"Moon River" is a song composed by Johnny Mercer (lyrics) and Henry Mancini (music) in 1961, for whom it won that year's Academy Award for Best Original Song. It was originally sung in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's by Audrey Hepburn, although it has been covered by many other artists. The song also won the 1962 Grammy Award for Record of the Year. It became the theme song for Andy Williams, who first recorded it in 1961 and performed it at the Academy Awards ceremonies in 1962. He sang the first eight bars at the beginning of his television show and also named his production company and venue in Branson, Missouri after it. Williams' version was disliked by Cadence Records president Archie Bleyer, who believed it had little or no appeal to teenagers.[citation needed] Andy Williams' version never charted, except as an LP track, which he recorded for Columbia in a hit album of 1962. The success of the song was responsible for re-launching Mercer's career as a songwriter, which had stalled in the mid-1950s because rock and roll replaced jazz standards as the popular music of the time. An inlet near Savannah, Georgia, Johnny Mercer's hometown, was named Moon River in honor of him and this song. The popularity of the song is such that it has been used as a test sample in a study on people's memories of popular songs. Moon River Henry Mancini - Moon River-1961.ogg Theme of Moon River composed by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer. Comments about the song have noted that it is particularly reminiscent of Mercer's youth in the Southern United States. Audrey Hepburn. Jerry Butler Danny Williams Andy Williams Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers (instrumental), Aretha Franklin, Ann Margret in 1962, Jonny Fair (Live), Lena Horne, Nico Fidenco in italian (1962), Jay and the Americans (1962), Bobby Solo in italian (1966), The Afghan Whigs, Paul Anka, Blake, Louis Armstrong, Vic Damone, Billy Stewart in 1965, Bobby Vinton in 1965, Vince Guaraldi, Beru Revue, Mary Black, Sarah Brightman, Liz Callaway, Perry Como, Ben E. King, Ray Conniff, Bobby Darin, Ania Dąbrowska, Dr. John, Dump, Billy Eckstine, The Four Freshmen, Connie Francis, Bill Frisell , Emi Fujita, Judy Garland, Duane Eddy Karel Gott, Grant Green Patty Griffin Milla Jovovich), Bradley Joseph (instrumental), Kim Yoo-jin, James Last, Trini Lopez, Lisa Ono, Joey McIntyre, Johnny Mathis, Brad Mehldau, Jane Monheit, Morrissey, Willie Nelson, Patsy Ann Noble, Eddi Reader, Jim Reeves, John Barrowman, R.E.M., Katie Melua, Andrea Ross, Eartha Kitt, Shirley Bassey, Frank Sinatra, The Killers, Rod Stewart, Barbra Streisand for The Movie Album (2003), Sarah Vaughan, Nan Vernon, Kid Koala, Westlife, Victoria Williams, The Divine Comedy, Tata Young, Tommy Emmanuel (2010), Helmut Lotti, Chiara Civello, Christine Collister, Oscar Peterson (solo piano), Hirai Ken, Rumer, Kazumasa Oda and Khalil Fong. Mercer himself recorded the song in 1974 My Huckleberry Friend. In 2007, saxophonist Dave Koz Barry Manilow Clay Aiken recorded the song on his 2010 album Tried and True. Aiken's version features a guitar solo by country artist Vince Gill. In August 2011, Alec Merced recorded a version. - Wikipedia Performances: This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2011) Mina performed the song in Canzonissima, the Italian Broadcasting Service series of variety. Elton John performed the song in his Solo Tour 2003, including the Palais de Festival in Cannes. Jennifer Love Hewitt performs the song in the biopic The Audrey Hepburn Story, in which Hewitt portrays the actress. On the singing contest American Idol, Anwar Robinson performed the song during the 2005 season, and Jason Yeager performed the song during the 2008 season. Canadian turntablist Kid Koala has performed a live version of "Moon River" as part of his sets, mixing and scratching the song on 3 turntables. In the 1996 Hong Kong film Si Mian Xia Wa ('Four Faces of Eve'), a drunken Chinese man in a nightclub attempts to sing a karaoke version of "Moon River". He sings the lyric in English but with a strong Kowloon accent. His pronunciation of "huckleberry friend" sounds very much like "huckerbelly flend". Singer/songwriter Patrick Wolf has also sung the opening four lines live as an introduction to his song "The Stars". It was sung by Niamh on I'd Do Anything. On the 2003 show, American Juniors, the song was performed by 11 year old contestant, Chauncey Matthews. In 2009, fashion designer Malan Breton of Project Runway Season 3 performed the song live at a dedication ceremony to Johnny Mercer's 100th. Eric Clapton performed the song at the London O2 Arena on February 13 and 14 and at Madison Square Garden in New York on February 17 and 18 of 2010 as part of his shows with fellow guitar great Jeff Beck. Morrissey occasionally performs the song in concert performances, changi