I remember the song. Radio station KSFO played it all the time usually in the morning after DJ Jim Lange would do his daily "Good Morning and Happy Birthday stint around 7:20 am M-F. About 4 years ago I was in the car with my son and my ex-mother in law, he was channel surfing and the song came on and was informed that my ex was one of the 3rd graders that sang with Miss Abrams.
Jason, it's Candy. No, I never pursued teaching after college, even though I really loved children and wanted to be a kindergarten teacher. I started out at College of Marin studying pre-school education, but lost interest when I found out how intense it was. Instead, as you know I went into the wine business and we serve a lot of teachers!
Fantastic, Leslie! Did you ever see them perform it live? Have you had a chance to check out the video in the Spotlight section? See anyone you knew back then?
Speaking of which, is there anyone out there reading this that actually performed as one of the 3rd graders with Miss Abrams? If so, please write in!
I interviewed Rita awhile ago and am still typing the story up (hopefully will appear in the next Newsletter). She had some interesting info about how that song actually got made which I'll post for all to read.
I was a 3rd grader at Alto Elementary School when Rita Abrams did her sone with the 3rd graders of STRAWBERRY school. Not a Mill Valley school, to my knowlege, but next door. We all loved the song, and understood it. I still have the 45.
Yes Rita was nice and the song was OK but a lot of locals did not really appreciate someone moving here from Cleveland and putting us on the map. I remember traveling in Oregon and Washington and when people asked me where I was from , I would say Mill Valley and they thought it was somewhere up there. But after 1970 they would start singing the song and then I would have some splainin to do.
Good one Jason! Miss Abrams and the song "Mill Valley", came to my mind earlier this week and I almost started this topic myself. I think I still have the record somewhere. Believe it or not, I still can remember all the words.
I actually met Rita Abrams when I was a 6th grader at Strawberry Point School in 1968. She was a kindergarten teacher and I had to spend a week with her class when my 6th grade class went away to Outdoor Education. I didn't want to go on that trip, but I still had to attend school. That's when I decided I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher. I had so much fun that week. I loved working with young children. I changed my mind in college, but at the time, teaching was my career goal. I even went back to that same kindergarten classroom as a senior in high school for work experience credit. Of course Miss Abrams wasn't teaching there anymore, but the experience I had as a 6th grader, brought me back six years later. I remember Miss Abrams welcoming me into her class with open arms. She was the sweetest teacher. I wanted to be just like her. When the song "Mill Valley" came out, I was so excited. Not only because I lived in Mill Valley, but because I knew Miss Abrams personally! I wonder if she remembers me...
Remember "Mill Valley", the huge song from 1970 sung by a Mill Kindergarten teacher named Rita Abrams a group of children? I've posted a section of her song on the People section. I'll be interviewing her soon but enjoy the song in the meantime. Careful though...you might get it stuck in your head for a long time after you listen to it.
