Johnny Mercer Statue

Savannah honors hometown legend Johnny Mercer, one of America’s greatest songwriters, with a life-size bronze unveiled on Nov. 18, 2009, the centennial of his birth. Mercer penned more than 1,500 songs across a five-decade career; “Moon River,” the theme from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” is his best-known classic and one of four Academy Award winners. The statue captures Mercer’s approachable charm, wearing a hat and an overcoat, a newspaper in hand, and his trademark gap-toothed grin. Set in Ellis Square, steps from City Market, it’s an easy photo stop and a fitting tribute to the Savannah native whose lyrics often echoed his love for Georgia. A restored version of the statue returned to Ellis Square in 2023.