Conductor Mitch ("Sing Along With Mitch") Miller dies at age 99

AP on SFGate.com ^ | 8/2/10 | AP

[NormsRevenge]

NEW YORK, (AP) -- Mitch Miller, the goateed orchestra leader who asked Americans to "Sing Along With Mitch" on television and records, has died at age 99.

His daughter, Margaret Miller Reuther, says her father died in New York City after a short illness.

Miller was a key record executive at Columbia Records in the pre-rock 'n' roll era, making hits with singers Rosemary Clooney, Patti Page, Johnny Mathis and Tony Bennett.

[ol' hoghead]

Be kind to our web footed friends,
for duck may be some body's mother.

Be kind to our friends in the swamp,
where the weather is very, very, daump.

Now you might think that this is the end
well, it is.

[1951Boomer]

I vividly remember the bouncing balls on “Sing Along with Mitch” when I was a kid.

[itssme]

I just love his Christmas music....a truly warm and wonderful memory of the 50s and 60s. We play Mitch's music every Christmas season, also.

Sad. May he rest in peace.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

RIP.
Below is the only stanza that I remember.

Be kind to your web-footed friends
For a duck may be somebody’s mother
Be kind to your friends in the swamp
Where the weather is very, very damp [pronounced to rhyme with “swamp”]
Now, you may think that this is the end...
WELL, IT IS! [abrupt cut to closing credits]

[mass55th]

"Wow - I didn’t know he was still alive."

Me either. We had all his albums and enjoyed singing along to all the great tunes. RIP Mitch!! You gave us some great times in our youth.

[Red Badger]

OMG, I thought he had been dead for decades!.............RIP, Mitch. You can Sing Along with the angelic choir, now..............

[lupie]

Wow.. I didn’t know he was still around either. What great memories of Friday nights as a child. As I recall, Rawhide with a very young Clint Eastwood, came on right after, or right before his show.

[WKUHilltopper]

Wow...I had no idea he was still alive either. RIP, Mitch.

[ken5050]

He had two female singers on the show..Diana Trask and Leslie Uggams...always liked them both

[Parley Baer]

“Wow - I didn’t know he was still alive”

I agree. RIP Mitch.

[DarthFuzball]

If other bloggers do not know what a cassette tape is, google it, I had enough trouble explaining it to my 14 year old.

I recently had a similar conversation with a 17 yr old about 8-Tracks, 78's, and punch-cards.

[Hazzardgate]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGGyar8Qgew

[Dr. Thorne]

Still the most fun Christmas album ever.

[KEmom]

My all-time favorite Christmas Album as a kid. I had to search all over to find it on CD a couple years ago.

Thanks for some great Christmas Sing-a-longs!! RIP

[Erasmus]

Heck, I think I have some cassette cylinders packed away somewhere. They are Dolby stereo, though.

≤}B^)

[Inspectorette]

Brings back memories. My Dad owned a little neighborhood bar, we lived upstairs. When “Sing Along With Mitch” would come on, the entire contingent of regulars (Norm and Cliff types) would sing lustily through the whole show. Those were good days.

[Tanniker Smith]

RIP, Mitch.

To be honest, I didn't know he was still alive. Hadn't heard his name mentioned (in the present tense) is quite a while.

And the last time was probably a Robin Hood joke about "mitch" the miller's son.

[TomServo]

Watched him all the time...

Good, clean fun...

RIP, Mitch..

[reagan_fanatic]

If other bloggers do not know what a cassette tape is, google it, I had enough trouble explaining it to my 14 year old.

LOL. I was enthralled with cassette tapes and recording music on them. I remember my Dad bought me a portable cassette player/recorder, and I snuck it into a Foreigner concert back in the 70's.

The music was so loud that it completely overwhelmed the built-in microphone, and I ended up with a cassette tape of nothing but distortion.

I have 3 children now, one who is 21. I'm not even gonna attempt to explain what a cassette tape is to them.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Ah, the Yellow Rose of Texas...with that snare drum.