Mitch Miller, Music Executive and TV Host, Dies

nytimes.com ^ | August 2, 2010 | RICHARD SEVERO

[who knows what evil?]

OMG...I used to see his show on the tube back when I was a kid...I had no idea he was still with us...RIP, Mitch...

[TruthHound]

There was a commercial for the Gap a few Christmases back that was a spoof of the Mitch Miller sing-along Gang. Brought back memories.

[TennTuxedo]

I grew up listening to and loving Mitch Miller’s Christmas music. RIP Mitch.

[dfwgator]

That’s a shame. He was responsible for the wealth of different sounds in the ‘50’s. A lot of artists owe him their carreers.

Yeah, but he was no Ray Conniff.....Ray Ruled!!!!

j/k!!!

[La Lydia]

He also provided Bob Dylan with his Christmas hit, which I loved, “Must be Santa.”

[nutmeg]

Aw, sorry to hear the news. I remember watching "Sing Along with Mitch" with my parents and grandparents when I was a little kid in the 60s.

99 years old, though... wow! He led a full and wonderful life. Rest in peace, Mr. Miller.

[Publius]

Mitch Miller was one of the most important producers of the Fifties. He defined the country and rockabilly sound at Columbia Records, where he was the director of A&R (artists and repetoire). Marty Robbins and other country singers got a huge leg up with Miller's male chorus backing them on recordings.

I truly didn't know he was still around. He was a genuine giant.

[Merciful_Friend]

Oh! Mitch gone. Anything might happen now.

[rockinqsranch]

Funny how things happen in this World. I was thinking about Mitch Miller over the weekend as the song Birth of the Blues was going through my head over and over. I believe the best version of that song was sung on his show by a then IIRC sixteen year old girl named Leslie Uggams.

Rest in Peace Mr. Miller.

[JennysCool]

WTG for sure! Good, long, accomplished life.

BTW, nobody ever did the “men’s chorale” better than SCTV’s “Five Neat Guys”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMjtvSABQ3Q

[Scythian]

It’s really a shame when TV people or Musicians die, I’m just grateful he this wasn’t another nameless, faceless midwesterner responsible for making this country what it is ...

[massgopguy]

Do they allow accordions in Heaven?

[Frantzie]

Sinatra worked with Mitch Miller?

The UK Daily Mail had an interview yesterday with Buddy Greco. He talked about Marilyn’s last week. She went to Sinatra’s casino in Tahoe. She was all pissed off that Bobby Kennedy dropped her and she was going to spill the beans with a press conference about how JFK and Bobby passed her around like a piece of meat.

The impression I got from the article was that Sinatra was trying to tell her to just keep her mouth shut. Frank was supposedly still fond of her and he knew that people wanted her “taken care of.” My guess is Sinatra had the power to step in and try to save her.

She was drunk, drugged up and pissed off which angered Sinatra. I guess he knew he was not going to be able to save her.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1299496/Marilyn-Monroes-weekend—told-time-eyewitnesss-account-row-Frank-Sinatra-friends-fear-signed-death-warrant.html

[mware]

Mitch Miller. Oh yes, us older FReepers probably sang along with him when we were kids.

"Be Kind to your web footed FRiends."

[massgopguy]

I still have the Blizzard Song on 45. It came with a six pack of Fresca.

[paddles]

Listen to the theme of the movie “The Longest Day” and you’ll get a nice appreciation for the man and his music.

[PLMerite]

I had a 78rpm record of him doing The Yellow Rose of Texas.

[Cboldt]

Sing along with Mitch. Yeah, very good memories here, too. I hope (and suspect) where he is now, they don’t need a bouncing ball to sing praises!

[donna]

Look how skinny men used to be.

[mware]

One minute into that video is the guy who was on Sesame St.