Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Letter to Mercer led to Bennett's favorite song

Q. Tony Bennett mentioned in an interview that of all the songs herecorded, his favorite is "I Wanna Be Around," and that it waswritten by Johnny Mercer. I am from Salem, Ohio, and I believe a ladyfrom Youngstown actually wrote the words and that Mercer wrote themusic. Am I remembering this right?

A. Pretty much. Youngstown, Ohio's very own Sadie Vimmerstedtmailed a letter to Johnny Mercer in 1957 suggesting a song with thelyrics: "I want to be around to pick up the pieces when somebodybreaks your heart." When the finished song came out a couple of yearslater as "I Wanna Be Around," the writing credit showed both Mercerand Vimmerstedt as co-writers. Though we know Sadie …

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