Mitch Miller, host of the popular sixties television series, “Sing Along With Mitch”, passed away Monday at a hospital in New York at the age of 99.
Miller was one the most popular music producers of the twentieth century and is credited with discovering and launching the careers of Rosemary Clooney, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis and Patti Page. He was also well known for turning down rock and roll acts Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley, preferring instead older styles of pop, jazz and the classics.
During the 1950’s Miller became the head of Columbia Records popular music division and was responsible for turning classical and international folk tunes into hits.
Miller is noted for recording over twenty albums that featured songs from past decades and achieved 19 top 40 hits.
In 1961 NBC launched “Sing Along With Mitch”, a show that is said to be the forerunner to modern day karaoke. The program aired until 1964.
Born Mitchell William Miller, on July 4th, 1911, he performed with the CBS orchestra in 1935, played jazz and worked with Orson Welles’ Mercury Theatre.
