What a great song and experience. I was a transplant from San Francisco attending Tamalpais High School and experiencing all new things and all new people. This place represented a newfound diversity in my human experience. In 1984, I was around seventeen years old and actually driving my car through Mill Valley when the song comes on the radio and I'm thinking how did they get this to play only in Mill valley? I'm like, no way... This thing is going out region wide. Then it hit me, my brain was being baptized in lore. The pride of these kids became my pride as well. I couldn't help but be curious about the nuts and bolts. In that moment I actually believe that I could do anything. After getting out of my own way in life and roadblocks that I created for myself, I actually worked at it and became a recording engineer and recorded great records for the next 20 years. I think this third grade class and their wonderful Teacher / songwriter helped inspire me to find my place while also keeping Mill Valley in my heart forever. Kudos to all of you and thank you. Kendrick Wells.
When UA-cam suggested this video, I immediately clicked. I was one of Miss Abrams' 1970 Kindergarten students. I still remember sitting in the classroom with the recording equipment. Thanks to Facebook, I reconnected with Miss Abrams a few years back, but it was nice hearing more details from that year. I think I still have a photo from the day we painted that old school bus. I never knew Tommy Tutone was my old teaching assistant. My high school self would have been really excited to know that. Most importantly, it's great to see Miss Abrams recognized. Thanks! Michael Donovan Aparicio
As one of her kindergarten students I would like to thank Ms. Abrams for her acknowledgement of our contribution. I remember singing Mill Valley and Happiest day of my life everyday in our class and even the day it was recorded. It kind of hurt that we were never recognized but I understood. BTW I'm the somewhat lost looking child holding the kindergarten class sign in the video....ahh to be 5 and a half again. Wishing you all the best.
this past weekend we were driving to Millvalley and I looked up the song on UA-cam. I love this song and I still remember it from when I was 13 years old at Juan Crespi junior high. Miss Abrams still looks great. Maybe the music to keeps her young!
When I got my teaching credential in 1991, I was student teaching at a school in Tiburon. It was a surprise treat to get to observe Ms. Abrams teaching music. She was amazing. She coaxed creativity from and with students. It was collaborative, not top down. Super impressive.
Im talking to a new bartender at our neighborhood watering hole. Says he is from mill valley. I said do you know the mill valley song? He says i sang on that record. He is in the video! Crazy! I remember marin town and country club and this song playing on the radio!
I didn't grow up in the Bay Area, but I spent most of my adult life there, and spent a lot of time in Marin since I have family there. That's my background. However, my introduction to Ms. Abrams' music is a lot more interesting. I was sitting in a mall in Hiroshima, Japan, and heard a beautiful song on the intercom. I quickly used Shazam, and the song was "Wonder" I thought it was so beautiful. Later I heard "Mill Valley" at the same mall chain in Tokyo. I love the background behind the song, and am happy that Ms. Abrams lives in Novato (where my family, former hippies, currently live) So thank you so much for this video. Loving the music, even today. My favorite it still 'Wonder'
i was driving across the desert somewhere in the southwest having recently graduated from Tam High when i first heard the song on the radio! i flipped out, bursting with pride. one comment regarding Scott's remarks on the video, about the performance at Kesar stadium, it wasn't because Candlestick wasn't built yet. i saw the Beatles there in '66, Candlestick was build in 1960.
I remember Rita from working at Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, a publishing company for textbooks. She wrote and performed songs for the film department for educational slide shows. She looks great.
