The Original Eminem

Mitch Miller just died. Who knew he was still around?

As a top man at Columbia records, he was a highly influential figure in pop music, especially during the early days of rock and roll, a music he despised. He passed on Elvis Presley. But he couldn't keep the music at bay forever. In the 60s, John Hammond convinced him to sign a young folksinger, Bob Dylan. That helped give Columbia the credibility that made it attractive to other acts as rock music took over.

He was also a popular recording artist himself, doing songs that would be considered quite corny today. He was probably best known to the public as host of Sing Along With Mitch in the 60s, entertainment for the whole family. The old-style music and four-square arrangements of songs that everyone knew were effectively killed by rock. Mitch had correctly identified the enemy.