Brace yourself: Mitch Miller, the king of the sing-along, the friendly musician who plays with the greats and yet relates to the commoners, the conductor who is coming to Salt Lake City this weekend to lead the Utah Symphony and Chorus, is 87 years old.
"Is he still alive?" Miller said with a laugh, referring to himself, in an interview with the Deseret News from his New York home.The music veteran has been involved with his profession since the 1930s on his preferred instrument (oboe), singing or conducting orchestras and choirs. He was also head of the popular records division at Columbia Records for 12 years -- during his tenure he introduced the world to such performers as Doris Day, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis and others.
(He modestly describes himself in his artistic heyday as "the best oboe player in the world.")
So why, after accomplishing so much, and living so long, isn't he relaxing on an island somewhere?
As he is prone to do, Miller answers the question with a home-spun adage: "Don't look back -- they may be gaining on you."
Later, when the subject comes up again, he produces another one: "Wear out, don't rust out."
When Miller comes to Abravanel Hall Friday, Saturday and Monday, he will conduct the symphony and chorus in a well-honed program of light Christmas music ("Sleigh Ride," "Deck the Halls"), some classics ("Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's "Messiah," Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring"), movie tracks ("March of the Toys" from "Babes in Toyland," selections from "The Wizard of Oz") and, of course, various Christmas chestnut sing-alongs with the audience ("White Christmas," "Frosty the Snowman," "Joy to the World").
Miller sold more than 20 million copies of his sing-along albums in the 1960s and 1970s. You probably have one yourself. Until the Beatles came along, he was the best-selling artist in the record business.
The sing-along idea was born in 1958. Miller was in his Columbia Records office socializing with the staff, and one fellow, just out of the Army, suggested that he do a record of "barracks ballads" that soldiers sing to while away the time.
"The idea kept nagging at me," Miller said. "Why not do the songs that everybody knows?"
And he did. His intent was to produce music that people could play and sing along with in the car, "to keep the natives from getting too restless."
Miller insists what he did was not at all new but that he was successful because he gave it the right spin.
"Milton Berle did it on radio with his community sing," he said. "People had sheet music. The idea is not new -- it's how you do the idea. You try your best to set the stage."
Having been on the business side of things, Miller has opinions not only about the music per se. He has learned a thing or two about management, and he's not afraid of telling arts organization managers what they're doing wrong.
"If you reach my age and you have enough money in the bank, you don't put up with fools gladly," he said. "I offend a lot of managers. Because of their lack of ability, many orchestras are in trouble."
But not, he says, if they bring Miller to town. He's garrulous, plain-speaking, occasionally profane and the years have not damaged his self-confidence.
"If people know I'm in town, that place will be full," he said. "Every time I go someplace I talk to all the newspapers, all the radio stations, because if people know I'm there, they'll come."
While he has a dim opinion of how some symphonies are operated, Miller praises the Salt Lake art scene.
"I think what you've done with the arts is just marvelous," he said. "The symphony, the ballet -- I used to play a lot with Maurice Abravanel, you know."
Tickets to the performances, titled "Yuletide Joy," range from $18 to $35. They can be purchased through ArtTix, 355-ARTS. Friday's and Saturday's concerts will begin at 8 p.m., Monday's at 7 p.m.