For whom did Mercer and Mancini write the song 'Moon River'?

"Moon River" is a song composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. It received an Academy Award for Best Original Song for its performance by Audrey Hepburn in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961). It also won Mancini the 1962 Grammy Award for Record of the Year and won Mancini and Mercer the Grammy Award for Song of the Year. The song has been covered by many other artists.

Mercer and Mancini wrote the song for Audrey Hepburn to fit her vocal range. The lyrics, written by Mercer, are reminiscent of his childhood in Savannah, Georgia, including its waterways. As a child, he had picked huckleberries in summer, and connected them with a carefree childhood and Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn. Although an instrumental version is played over the film's opening titles, the lyrics are first heard in a scene where Paul "Fred" Varjak (George Peppard) discovers Holly Golightly (Hepburn) singing them, accompanied by her guitar, on the fire escape outside their apartments.

Breakfast at Tiffany's is a 1961 American romantic comedy film directed by Blake Edwards and written by George Axelrod, loosely based on Truman Capote's novella of the same name. Starring Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard, and featuring Patricia Neal, Buddy Ebsen, Martin Balsam, and Mickey Rooney, the film was initially released on October 5, 1961 by Paramount Pictures.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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46 Comments

Special Patrol Group

Valerie Holmes, Donna Bayar Repsher, Please tell me how the song was written for Andy Williams when he did not sing it till 1962 after Audrey Hepburn had sang it first in 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'. If it was written for Andy Williams why did he not release it as a single.

RainingStars

dcgustin...If you're going to copy something from Wikipedia, make sure you copy it correctly! You seemed to have missed the first sentence, about the song! The song 'Moon River' was written in 1961, for Audrey Hepburn, to sing in the movie 'Breakfast at Tiffany's', not Andy Williams, who didn't release his version 'til 1962! It became the theme song for Andy Williams, who first recorded it in 1962 (and performed it at the Academy Awards ceremony that year) but, Williams' version was never released as a single, but it charted as an LP track that he recorded for Columbia on a hit album of 1962." From Wikipedia: "Moon River" is a song composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. It received an Academy Award for Best Original Song for its performance by Audrey Hepburn in the movie 'Breakfast at Tiffany's.' (1961)" Mercer and Mancini wrote the song for Audrey Hepburn to sing in the film 'Breakfast at Tiffany's.' I do believe that 1961 comes before 1962, not after. Therefore, the song was written for Audrey, not Andy!

Ed Bona

It was written specifically for Hepburn to fit her vocal range/skills. First heard in the film "Breakfast at Tiffany's".

William Laughlin

Christie Myers, Henry Mancini wrote “Moon River” SPECIFICALLY for Audrey Hepburn. The vocals were written to be sung only in one octave because Hepburn had no training as a singer and an extremely limited, paper-thin range. Mancini later said that while many versions of the song have been done, he feels that Hepburn’s was the best.

billyboy915

Valerie Holmes, Donna is wrong. Mancini himself has stated that Moon River was written specifically to accommodate Audrey Hepburn's very limited range. The song only spans a single octave so she wouldn't have to tax her voice.

William Laughlin

Donna Bayar Repsher, Henry Mancini wrote “Moon River” SPECIFICALLY for Audrey Hepburn. The vocals were written to be sung only in one octave because Hepburn had no training as a singer and an extremely limited, paper-thin range. Mancini later said that while many versions of the song have been done, he feels that Hepburn’s was the best. The song might have been very different had it been written with Andy Williams and his marvelous voice in mind. Among those in the know, there is no doubt the song was written with Audley Hepburn in mind.

Clayton Dean Brannon

Donna Bayar Repsher, song was written for Hepburn not Andy Williams. It was written specifically for her range and not Williams. He made it popular but it was not written for him. She was the first to sing the song.

TSH

Donna Bayar Repsher, Opinions are not fact.

Loreta Vivian Ramel Galima

spg cool dude, I also read somewhere that the composer and lyricist wrote the song with her in mind and that they considered the limitations of Ms. Hepburn's voice.

Annette Marie Busch

A terrific movie a terrific song.

Jas Newman

David Holmes, There are at least five years of comments to read through. Why not answer CP's question rather than referring to an older answer that may or may not still be here?

Cliff Hanselmann

seeing some comments makes me wonder how many people google the answers to these questions. Why cheat on a game that tests your knowledge?

Douglas Oaten

It's something to sit still and listen to - as many times possible.

Anita Clark Morton

Rhonda Couch, I've seen that movie dozens of times. It is such a tear-jerker, and the music is beautiful. I didn't realize that Audrey actually sang that song though

Yunus Ghaznavi

MAJORITY IS OF FOOLS.WELL THATS WHAT THEY SAY IN DEMOCRACY.MOSTLY THE MAJORITY SELECTION OPTION OF ANSWER IS WRONG, ANY ONE WHY???????

David Holmes

Colin Payne, another player has answered your question.

John Seiple

Good one.

Janice Fish

Oops, I know williams recorded it and made a fortune with it.

Colin Payne

Did Hepburn actually sing the song in the movie or was it lip synced? She didn't sing anything in "My Fair Lady", those songs were all sung by Marnie Nixon.

Mariacora Rauen

My favorite song, my favorite actress, I'll be darn if I didn't go for my favorite singer whom I heard first, singing this song. I watched Breakfast at Tiffany >20 years later, and finally heard Hepburn sing it, sweetly.

Rhonda Couch

Drats you got me!! I've never seen Breakfast at Tiffany's so I knew nothing of Audrey Hepburn singing it first. I have only heard Andy Williams sing it, on numerous occasions.