Mitch Miller

Mitchell William Miller was born in Rochester, New York on July 4, 1911 and at six years of age began playing the piano, at 12 he took up the oboe, putting him on the path to become one of the most influential figures in the recording industry during the late 1940’s, 1950’s and early 60’s as a singer, conductor, record producer and head of Artists & Repertoire at Mercury and Columbia Records.

A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Mitch Miller played a major role in the recording career of numerous stars, including Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Ray Conniff, Doris Day, Frankie Laine, The Four Lads, Johnnie Ray, Johnny Mathis, Guy Mitchell, Patti Page, Jo Stafford and Jerry Vale.

As a recording artist, Mitch Miller created a string of successful albums. His “The Yellow Rose Of Texas” single topped the Hit Parade in 1955 and in the following year “Song For A Summer Night” reached the top ten. In 1958, “March From The River Kwai and Colonel Bogey” was a best seller for 29 consecutive weeks. With rock artists dominating the charts, in 1959 Mitch Miller’s “Children’s Marching Song” also hit.

In the 1960’s his top rated “Sing Along With Mitch” television program encouraged the audience to sing along by following the bouncing ball that “bounced” above the lyrics of songs that were superimposed on the screen.

In 2000 Mitch Miller received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mitch Miller is a 2008 nominee at the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.