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.