The 1970 Hit Song Mill Valley, by Miss Abrams and the Strawberry Point 4th Grade Class

Miss Abrams and the Strawberry Point 4th Grade Class

From Mill Valley: The Song:

In 1970, Rita Abrams, a kindergarten teacher at the Mill Valley Strawberry Point School, wrote a song for her students to sing with her. Through a series of events explained below by Rita, the song, entitled Mill Valley and sung by Rita and the then-third grade class of Strawberry Point School, was recorded and became a nationwide hit. ... Note: Although the song was recorded with the third grade class, by the time the album was released the students had graduated to fourth grade, thus the title of the album, Miss Abrams and the Strawberry Point 4th Grade Class.

And here's Rita Abrams in March 2000 reminiscing about her time in the spotlight 30 years earlier:

Then began a storm of disc jockey calls to the school ("Is there really a Strawberry Point School?" "is there really a teacher named Miss Abrams?"). The secretary had a field day, bouncing into the classroom: 'Washington's on the phone...long distance from Miami...CANADA'S calling!" Followed by Newsweek, Life Magazine and Rolling Stone. Annie Liebowitz stood on top of the piano to take our picture.

JELLO called for us to do a commercial. And I refused, because it would have been everything crass and commercial for us - a real class and a real teacher - to get up there on national TV advertising a product (and one that had sugar in it, no less). The Steve Allen Show called, The Smothers Brothers (my brother took me to the studio, and there was his idol, Little Richard, on the same show with me!), and To Tell The Truth ("Will the real Rita Abrams please stand up"). And then it was July 4, and when we sang the song for the Mill Valley 4th of July celebration, a camera crew from Warner Bros. followed us around, directed by an unknown filmmaker named Francis Ford Coppola.

And so it went. We recorded an album. Our story appeared in many languages, and fan letters poured in from everywhere. I still have them all. ("Dear Miss Abrams: You have a nice face. Do something with your hair.") The kids had fun, the parents loved it, my parents loved it, and for me, the fame lasted just long enough to launch a more low-key career as a composer for children's films, novelty songs, greeting cards, and now stage plays.

As I recount this story, I relive the miracle of it all, and feel so thankful for the gift it has been to me. The memories never stop being gratifying. I'll always treasure Erik Jacobsen for what he brought into my life. And all the while, I've stayed in Mill Valley, where I've raised my eighteen-year-old daughter (younger than the children of some of the "kids" who sang on the record). And now, this new chapter. How lucky can one ex-hippie girl be?

You know, I always thought Miss Abrams would prove to be a nice person if i ever met her, and this proves me right. And the song still sounds as fresh and young as it did 34 years ago -- it has kind of an "everyman" quality that will remind you of every grade school sing-along you've ever been too. A Nice Person, A Nice Song, A Nice Story: What More Could You Want?

UPDATE: That Francis Ford Coppola video that Rita Abrams mentioned is now on YouTube.

ANOTHER UPDATE: This album/CD is now available as a non-DRM MP3 download at eMusic.com.

Comments

[coach suitcase]

Believe in the goodness of others and remember that anger and depression can be countered by love and hope.

[Bill Hargis]

I have searched and searched for this song.
I used to hear it on the radio in Colorado Springs, Colorado back during, what was a turning point in my life and the very BEST of times, the Summer of 1970!
I have tried over the years to collect copies of all of the songs, from that particular summer, but this one had alluded me until now! For some reason it had gotten into my head it was Sun Valley, California that was their home...GOD knows why! But it pleases me, this evening, to be visiting an old girlfriend of mine who actually teaches elementary school music. We were sitting here, with TCM on, and an old documentary short on a movie filmed in Sun Valley came on and I decided to check things out on my Iphone and see if I got any luckier looking for it than I have been previous times on my computer, and lo and behold!
Do it was sweet to be able to listen to it for the first time in 42 years with her and share the magic of a memory!
I have Sung lots of shows with Houston Grand Opera and Theatre Under the Stars in Houston. I have toured a musical production, playing George M. Cohan, singing in 49 states and 30 foreign countries. I have sung on national television. I can tell you, if that is just one note Miss Abrams sings in her song then it is all the more remarkable for she succeeds in making it the only note necessary to evoke just the right feeling in THIS heart!
I'm guessing I remembered the wrong valley, all of this time, because the warmth of this song just made it FEEL like the Sun came out!
And, while making my way through one of life's valleys, I am grateful for the still steady glow of this sweet song!