Guy Mitchell

Guy Mitchell

Source: HWOF

Born Albert George Cernik on 22 February 1927 in Detroit, popular singer, Guy Mitchell, got relocated to Los Angeles as a child. Mitchell is best known for his very brief career in rock n' roll, he otherwise a vocalist of the popular genre. He issued a version of rockabilly in 1957 titled just that, 'Rock-A -Billy', preceded by 'Crazy with Love' and 'Singing the Blues' in 1956, also along the rockabilly vein. He otherwise represents wholesome fifties American pop.

Mitchell began his life as an entertainer at age eleven, signing on with Warner Brothers with intentions of becoming a film star. He also sang for KFWB in Los Angeles soon after in 1938. Working as a saddle maker after high school, among his first pro gigs upon graduating was with country musician, Dude Martin, upon moving to San Francisco. Much of Mitchell's music was of a country climate.

Mitchell joined the Navy in 1945, upon release from which in 1947 he hooked up with the Carmen Camarillo Orchestra with which he first recorded under his birth name, Al Cernik, on December 17, 1947, to yield 'I Go in When the Moon Comes Out' and 'Ah, But It Happens' (Decca 24488). Camarillo's orchestra also recorded the instrumental, 'Summer Moon'.

'I Go In When the Moon Comes Out'

Guy Mitchell as Al Cernik w Carmen Cavallaro & His Orchestra

Recorded 17 Dec 1947 in Los Angeles   Matrix L 4673

Deluxe 24488   First recording to issue

Composition: Simon / Tobias

'Ah, But It Happens'

Guy Mitchell as Al Cernik w Carmen Cavallaro & His Orchestra

Recorded 17 Dec 1947 in Los Angeles   Matrix L 4674

Deluxe 24488   Second recording to issue

Composition: Kent / Dunham

Mitchell's second session as Cernik with the Camarillo Orchestra was on December 22 for 'Dream Girl' with 'Encore, Cherie' (Decca 24330). 'Evelyn' went down for issue on Decca 24410. The instrumental, 'La Mer', also went down along with 'The Little Old Lady of Threadneedle Street' unissued.

Praguefrank's sessionography next places Cernik in New York City for a session in December of 1948 or March of 1949 for titles without release data: 'Aw My Evengeline' and 'When It's Night Time Down in Sunny Tennessee'. Those were with the Steve Sacco Orchestra. On Valentine's Day that year Cernik recorded 'The Love Nest' (MGM 10443) and 'Don't Tell My Heart' (MGM 10387) with the Buddy Kaye Quintet.

Mitchell recorded his next tracks as Al Grant with the Dewey Bergman Orchestra on 25 March of 1949 resulting in 'Cabaret' / 'I Do, I Do, I Do' (King 15004), the latter title with Louise Carlyle [Praguefrank's]. That session also saw 'Forget Me Not' (King 15045) and 'This Day Is Mine' (King 15005). A session on April 20 witnessed 'Lover's Gold' (King 15005) with the Leon Merian Orchestra. A session on August 10 with the Satisfiers Foursome came to 'I Thought I Was Dreaming' / 'I've Got a Frame Without a Picture' (King 15016) and 'You're the Sweetest Thing' (King 15045). 'I Wish I Had a Record' wouldn't see issue until 1959 on the LP, 'Sincerely Yours' (King LP 644) with other tracks here mentioned. Praguefrank's gives Mitchell's final recording as Al Grant on August 16 with Barbara Cameron for 'Love Birds' (King 15019).

'Cabaret'

Guy Mitchell as Al Grant w Dewey Bergman & His Orchestra

Recorded 25 March 1949 in NYC   Matrix K6020   King 15004

Issued on the LP 'Yours Sincerely' in 1959

Composition: Joel Cowan / Al Russell

'I Wish I Had a Record'

Guy Mitchell as Al Grant w Dewey Bergman & His Orchestra

Recorded 25 March 1949 in NYC   Matrix K6048   Unissued

Issued on the LP 'Yours Sincerely' in 1959

Composition: Joel Cowan / Al Russell

Mitchell's initial titles as Guy Mitchell also went down in New York City: 'Giddy Up!' / 'Where in the World' (Columbia 38822) on April 12, 1950, with the Percy Faith Orchestra. 'Angels Cry' / 'You're Not in My Arms Tonight' (Columbia 38931) was backed by Faith's orchestra on July 26. Faith also supported Mitchell with Rosemary Clooney on 'Marrying for Love' / 'You're Just in Love' (Columbia 39042) on October 21 with 'The Place Where I Worship' / 'The House of Singing Bamboo' (Columbia 39054).

