Posted on 08/02/2010 10:17:06 AM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
Mitch Miller, an influential record producer who became a hugely popular recording artist and an unlikely television star a half century ago by leading a choral group in familiar old songs and inviting people to sing along, died Saturday in Manhattan. He was 99.
His daughter Margaret Miller Reuther confirmed the death Monday morning, saying her father had died after a short illness at Lenox Hill Hospital. Mr. Miller lived in Manhattan.
Mr. Miller, a Rochester native who was born on the Fourth of July, had been an accomplished oboist and was still a force in the recording industry when he came up with the idea of recording old standards with a chorus of some two dozen male voices and printing the lyrics on album covers.
The “Sing Along With Mitch” album series, which began in 1958, was an immense success, finding an eager audience among older listeners looking for an alternative to rock ’n’ roll. Mitch Miller and the Gang serenaded them with chestnuts like “Home on the Range,” “That Old Gang of Mine,” “I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen” and “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Wow, I’d assumed Mitch Miller was already dead. I am reading a book on the music of Frank Sinatra, and Miller figures prominently in the 1940’s section of the book. Had no idea he had almost reached the century mark.
I honestly had no idea Mitch was still alive!
I’m old enough to remember Mitch Miller and the captioning with the bouncing ball that allowed you to sing along. That was when you could find real entertainment on television, not the slop we have today.
Rest in peace, Mr. Miller. Thank you for some great memories.
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.
Good old fashioned music fun, not mad monkey jumpin’ rants.
Wow, what a life and career...RIP Mitch.
RIP.
Wonder if Lawrence Welk met him at the gate?
Anyone heard of him before? I never did but prayers to his family just the same.
While reaching the century mark would have been nice, 2010 is a good year for a wealthy man to die.
My kids listen to his “Greatest Hits” all of the time.
My mother loved Mitch Miller and as a kid I saw a lot of his shows. Still vividly remember that bouncing ball over the lyrics. My favorite....Yellow Rose of Texas.
RIP Mitch.
My mother loved Mitch Miller and as a kid I saw a lot of his shows. Still vividly remember that bouncing ball over the lyrics. My favorite....Yellow Rose of Texas.
RIP Mitch.
same here...that was a surprise...wow...99....
There were some cartoons in the 50s and 60s that also had songs you could sing along to, and there would be a bouncing ball.
Stan Freberg’s spoof of “The Yellow Rose of Texas” had Stan
saying at one point something like “if you don’t play this right I’ll secede from the band, so help me Mitch Miller, I will!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dY9gtYeHhk
“Sing Along with Mitch.” Man, that’s good stuff!
99?!?!? WTG, MITCH!
My dad loved the show.
It was from a kinder, gentler time...
I remember my mom watched his show religiously back in the early 60’s. Us kids used to laugh because we thought his music was so “square”. LOL RIP, Mr. Miller.
Mitch Miller pioneered the echo chamber. He like how his voice sounded in the shower and told his technicians to achieve it. Early recordings were done, well pretty much in a shower, to achieve the effect. The sound became (slight delay of echo) became one of his signature effects among many artists he recoreded. Echoing later developed into electronic echoing, now known as digital delay.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.