[Dixielandjazz] Mitch Miller (Washington Post)

[Robert Ringwald]

Hal Vickery wrote in part, regarding Mitch Miller:

 (snip)
maybe he could have raised his standards and those of the listening public by not playing to the lowest common denominator.

After reading the obit, I dislike him even more than I did before.  
(snip)


Hal,  Them's pretty strong words about a guy who was making a living giving the public what they obviously wanted.  

I made my living for 25 years playing music, supporting a wife and 3-kids.  Sometimes I worked playing piano bar 7-nights a week, also cocktail hours, some noon lunches and lots of what we call on the West Coast, Casuals and on the East Coast, Club Jobs.  They are private parties, one gig for a country club, birthday, wedding, or whatever.  Most of the time I played crap because that is what I was getting paid to play.  

Even now, while I don't make my living playing music, I still work an average of 3 gigs a week.  So then, do you also dislike me?  


--Bob Ringwald