About
"There never was a bouncing ball. Everyone says there was a bouncing ball, but we just had the lyrics."
In his two-and-a-half-hour interview, Mitch Miller (1911-2010) talks about his early musical interests and playing the oboe in high school. He talks about his first professional jobs in Rochester, NY, and his move to New York City. He mentions working with George Gershwin and describes the orchestration of "Rhapsody in Blue." He talks about joining the CBS Orchestra in the mid-1930s and appearing with them on radio through the 1940s. He discusses working at Mercury Records and then Columbia Records, nurturing musical talent (such as Johnny Mathis), and developing hit songs (including "I Believe"). Miller talks about providing the song "Let Me Go Lover" to the CBS drama anthology series Studio One, which became an instant hit record for then-unknown Joan Weber. He briefly mentions his own hit record, "The Yellow Rose of Texas." He speaks about getting his first exposure with sing-along songs on television with the special Startime: Sing Along with Mitch. Miller then speaks in great detail about his famed 1960's television series resulting from this special, Sing Along with Mitch. B-roll consists of a shot of a Look magazine cover, along with shots of the issue's article and internal photos. Karen Herman conducted the interview on July 24, 2004 in New York, NY.
Highlights
Mitch Miller on producing his own first album, "Sing Along with Mitch," and on starting to become famous
Mitch Miller on making the transition to television; on his series Sing Along with Mitch
Mitch Miller on the production and format of Sing Along with Mitch and the simplicity of the show
Mitch Miller on Leslie Uggams, who was a featured vocalist on Sing Along with Mitch
Mitch Miller on joining the CBS Orchestra in 1936
Mitch Miller on producing the popular song, "The Yellow Rose of Texas"
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early years and influences; on deciding to become a professional musician; on his earliest jobs as a musician
On playing music on the radio; on playing with George Gershwin; on joining the CBS Orchestra in 1936 and on playing for Orson Welles' "Mercury Theatre" radio show
Chapter 2
On working with Bernard Hermann on radio's "Mercury Theater" and on "The War of the Worlds"; on becoming a producer for Mercury Records; on becoming a producer for Columbia Records; on working with Rosemary Clooney and Frank Sinatra
On the popular music of the early 1950s when he was producing records, and on what he looked for in a song; on promotion for Columbia Records and his Monday sessions; on the changing technology of recording music in the 1950s; on the various artists he worked with
Chapter 3
On producing records for Johnny Mathis; on Studio One using a song he produced, "Let Me Go Devil," which became a big hit; on producing the popular song, "The Yellow Rose of Texas"
On the record industry in the 1950s and the "payola" scandal; on producing his own first album, "Sing Along with Mitch," and on starting to become famous; on making the transition to television; on his series Sing Along with Mitch
Chapter 4
On the "Sing Along with Mitch" episode of Ford Startime, which led to his regular series; on Sing Along with Mitch spinning off from an episode of Ford Startime; on the production and format of Sing Along with Mitch and the simplicity of the show
On the skits and sketches that were performed on Sing Along with Mitch; on getting the rights to the songs he performed on Sing Along with Mitch; on the number of shows per year; on his conducting style on television; on the featured vocalists on the show
On having the lyrics on the screen while the songs played on Sing Along with Mitch; on the end of Sing Along with Mitch and on the rise of Rock 'n' Roll
Chapter 5
On appearing on Person to Person with Edward R. Murrow, What's My Line?, and Password; on guest-starring on The Leslie Uggams Show and Car 54, Where Are You?; on his activities after his show was cancelled; on his conducting style
On his political activism; on John F. Kennedy's assassination; on his greatest achievement and the power of television; on music on television
On music he enjoys; on his fans; on his advice to an aspiring music professional; on how he would like to be remembered
On B-roll of photos and memorabilia from his career
Shows
Car 54, Where Are You?