2/11/24. Just caught Scott's interview singing national anthem at Kezar Stadium with the 49'ers. Super Bowl today and go 49'ers, you don't have to win big just win
I am from Midland, Michigan & I am 55 years old with autism. I did not heard of that song "Mill Valley" until now because I was 5 years old back then!! The song "Mill Valley" went to # 90 (Billboard Hot 100) & # 13 (Billboard Adult Contemporary Charts) in August of 1970. The song "Buildin' A Heaven On Earth" went to # 39 (Adult Contemporary) in January of 1971. The song "Wonder" (A&M Records) went to # 37 (Adult Contemporary) in July of 1971. The album did not chart on Billboard Top 200 Album Charts. The Norman Greenbaum song "Spirit In The Sky" went to # 3 (3 weeks) on April 18, 25 & May 2, 1970 & wrote "Buildin' A Heaven On Earth". Norman also did "Canned Ham" that peaked at # 46 (Hot 100) in July of 1970. Did A&M Records pick up that album that Reprise did?? So what happened & did Jerry Moss made the decision to release the song "Wonder"?? Thanks, Matt
Well, it appears that Rita Abrams did not take advantage of her moment of fame. It might have propelled her to even greater heights such as a TV series like Fame or Glee. The song was enchanting but I am not sure it covered all what Mill Valley is really famous for and that is its amazing hikes like the Dipsea trail to Stinson Beach. I have done this hike many times and always am shocked when other hikers tell me they drove down from Sacramento or Antioch or Pass Robles or in one case even Nevada just to do the hike on the Dipsea Trail starting from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach which takes nearly 4 hours. And there are dozens of hikes all around that mountain and even to a cabin for the public 3/4s of the way up the railroad grade trail called the West Point Inn. Many bikers will start at Mill Valley and cycle to the top of the mountain, Stinson Beach, or all the way out to Point Reyes and back or cycle over the mountain to the Fairfax-Bolinas road and then have lunch in Fairfax before cycling back. Even the locals will flock out to Stinson Beach by car on the weekends. This is what many of them love about Mill Valley, closer access to Stinson. To an outsider of Mill Valley, these are the things that are meaningful. To an insider living there I can't even say except that it is one of the most expensive places in all of Marin county to live. The song romanticizes the town much more than it really deserves because there is really nothing there but the song was very enchanting and the history and video were interesting.
Why? Does there need to be? Do black always have to be next to Whites? How many videos with blacks that have no Whites? Exactly. Do Whites would want to be next to blacks?
I was a child in a little town in Illinois - 2,000 miles away - when this song was released! Remember it well!
What a great song and experience. I was a transplant from San Francisco attending Tamalpais High School and experiencing all new things and all new people. This place represented a newfound diversity in my human experience. In 1984, I was around seventeen years old and actually driving my car through Mill Valley when the song comes on the radio and I'm thinking how did they get this to play only in Mill valley? I'm like, no way... This thing is going out region wide. Then it hit me, my brain was being baptized in lore. The pride of these kids became my pride as well. I couldn't help but be curious about the nuts and bolts. In that moment I actually believe that I could do anything. After getting out of my own way in life and roadblocks that I created for myself, I actually worked at it and became a recording engineer and recorded great records for the next 20 years. I think this third grade class and their wonderful Teacher / songwriter helped inspire me to find my place while also keeping Mill Valley in my heart forever. Kudos to all of you and thank you.
Kendrick Wells.
When UA-cam suggested this video, I immediately clicked. I was one of Miss Abrams' 1970 Kindergarten students. I still remember sitting in the classroom with the recording equipment. Thanks to Facebook, I reconnected with Miss Abrams a few years back, but it was nice hearing more details from that year. I think I still have a photo from the day we painted that old school bus. I never knew Tommy Tutone was my old teaching assistant. My high school self would have been really excited to know that. Most importantly, it's great to see Miss Abrams recognized. Thanks! Michael Donovan Aparicio
I loved the song then and still love it.
Way to go Rita. Greetings from Canada. 🇨🇦🙏
As one of her kindergarten students I would like to thank Ms. Abrams for her acknowledgement of our contribution. I remember singing Mill Valley and Happiest day of my life everyday in our class and even the day it was recorded. It kind of hurt that we were never recognized but I understood. BTW I'm the somewhat lost looking child holding the kindergarten class sign in the video....ahh to be 5 and a half again. Wishing you all the best.
this past weekend we were driving to Millvalley and I looked up the song on UA-cam. I love this song and I still remember it from when I was 13 years old at Juan Crespi junior high. Miss Abrams still looks great. Maybe the music to keeps her young!
