DENNY DOHERTY & THE HALIFAX THREE - - THE MAN WHO WOULDN'T SING ALONG WITH MITCH MILLER

Mitch Miller, who died at age 99 (July 4, 1911 – July 31, 2010) was best known for his "follow the bouncing ball" TV series "Sing Along with Mitch" (1961-1964). A few years earlier, Mitch "and the gang" of middle-aged choristers were making albums that featured gatefolds and multiple sets of lyrics so everyone could gather around the speakers and bellow folk songs, pop hits and Christmas tunes.

Everybody liked to sing along with Mitch! Except… "The Man Who Wouldn't Sing Along with Mitch." The tune, a distant relative to the Kingston Trio's "M.T.A." and other jokey folk-novelties, creased the Top 100 as the only success for The Halifax Three. It was probably just as well that they broke up. It forced member Denny Doherty, to move on to bigger things. Like "The Mugwumps," then "The New Journeymen," then "The Magic Circle" which became "The Mamas and the Papas."

Before he became a TV personality, or had hit singles, Mitch Miller was a producer. He worked with a wide range of 50's MOR acts, matching up songs to artists and dictating the production values. Patti Page's "How Much is that Doggie in the Window," Jimmy Boyd's "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," Rosemary Clooney's 'Come on-a My House" and Doris Day's "Que Sera" top most anyone's list of drivel, and are reasons why Miller's reputation is so poor today. Boyd grew up and Clooney salvaged her reputation via Nelson Riddle, but the double-edged sword for Patti and Doris is that they made a fortune with their Miller tales…but were never taken seriously as quality singers. And both were, especially Page, who could validly sing blues, jazz, standards, gospel, C&W and even rock. It's no surprise that critic Will Friedwald wrote: "Miller exemplified the worst in American pop. He first aroused the ire of intelligent listeners by trying to turn — and darn near succeeding in turning — great artists...into hacks. Miller chose the worst songs and put together the worst backings imaginable…"

There were a few exceptions. While Sinatra did indeed rebel against Mitch (who tossed Sinatra throw-aways to Guy Mitchell), Tony Bennett has to be glad that Mitch handed him his signature tune "Rags to Riches." Mitch worked beautifully in turning Frankie Laine into an unlikely Western balladeer ("Mule Train") and bombastic pop star ("Jezebel" and "I Believe"). Miller gave himself hearty hits, leading his band and his "gang" in singing "The Yellow Rose of Texas" in 1955, and a few years later "Colonel Bogey March" (the whistling theme for "Bridge On the River Kwai") and "The Children's Marching Song" (aka "This Old Man" or "Nick Nack Paddy Wack.") People liked this shit. This was the 50's. It wasn't as if Mitch Miller villainously brainwashed people into buying it.

Ultimately, history's verdict is that Miller produced a lot of corny junk that reflected the complacently lame 50's, but that at his best…whether with Tony Bennett on "Rags to Riches" or Frankie Laine on "Mule Train," he helped create pop music that is still memorable. Of course many of his productions are very, very hard to forget no matter how hard you try. In other words your mind can easily make you hear Patti Page's voice and Miller's production as you read these lines: "How much is that doggie in the window, the one with the waggly tail…"


THE MAN WHO WOULDN'T SING ALONG WITH MITCH…with Denny Doherty part of THE HALIFAX THREE