Mitchell Parish(1900-1993)
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Mitchell Parish was born Michael Hyman Peretz in Lithuania. He came to
USA at age seven months and lived in Louisiana until about age four
when he moved to New York City. His whole family changed its name to
Parish soon after arriving in America; Parish changed his first name to
Mitchell when he became a songwriter in 1919. Parish penned many
outstanding song hits, including "Sweet Lorraine" (1927), "Star Dust"
(1929), "Mood Indigo" (1931, uncredited), "Sophisticated Lady" (1933),
"Don't Be That Way" (1936), "Deep Purple, " "Moonlight Serenade" (both
1939), "Sleigh Ride" (1950), and "Volare" (1958). Only one hit came
from a film: 1953's "Ruby." Parish returned to college at mid-life and
graduated from New York University summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa in
1950. He married Molly Lillienfeld (d. 1979) in 1922. They had two
daughters and a son. Mitchell Parish died in New York City on 31 March
1993. He is buried at Beth David Cem. in Elmont, L.I., N.Y.
