from the "Congo" to the "Cool."
The BigBands Database thanks Mr. Reg Fulton for this information on Linda Rodgers Melnick.

   Murray Menscher
Currently no information available>
This lyricist worked with Billy Moll, among others.
1930 "Roll, Roll, Rolling Along", Billy Moll music.

   Johnny Mercer
b. Nov. 18, 1909, Savannah, GA, USA. d. June 25, 1976, Bel-Air, CA, USA.
Overview
Johnny's career is rather interesting. He is one of just a few men to enjoy success as a Singer; Actor; Lyricist and Composer. Mercer's big break in show business came when he won a singing contest sponsored by Paul Whiteman. When the Rhythm Boys (Al Rinker; Harry Barris and Bing Crosby) left Whiteman, Mercer was hired as their replacement. Along with his singing, he would often write special material for the band. Stays with Benny Goodman and Bob Crosby followed. At first, Mercer worked as lyricist for other composers, but eventually he wrote both lyrics and music. Although he could not read music, he still composed many melodies himself and even wrote the entire score for the Broadway musical Top Banana.

Mercer had started writing lyrics by the time he was 15. He continued writing verse even as he pursued an acting career. After graduating from a Savannah, GA high school, Mercer came to New York City with the Savannah Little Theatre Group, which had entered an acting competition. One of his songs, "Out of Breath and Scared to Death of You," was used in the Garrick Gaieties in 1930. He joined the Paul Whiteman Orchestra as a vocalist. Whiteman introduced him to Hoagy Carmichael, they produced the 1933 hit "Lazybones." 1933 also saw Mercer's move to Hollywood where he started writing lyrics for Warner Brothers productions.

In the 1930's:
"I'm an Old Cowhand," ""Have You Got Any Castles, Baby," "Too Marvelous For Words," "Jeepers Creepers," "You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby," and "Day Dreaming All Night Long."

In the 1940's:
"The Love of MY Life," "I'de Know You Anywhere," "Blues in the Night," "Dearly Beloved," "That Old Black Magic," "My Shining Hour," and "Accent-tchu-ate The Positive."

in 1942, He co-founded Capitol Records with Glen Wallach and Buddy DeSylva. During WW2, he worked on many different Hollywood musicals.

In the 1950's:
He worked on still more movie musicals, and worked on the film Daddy Long Legs without a collaborator. He was the composer and lyricist for "Something's Gotta Give." He wrote both the words and music for the 1951 Broadway play 'Top Banana' (Phil Silvers Starred). Around 1955, he sold his interest in Capitol Records.

In the 1960's:
He collaborated with composer Henry Mancini in 1961 for the hits "Moon River," "The Days of Wine and Roses," as well as others.

"Life is What You Make It" was his last song, written in 1971, for the film 'Kotch'.

In 1975, Mercer was operated on for a brain tumor. He never recovered from the operation and died in 1976, at age 66. Only 3 songwriters have received Best Song Oscars, four different times, from the Academy of Motion Pictures - Mercer was the first of them.

Mercer had been a leading lyricist from the 1930's and remained active until his death in 1976. His output of over 1.000 songs made him, along with Irving Berlin, and Oscar Hammerstein 11, one of the most prolific songwriters of all time. He won four Oscars for songs he wrote for films: "On the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe" from 'The Harvey Girls' (1946), "In the Cool Cool Cool of the Evening" from 'Here Comes The Groom' (1951), "Moon River" from 'Breakfast At Tiffany's' (1961), and the title song of 'Days Of Wine And Roses' (1962). He also appeared in several films.

He is a member of the Songwriters' Hall of Fame.

   Bob Merrill
b. May 17, 1921, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA.
Overview
Bob Merrill composed his best songs from the late 1940's through the late sixties. Early in his career he specialized in novelty songs.

Bob was raised and attended local schools in Philadelphia, PA. While still in High School, he worked at a number of different jobs, including: movie usher; longshoreman, and crop picker. He studied acting at the Bucks County Playhouse, in 1939, with Richard Bennett.

Between 1940 and 1942, he served in the U.S.Army, Upon his discharge, he hitch-hiked to California where he found work with NBC as a supervisor of writers. He worked at Columbia Pictures between 1943 and 1948 as a dialogue director. He also had some minor roles in pictures. Between 1948 and 1949, he worked for CBS-TV, as a casting director.