Nice obit in today’s NYTs for Mitch Miller, who who was born on the Fourth of July and who died at age 99.    

His father was an immigrant from Russia. He studied to be a classicial musician, was an accomplished oboist, and, late in life, the thing he seemed to enjoy most was guest conducting for symphony orchestras.   But he also had a fine eye and ear for American non-elite culture, and starting in the 1950s, he began recording — and later, singing on TV — old familiar American tunes, and inviting the folks at home to sing along  (“Sing Along with Mitch”).   On the TV show there was a bouncing ball to help you follow the words, so you could sing along.  It was wildly popular and made him about a zillion dollars.  The critics hated it.  Almost all teenagers hated it.   The best part of the obit is that store owners who disliked teenagers congregating in theirs stores would pipe in “Sing Along with Mitch” to drive the kids away.  And apparently this worked.  What a good American story, all around.   Earth, receive an honored guest.

Categories: Aging, Disability, Death, Dying

Both comments and pings are currently closed.