Ginger Mercer; Widow of Johnny Mercer

Ginger Mercer, 85, the widow of songwriter Johnny Mercer, who was founding vice president of Capitol Records. The former Broadway dancer, who married Mercer in 1931, was credited with dubbing the company “Capitol.” She was president of Johnny Mercer Music Publishing Inc., and also president of the nonprofit Johnny Mercer Foundation. After Mercer’s death, she worked with writer Bob Bach to publish a heavily illustrated biography, “Our Huckleberry Friend: The Life, Times and Lyrics of Johnny Mercer.” The former Elizabeth Meltzer was a native of Brooklyn. On Oct. 21 in Los Angeles.