'Angels Cry (When Sweethearts Tell a Lie)'

Guy Mitchell w Percy Faith & His Orchestra

Recorded 26 July 1950 in NYC   Matrix CO 44156   Columbia 38931

Composition: Bee Walker / Bob Merrill

'You're Not in My Arms Tonight'

Guy Mitchell w Percy Faith & His Orchestra

Recorded 26 July 1950 in NYC   Matrix CO 44157   Columbia 38931

Composition: Ned Washington / Victor Young

Mitchell's first session backed by the Mitch Miller Orchestra was on November 2, 1950, for 'My Heart Cries for You' / 'The Roving Kind' (Columbia 39067). 'My Heart Cries for You' flew to Billboard's #2 spot in December. 'The Roving Kind' reached #4. 'Sparrow in the Tree Top' found branch #8 in March of 1951. 'My Truly Truly Fair' rose to Billboard's #2 tier in June. 'Belle, Belle, My Liberty Belle' saw #9 in August. More strong titles ensued to March of 1952 when 'Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania' reached Billboard's #4. Mitchell recorded most of the LP, 'Songs of the Open Spaces' on 5 October 1952 toward issue in 1953. At least eight albums followed to 'A Garden in the Rain' in 1985. Mitchell appeared in his initial film role in 1953 as well: 'Those Redheads from Seattle' with 'Red Garters' following the next year.

'Christopher Columbus'

Guy Mitchell w Mitch Miller & His Orchestra

Recorded 6 January 1951 in NYC   Columbia 39190   Charts: #27

Composition: Ned Washington / Victor Young

'Gently Johnny'   Guy Mitchell & Doris Day w Paul Weston & His Orchestra

Recorded 9 February 1952 in Hollywood   Columbia 4-39714

Composition: Kay Twomey / Fred Wise / Ben Weisman

'Sippin' Soda'   Guy Mitchell

Recorded 28 June 1953 in Hollywood   Columbia 4-40077   Charts: #11 UK

Composition: Paul Campbell

'Singing the Blues' rang the till at #1 in October 1956, that his best performing title overall according to Music VF and TsorT. 'Rockabilly' came to #10 in April of 1957. Mitchell hosted his own television show in the United States from 1957 into 1958. His last Top Ten title was 'Heartaches By the Number' at #1 in October of 1959, after which he trailed on the charts. Per 'The Guy Mitchell Show' in 1960 below, this is one of Val Parnell's 'Saturday Spectacular' series broadcast from 1956 to 1961 in the United Kingdom.

'Singing the Blues'   Guy Mitchell   Television 1956

Recorded 25 Sep 1956 in NYC   Matrix CO 56636

Columbia 4-40769   Charts: #1 Pop #4 R&B

'Ed Sullivan Show'   18 Nov 1956   Lip-sync

Composition: Paul Campbell

'Crazy With Love'   Guy Mitchell

Recorded 25 Sep 1956 in NYC   Matrix CO 56637

Columbia 4-40769   Charts: #53

Composition: Aaron Schroeder

'Mirth and Melody'   Guy Mitchell

Short film directed by Will Cowan   Released by Universal 2 Oct 1956

'She Wears Red Feathers' composed by Bob Merrill

'Feet Up!' composed by Bob Merrill

'Rock-A-Billy'   Guy Mitchell

Recorded 7 March 1957   Columbia 4-40877   Charts: #10 US #1 UK

Composition: Woody Harris / Eddie Deane

'Heartaches By the Number'   Guy Mitchell

Recorded 24 August 1959   Columbia 41476   Charts: final Top Ten at #1

Composition: Harlan Howard

'The Alphabet Song'   Guy Mitchell & Petula Clark   Television 1960 UK

Val Parnell 'Saturday Spectacular': 'The Guy Mitchell Show'   Broadcast 27 February 1960

Jack Parnell & His Orchestra

Music: Sidney Lippman 1948   Lyrics: Buddy Kaye / Fred Wise

See also: FCSA / Petula Clark Fan Archive

Mitchell never became the film star as he'd have liked as a youth, though he contributed to a few soundtracks, such as for films mentioned above. He appeared on television numerously both as a singer and actor. Married thrice, Mitchell died on July 1, 1999, from complications arising from surgery for cancer. Mitchell did very little composing ('Every Night Is a Lifetime' 1967). Numerous of his titles had been written by Bob Merrill including 'Sparrow In the Tree Top', 'Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania', 'My Truly Truly Fair' and 'Belle, Belle, My Liberty Belle'.