Mitch Miller - Tribute (1911-2010)

Mitchell William "Mitch" Miller (July 4, 1911 -- July 31, 2010) was an American musician, singer, conductor, record producer, A&R man and record company executive. One of the most influential figures in American popular music during the 1950s and early 1960s, both as the head of Artists and Repertoire at Columbia Records and as a best-selling recording artist, he is sometimes thought of as the creator of what would become karaoke with his NBC-TV series, Sing Along with Mitch. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester in the early 1930s, Miller began his musical career as an accomplished player of the oboe and English horn, and recorded several highly regarded classical albums featuring his instrumental work, but he is best remembered as a conductor, choral director, television performer and recording executive.

Miller took up the oboe at first as a teenager, because it was the only instrument available when he went to audition for his junior high school orchestra. A talented oboist, at 15 he played with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra and after graduating from high school he attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester. He graduated in 1932 with honors.

After graduating from Eastman, Miller played with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and then moved to New York City where he performed with David Mannes, Andre Kostelanetz, Percy Faith, George Gershwin and Charlie Parker.

Miller played the prominent English horn part in the largo movement of Dvorak's New World Symphony in a famous 1947 recording conducted by Leopold Stokowski.

As part of the CBS Symphony, Miller participated in the musical accompaniment in the infamous radio broadcast of Orson Welles's The War of the Worlds.

Mitch Miller, who fought with Frank Sinatra over song selection at Columbia Records in the early 1950's, is dead at 99.

Miller helped shape musical tastes in the 1950s and early '60s as the head of the popular music division at Columbia Records and hosted the hit "Sing Along With Mitch" TV show in the early '60s while becoming one of the era's most commercially successful recording artists, has died. He was 99.

Miller died Saturday after a short illness at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said his daughter, Margaret Miller Reuther.

He was famous for picking hits for Columbia's stable of singers, including Doris Day and Rosemary Clooney, however not every singer agreed with Miller's instincts. In 1951, he convinced Frank Sinatra to record "Mama Will Bark," a duet with TV's busty blond actress-comedian Dagmar, on which barking and growling noises are heard.

The song, which reached No. 21 on the Billboard chart, is often cited as the worst song Sinatra ever recorded. The Frank is said to have never forgiven Miller for "Mama Will Bark," and he and Miller argued constantly over material.

Frank Sinatra, in fact, blamed Miller for the downward spiral of his singing career and in 1953 he left Columbia for Capitol Records. Miller strongly disagreed with Sinatra's accusations then, and continued to do so decades later.

"When I came to Columbia, he was already at the nadir of his career," Miller told the Chicago Tribune in 1987. "He had lost his television show, he had lost his movie contract, he was chasing after Ava [Gardner], he was behind in his income taxes. In short, his records would not sell, his voice was gone."

Now Mitch Miller is gone.

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[Shabannie]

We used to have a record with his sing along music when I was a child. You made a nice tribute for him.

-------Ellen

[MillerCaster0]

My name is Mitchell James Miller and music is my love also it is sad to see someone with he same love and same name as myself We will miss you now and forever.

[epgrove1961]

Mitchell William Miller was musical genius. He had an ear and rare talent for assembling great vocal talent. One of my favorite Mitch Miller & The Gang albums is "Holiday Sing Along With Mitch". Very Merry Christmas from Mitch Miller. R.I.P. to "The Music Maestro" 1911-2010.

[1949dbd]

Forgive me if I correct you. It was Friday Night's, at least is Saint Louis, Missouri, it was at 6:30 PM on NBC, KSD-TV, Channel 5, and it was " GREAT "!! I only wish my children, and grandchildren had this kind of entertainment to relate to. I'll never forget it, and wish this was back again.

[epgrove1961]

Christmas is all about Holiday Sing Along with Mitch Miller & The Gang. A wonderful album. Mitch "The Maestro" Miller. I'll never forget Saturday Night Sing Along with Mitch Miller and him saying ......just follow the bouncing ball. A musical legend whos music will live on forever.

[lorrydienno]

THANKS FOR THIS POSTING  GREAT MEMORIES

ALWAYS A HAPPY HOUR "SING ALONG WITH MITCH"

[MrBilldodd]

Absolutely great tribute. Thanks for the selection of tunes and photos. Really enjoyed this video.

[user225937]

Mitch Miller was wonderful. Thanks



[honestyjones]

GOD I LOVED THIS MAN!! ND.. AS A KID I PLAYED CLARNET AND HE WAS THE BEST!! A ONE IN A MILLION TALENT!!

[epgrove1961]

Mitch Miller and his musical talents will be missed forever and an eternity. He was "The Maestro"