Mitchell Parish facts for kids

Mitchell Parish (born Michael Hyman Pashelinsky; July 10, 1900 – March 31, 1993) was an American lyricist. He was famous for writing the words to many popular songs. These songs were used in plays, movies, and musical shows.

Early Life and Education

Mitchell Parish was born in July 1900 in Lithuania. At that time, Lithuania was part of the Russian Empire. His family moved to the United States on February 3, 1901. He was less than a year old when they arrived.

They first settled in Louisiana, where his grandmother had family. Later, they moved to New York City. Mitchell grew up in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. He went to public schools there.

He studied at Columbia University and N.Y.U.. He was a member of a special honor society called Phi Beta Kappa. Even though he studied law, he decided to become a songwriter instead. He started by writing special songs for vaudeville shows. Vaudeville was a popular type of entertainment with different acts.

By the late 1920s, Parish was a well-known lyricist in Tin Pan Alley. This was a famous area in New York City where many music publishers and songwriters worked.

Family Connections

Mitchell Parish's grandnephew, Steve Parish, was a roadie for the band Grateful Dead. A roadie helps set up and manage equipment for a music band. Steve wrote about Mitchell Parish meeting Jerry Garcia in his book, Home Before Day Light.

Music Career Highlights

Mitchell Parish's first regular job was with music publisher Jack Mills. He earned $12 a week to write funny lyrics for vaudeville acts. He also worked as a "song-plugger," which meant he helped make songs popular.

His first big hit was "Carolina Rolling Stone" in 1922. It was recorded by the musical comedy team Van and Schenck. Parish often wrote lyrics for existing melodies. These melodies sometimes came from other languages or were based on classical music.

He worked with many famous composers. Some of them include Hoagy Carmichael, Duke Ellington, Peter De Rose, Leroy Anderson, Glenn Miller, Sammy Fain, and Benny Goodman.

Parish was one of the first people to be added to the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Many of his lyrics were romantic and beautiful. Songs like "Stardust", "Stairway to the Stars", "Deep Purple", and "Moonlight Serenade" are examples. Other songwriters called him "the poet laureate of the profession." This means they thought he was the best at writing song lyrics.

In 1987, Parish said he wrote the lyrics for Duke Ellington's famous song "Mood Indigo." However, the lyrics were officially credited to Irving Mills. He felt a bit sad about this, but not angry anymore.

Famous Songs and Collaborations

Mitchell Parish wrote the lyrics for many well-known songs. These include "Stardust," "Sweet Lorraine," and "Deep Purple." He also wrote "Stars Fell on Alabama" and "Sophisticated Lady."

He translated songs from other languages into English. For example, he wrote the English lyrics for "Volare" and "Blue Skirt Waltz." Other famous songs include "Moonlight Serenade," "Mr. Ghost Goes to Town," and "Sleigh Ride."

"One Morning in May" and "Louisiana Fairy Tale" are also his works. "Louisiana Fairy Tale" was the first theme song for the TV show This Old House.

Parish worked closely with Hoagy Carmichael on "Stardust." They also created other songs together, like "Riverboat Shuffle" and "One Morning in May."

In 1949, Parish added lyrics to a tune by bandleader Al Goodman. The song was called "The Allen Stroll." It was played when radio comedian Fred Allen walked down "Allen's Alley" on his show. The new song, "Carousel of Love," was first heard on The Fred Allen Show on April 4, 1949. The DeMarco Sisters sang it with Al Goodman's Orchestra.

In 1950, he wrote lyrics for Leroy Anderson's song "The Syncopated Clock." In 1951, he wrote the English lyrics for the French song "Maître Pierre." This song became "The Windmill Song" and was recorded by The Andrews Sisters.

In 1972, Mitchell Parish was added to the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He also received the Johnny Mercer Award from them.

The Story of "Stardust"

"Stardust" was first created by Hoagy Carmichael in 1927. It was a jazz instrumental song, meaning it had no words. It was inspired by the musician Bix Beiderbecke.

Mitchell Parish wrote the lyrics for "Stardust" in 1929. The song became a big hit the next year. Isham Jones and his orchestra recorded a popular version. "Stardust" became popular again during the swing era. Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey both had hit versions.

In 1940, Artie Shaw recorded "Stardust." Tommy Dorsey also recorded a second version with Frank Sinatra and the Pied Pipers.

The song continued to be popular in different music styles. In 1957, it was a hit for Billy Ward and the Dominoes. That same year, it was a main song on Nat King Cole's successful album, "Love Is the Thing."

In 1978, Willie Nelson brought "Stardust" back as a country song. It was the title track of his album "Stardust." This album sold three million copies!

"Stardust" also became the name of a musical show featuring Parish's lyrics. It was performed off-Broadway and then briefly on Broadway. It ran for 101 shows and was brought back in 1999.

Selected Song Lyrics

Work on Broadway Shows

Mitchell Parish also contributed to several Broadway shows. These were often musical revues, which are shows with songs, dances, and skits.

• Continental Varieties (1935) - He wrote lyrics for this show.
• Lew Leslie's Blackbirds of 1939 (1939) - He was a performer in this show.
• Earl Carroll's Vanities of 1940 (1940) - He wrote lyrics for this show.
• Bubbling Brown Sugar (1976) - He wrote lyrics for this show.
• Sophisticated Ladies (1981) - He wrote lyrics for the song "Sophisticated Lady" in this show.
• Stardust (1987) - This show was entirely about his lyrics.

Later Life and Death

Mitchell Parish passed away in 1993 in Manhattan, New York. He was 92 years old. He was buried in Beth David Cemetery in Elmont, New York.