Mitchell Parish

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.