Photo Coverage: Marilyn Maye at Metropolitan Room

Maye's Mercer celebrates the prolific songwriter's gift, and marks the centenary of his birth. According to Maye Mercer's contributions to the Great American Songbook (and American vernacular) are so seminal as to seem ingrained in our collective unconscious. Tedd Firth leads her three-piece band that includes Jim Eklof (her drummer for more than 40 years) and Tom Hubbard on bass.

Since turning up at the Mabel Mercer Cabaret Convention at Lincoln Center (and playing an SRO one-night stand at The Metropolitan Room) in 2006, Maye has been showered with awards. She's earned Nightlife Awards (Outstanding Cabaret Vocalist in a Major Engagement) in two consecutive years (2008 & 2009), a 2008 Back Stage Bistro Award (Lifetime Achievement) and, this month, she nabbed her first MAC Award - Celebrity of the Year.

A Kansas City native and resident, Maye was nominated for a best new artist Grammy in 1965, going up against Tom Jones, Herman's Hermits, Sonny & Cher, Horst Jankowski and The Byrds. As an RCA recording artist she had seven albums and 34 singles, introducing numerous hits including "Cabaret," "Step to the Rear," "Sherry," "Too Late Now," and "If My Friends Could See Me Now." "Too Late Now" was picked by The Smithsonian as one of the 100 best recordings of the 20th century.

Johnny Carson called her "one of the best singers in the business, outstanding, a super singer!" She appeared a total of 76 times on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (the most by a singer), both in New York and Burbank.

"Mercer the Maye Way" performs through Sunday June 21 at 7pm. Maye's music charge is $30. For reservations call 212/206-0440 or visit www.metropolitanroom.com. Rated "Best of New York" by New York Magazine, the Nightlife and Bistro Award-winning Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, celebrated its third anniversary on May 11.