Guy Mitchell
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Guy Mitchell was a Croatian-American Traditional Pop Artist. He became popular singer in early 50's. Thirty-five of his recordings achieved hit parade status, five of them reaching the No. 1 spot in Britain. He had six, million selling discs and, by the end of the 1950's, total record sales had exceeded forty four million. One of his biggest hit singles released was "Singing The Blues".
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About
Guy Mitchell or "Albert George Cernik" in real life was born on February 22, 1927 in Detroit, Michigan into a Yugoslavian immigrant family. At three years old, he already made his first appearance, at a wedding reception. In 1938, The Cernick family moved across the country in search of a place they liked, before reaching Los Angeles. In 1949, he was spotted by a talent scout and signed up as a child performer at Warner Bros. Studios that same year, and managed to broadcast over a studio-controlled radio station. In 1940, the family moves to San Francisco and at the same time, it also ended his career in Warner Bros, but he kept taking voice lessons. At the age of 17, he works as an apprentice saddle-maker, supplementing his income by singing wherever he could. It was at this time; Guy came to the notice of Dude Martin who signed him to sing with his Country Band on their regular radio broadcasts in San Francisco.
In 1944, he served in the United States Navy. In 1947, after service in the U.S. Navy, Guy made his first recordings, using his real name, "Al Cernick", with Carmen Cavallaro at Decca's Recording Studios, Los Angeles. However, due to food poisoning, he was forced to leave Carmen decided to try his luck in New York. Over the next two years, he made a number of excellent records for the King label under the name of Al Grant, and won first prize on Arthur Godfrey's Talents Scouts radio program. He was hired as a demo singer by various music publishers.
In 1950, Guy signed a recording contract under Columbia Records. He was introduced to "Mitch Miller". Mitch is the head of Artist and Reportory for Columbia. Mitch changed Al Cernick into Guy Mitchell. His first five singles failed to top the chart. Frank rescued the career of Guy when Frank declined to cut a pair of songs which Mitch had already set recording sessions and engaged musicians. The song "The Roving Kind", originally for Frank was given to Guy. In 1951, the single chartered for 21 weeks and sold two million copies.
Thus started a spring of hits like, "Pennsylvania", "Sparrow In The Treetop", "My Truly, Truly Fair", "Belle, Belle, My Liberty Belle", "She Wears Red Feathers", "Look At That Girl" and many more with the distinctive French horns of the Mitch Miller Orchestra. Guy became popular in England, where his shows were consistent sell-outs. It was in 1956 that he scored his biggest success by releasing the single, "Singing The Blues" which sold more than ten million copies worldwide. The song also chartered in American Charts for 10 weeks.
Other hit songs followed like, "Knee Deep In The Blues" and "Rock-A-Billy". He also did a duet with Rosemary Clooney, Mindy Carson and Doris Day. Indeed, early 50’s were a great year for Guy. Thirty-five of his recordings achieved hit parade status, five of them reaching the No. 1 spot in Britain. He had six, million selling discs and, by the end of the 1950's, total record sales had exceeded forty four million. He also did the blockbuster movies, "Those Redheads From Seattle" alongside with "Teresa Brewer" and "Red Garters" with "Rosemarie Clooney". In 1954, Guy was honored to appear in the Royal Variety Show at the London Palladium before Her Majesty, The Queen and Prince Philip.
In 1961, Guy left Columbia due to the reason that his singles were failing to top the charts. He retired in the mid-'60s, but like any number of '50s singing stars, Guy later hit it big on the nostalgia circuit. He returned in the 80's by appearing on a 3-hour U.S.A television tribute to "Mitch Miller". From that time, he did several movies, released several singles and doing concert tours. In July 1, 1999, Guy died at the Desert Springs Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA after complications following surgery. He was 72.
Chart Toppers
News
Tours & Concerts
Announcements
There are no announcements as of this time
Discography
Albums
 Guy in Love
1959 |
 Sunshine Guitar
1960 |
Travelin' Shoes
2968 |
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 Sings
1995 |
 Roving Kind
2004 |
Singles
Compilations & Live Releases
 18 Greatest Hits
August 20, 1997 |
 Great Guy Mitchell
September 15, 1999 |
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 Definitive Guy Mitchell
June 13, 2000 |
 Collection
August 17, 2004 |
