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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZMITCHELL, Guy(b Al Cernick, 27 Feb. '27) Enormously popular, likeable if light-weight pop singer of early '50s. Born in Yugoslavia, grew up in Detroit, joined US Navy '45, signed with Columbia '50 and had 22 top 40 hits, mostly novelties and pseudo-folksongs prod. by Mitch Miller which Frank Sinatra refused to record. First were 'My Heart Cries For You' (adapted from an 18th-century French tune by Percy Faith), 'The Roving Kind' (from an English folk song; also recorded by the Weavers), 'You're Just In Love' (duet with Rosemary Clooney on song from Broadway's Call Me Madam), 'Sparrow In The Tree Top', 'My Truly, Truly Fair', 'Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania', all with Miller's trademark whooping French horns and jolly vulgarity which went down well on radio in the early '50s. (See entries for Miller and songwriter Bob Merrill.) He also sang Hank Williams's 'I Can't Help It', did duets with Mindy Carson (b 16 July '27, NYC; sang with Paul Whiteman on radio, had hits on RCA early '50s), many more, all '50--53. Just when his era seemed to be over, he had his biggest hit and first no. 1 with cover of Marty Robbins's country hit 'Singing The Blues' '56, did it again with Ray Price's 'Heartaches By The Number' '59. He remained popular in the UK, where he could tour any time he wanted. |