Jerry Merrick
Encyclopedia
Jerry Merrick is an American
singer-songwriter
. His songs have been recorded by Richie Havens
, B.J. Thomas, Jerry Jeff Walker
, and Susan Tedeschi
.
Merrick is best known for writing "Follow," which appeared on the 1967 Richie Havens release Mixed Bag (MCA Verve/Folkways), which Rolling Stone
called a "Sixties folk epic." Havens also performed the song in concert
appearances at the Newport Folk Festival
and Carnegie Hall
. The piece has since appeared within the soundtrack
of several film
s.
Subsequently, Merrick went on to record an album of original compositions for Mercury Records
, released in 1969. Following this he moved his family away from New York City
and teamed up briefly with fellow Mercury artist Kenny Rankin
to appear on The Tonight Show
, and open for Flip Wilson
in various venues throughout the US. However, a decision to focus on his growing family eventually led him to withdraw from the music industry. Meanwhile, his song "Guess I'll Pack My Things," had been recorded by Tom Ghent on his self-titled debut for Bill Cosby
's Tetragrammaton Records
. Apparently, this led to the song (and arrangement) being included by B.J. Thomas on his 1970 Scepter album, Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. His songs have been recorded by Richie Havens
Richie Havens
Richard P. "Richie" Havens is an African American folk singer and guitarist. He is best known for his intense, rhythmic guitar style , soulful covers of pop and folk songs, and his opening performance at the 1969 Woodstock Festival.-Career:Born in Brooklyn, Havens was the eldest of nine children...
, B.J. Thomas, Jerry Jeff Walker
Jerry Jeff Walker
Jerry Jeff Walker is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is probably most famous for writing the song "Mr. Bojangles.-Biography:...
, and Susan Tedeschi
Susan Tedeschi
Susan Tedeschi is an American blues and soul musician, who has received multiple Grammy Award nominations, and is well-known for her singing voice, guitar playing, stage presence, and marriage to blues guitarist Derek Trucks...
.
Merrick is best known for writing "Follow," which appeared on the 1967 Richie Havens release Mixed Bag (MCA Verve/Folkways), which Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
called a "Sixties folk epic." Havens also performed the song in concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
appearances at the Newport Folk Festival
Newport Folk Festival
The Newport Folk Festival is an American annual folk-oriented music festival in Newport, Rhode Island, which began in 1959 as a counterpart to the previously established Newport Jazz Festival...
and Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
. The piece has since appeared within the soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
of several film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s.
Subsequently, Merrick went on to record an album of original compositions for Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
, released in 1969. Following this he moved his family away from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and teamed up briefly with fellow Mercury artist Kenny Rankin
Kenny Rankin
Kenny Rankin was an American pop and jazz singer and songwriter, originally from the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City, New York.-Biography:...
to appear on The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
, and open for Flip Wilson
Flip Wilson
Clerow Wilson, Jr. , known professionally as Flip Wilson, was an American comedian and actor. In the early 1970s, Wilson hosted his own weekly variety series, The Flip Wilson Show...
in various venues throughout the US. However, a decision to focus on his growing family eventually led him to withdraw from the music industry. Meanwhile, his song "Guess I'll Pack My Things," had been recorded by Tom Ghent on his self-titled debut for Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby
William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, the...
's Tetragrammaton Records
Tetragrammaton Records
Tetragrammaton Records was an American record label, founded by artist manager Roy Silver, Bruce Post Campbell, Marvin Deane, and comedian Bill Cosby in the late 1960s. The name references a term for the un-nameable name of God....
. Apparently, this led to the song (and arrangement) being included by B.J. Thomas on his 1970 Scepter album, Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head
Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head
"Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" is B. J. Thomas's #1 song, written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach for the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. David and Bacharach also won Best Original Score. It was recorded in seven takes, after...
.
Discography
- Follow (1968, Mercury Records)
- Suddenly I'll Know You (2002, Sutherland Records)
Filmography
- Coming Home (1978) with Jane Fonda and Jon Voight (3 Oscars)
- Flying Blind (1992 TV movie) with Corey Parker, Téa Leoni, Robert Bauer
- The War (1994) with Elijah Wood, Kevin Costner, Mare Winningham
- The Pallbearer (1996) with David Schwimmer, Gwyneth Paltrow, Michael Rapaport
- Hideous Kinky (1998) with Kate Winslet, , Saïd Taghmaoui, Bella Riza
- A Walk on the Moon (1999) with Diane Lane, Viggo Mortensen, Live Schreiber
- Steal This Movie (2000) with Vincent D'Onofrio, Janeane Garofalo, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Kevin Pollak
External links
- Jerry Merrick official website