Mitch Miller on guest-starring on The Leslie Uggams Show and Car 54, Where Are You?, and on his activities after his show was cancelled
Ford Startime
Mitch Miller on the "Sing Along with Mitch" episode of Ford Startime, which led to his regular series
Leslie Uggams Show, The
Mitch Miller on guest-starring on The Leslie Uggams Show and Car 54, Where Are You?, and on his activities after his show was cancelled
Password
Mitch Miller on appearing on Person to Person with Edward R. Murrow, What's My Line? and Password
Person to Person
Mitch Miller on appearing on Person to Person with Edward R. Murrow, What's My Line?, and Password
Sing Along with Mitch
Mitch Miller on making the transition to television and his series Sing Along with Mitch
Mitch Miller on Sing Along with Mitch spinning off from an episode of Ford Startime
Mitch Miller on the production and format of Sing Along with Mitch and the simplicity of the show
Mitch Miller on the skits and sketches that were performed on Sing Along with Mitch
Mitch Miller on getting the rights to the songs he performed on Sing Along with Mitch; on the number of shows per year
Mitch Miller on Leslie Uggams, who was a featured vocalist on Sing Along with Mitch
Mitch Miller on Sing Along with Mitch's featured vocalists Diana Trask, Gloria Lambert, Bob McGrath, and Louise O'Brien
Mitch Miller on having the lyrics on the screen while the songs played on Sing Along with Mitch
Mitch Miller on the end of Sing Along with Mitch, and on the rise of Rock 'n' Roll
Studio One
Mitch Miller on Studio One using a song he produced, "Let Me Go Devil," which became a big hit
What's My Line?
Mitch Miller on appearing on Person to Person with Edward R. Murrow, What's My Line?, and Password
Topics
Advice
Mitch Miller on his advice to an aspiring music professional
Civil Rights Movement
Mitch Miller on Leslie Uggams, who was a featured vocalist on Sing Along with Mitch
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Mitch Miller on how he first came to play music - through his father and through the public schools in Rochester, NY
Historic Events and Social Change
Mitch Miller on Leslie Uggams, who was a featured vocalist on Sing Along with Mitch
Mitch Miller on his political activism and John F. Kennedy's assassination
JFK Assassination and Funeral
Mitch Miller on his political activism and John F. Kennedy's assassination
Pivotal Career Moments
Mitch Miller on how he first came to play music - through his father and through the public schools in Rochester, NY
Representation on Television
Mitch Miller on Leslie Uggams, who was a featured vocalist on Sing Along with Mitch
Technological Innovation
Mitch Miller on the changing technology of recording music in the 1950s
Television Industry
Mitch Miller on Leslie Uggams, who was a featured vocalist on Sing Along with Mitch
Mitch Miller on his greatest achievement and the power of television
Mitch Miller on music on television
Mitch Miller on his advice to an aspiring music professional
Underrepresented Voices
Mitch Miller on Leslie Uggams, who was a featured vocalist on Sing Along with Mitch
Professions
Music Professionals
Mitch Miller on the popular music of the early 1950s when he was producing records, and on what he looked for in a song
Mitch Miller on his conducting style on television
Mitch Miller on his conducting style
Mitch Miller on his advice to an aspiring music professional
Musician
Mitch Miller on his conducting style on television
Mitch Miller on his conducting style
Mitch Miller on his advice to an aspiring music professional
Genres
Classic Anthology Series
Mitch Miller on Studio One using a song he produced, "Let Me Go Devil," which became a big hit
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Mitch Miller on making the transition to television; on his series Sing Along with Mitch
Mitch Miller on creating and hosting Sing Along with Mitch
People
Rosemary Clooney
Mitch Miller on working with Rosemary Clooney when he was a producer at Columbia Records
George Gershwin
Mitch Miller on playing with George Gershwin
Bernard Herrmann
Mitch Miller on working with Bernard Hermann on "Mercury Theater" and on "The War of the Worlds"
John F. Kennedy
Mitch Miller on his political activism and John F. Kennedy's assassination
Gloria Lambert
Mitch Miller on Sing Along with Mitch's featured vocalists Diana Trask, Gloria Lambert, Bob McGrath, and Louise O'Brien
Johnny Mathis
Mitch Miller on producing records for Johnny Mathis
Bob McGrath
Mitch Miller on Sing Along with Mitch's featured vocalists Diana Trask, Gloria Lambert, Bob McGrath, and Louise O'Brien
Louise O'Brien
Mitch Miller on Sing Along with Mitch's featured vocalists Diana Trask, Gloria Lambert, Bob McGrath, and Louise O'Brien
Frank Sinatra
Mitch Miller on working Frank Sinatra when he was a producer at Columbia Records
Diana Trask
Mitch Miller on Sing Along with Mitch's featured vocalists Diana Trask, Gloria Lambert, Bob McGrath, and Louise O'Brien
Leslie Uggams
Mitch Miller on Leslie Uggams, who was a featured vocalist on Sing Along with Mitch
Orson Welles
Mitch Miller on playing in the orchestra for Orson Welles' "Mercury Theatre" radio show