“Moon River” was written by composer Henry Mancini (music) and lyricist Johnny Mercer (words) in 1961 for the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Songwriters

  • The music for “Moon River” was composed by Henry Mancini, a renowned American film and television composer known for lush, melodic themes.
  • The lyrics were written by Johnny Mercer, one of the great American lyricists and a co-founder of Capitol Records.

Context and accolades

  • “Moon River” was created specifically for Audrey Hepburn to sing in Breakfast at Tiffany’s and appears in the 1961 film.
  • The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and later Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, cementing its status as a standard.

Extra note

  • Although many associate “Moon River” with singers like Andy Williams or Audrey Hepburn, they performed and popularized it; they did not write it.

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