CD Booklet Notes
GARY MERRILL
For ten turbulent years, he was married to one American legend, Bette Davis. For the next four, he was the lover of another, Rita Hayworth. Handsome, kind, funny, and casual, actor Gary Merrill had a reputation as a hard—drinking, boisterous Hollywood bad boy. No doubt he was eccentric: a very masculine man who wore a kilt as he played golf with some of the world's most famous actors, politicians, and socialites.
He was also a distinguished actor of stage, screen, television, and radio. From movie masterpieces such as All About Eve and Twelve 0'Clock High through a career which took him into his seventies, he became one of the most sought-afier voices for television advertising.
Merrill's support and appreciation of spoken word poetry set him off on a tour of the country's school systems, reading powerful works by Robert Frost, Carl Sandburg, and Lord Buckley, among others. His performances ofthis timeless poetry would breathe new life into the words and convey a vast array of emotions. Knowing he would not be around forever to continue introducing this vital literature into the lives of children, Merrill stepped into the sound booth with engineer. producer, and friend Richard Greeley to preserve his unique presentations forever.
It would have been very easy for these recordings to slip out of sight and never be heard by the public; however, before Merrill passed away in I990, he contracted a verbal agreement with Greeley that this album be released so student populations around the world would still have access to these works and his own entertaining renditions.
Greeley vowed to not let his friend down, and today he proudly presents to you,
GARY MERRILL POETRY READINGS
Enjoy.