When I got my teaching credential in 1991, I was student teaching at a school in Tiburon. It was a surprise treat to get to observe Ms. Abrams teaching music. She was amazing. She coaxed creativity from and with students. It was collaborative, not top down. Super impressive.
Im talking to a new bartender at our neighborhood watering hole. Says he is from mill valley. I said do you know the mill valley song? He says i sang on that record. He is in the video! Crazy! I remember marin town and country club and this song playing on the radio!
Many thanks to Rita Abram’s for composing and leading the children to sing Mill Valley
I didn't grow up in the Bay Area, but I spent most of my adult life there, and spent a lot of time in Marin since I have family there. That's my background. However, my introduction to Ms. Abrams' music is a lot more interesting. I was sitting in a mall in Hiroshima, Japan, and heard a beautiful song on the intercom. I quickly used Shazam, and the song was "Wonder" I thought it was so beautiful. Later I heard "Mill Valley" at the same mall chain in Tokyo. I love the background behind the song, and am happy that Ms. Abrams lives in Novato (where my family, former hippies, currently live) So thank you so much for this video. Loving the music, even today. My favorite it still 'Wonder'
i was driving across the desert somewhere in the southwest having recently graduated from Tam High when i first heard the song on the radio! i flipped out, bursting with pride. one comment regarding Scott's remarks on the video, about the performance at Kesar stadium, it wasn't because Candlestick wasn't built yet. i saw the Beatles there in '66, Candlestick was build in 1960.
WEEI in Boston used to play that song I always loved it. GREAT SONG
I lived in Hayward at the time, and what a wonderful song and feeling the song gave us. I'll always remember it.
Correction: I was in Alameda at the time the song came out.
great interview. Fun to re visit this!. Would of been in that third grade class had we not moved a year earlier. Oh well
I remember Rita from working at Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, a publishing company for textbooks. She wrote and performed songs for the film department for educational slide shows. She looks great.
Hi greets from Peru
Really cool about Tommy Tutone being her teacher's assistant.
Hooray hooray
2/11/24. Just caught Scott's interview singing national anthem at Kezar Stadium with the 49'ers. Super Bowl today and go 49'ers, you don't have to win big just win
I am from Midland, Michigan & I am 55 years old with autism. I did not heard of that song "Mill Valley" until now because I was 5 years old back then!! The song "Mill Valley" went to # 90 (Billboard Hot 100) & # 13 (Billboard Adult Contemporary Charts) in August of 1970. The song "Buildin' A Heaven On Earth" went to # 39 (Adult Contemporary) in January of 1971. The song "Wonder" (A&M Records) went to # 37 (Adult Contemporary) in July of 1971. The album did not chart on Billboard Top 200 Album Charts. The Norman Greenbaum song "Spirit In The Sky" went to # 3 (3 weeks) on April 18, 25 & May 2, 1970 & wrote "Buildin' A Heaven On Earth". Norman also did "Canned Ham" that peaked at # 46 (Hot 100) in July of 1970. Did A&M Records pick up that album that Reprise did?? So what happened & did Jerry Moss made the decision to release the song "Wonder"?? Thanks, Matt
Miss Rita went to the same college as me - U of M college of Literature, Science and the Arts
This needs more views and likes!
Buy that woman a home in Mill Valley
Well, it appears that Rita Abrams did not take advantage of her moment of fame. It might have propelled her to even greater heights such as a TV series like Fame or Glee.
The song was enchanting but I am not sure it covered all what Mill Valley is really famous for and that is its amazing hikes like the Dipsea trail to Stinson Beach. I have done this hike many times and always am shocked when other hikers tell me they drove down from Sacramento or Antioch or Pass Robles or in one case even Nevada just to do the hike on the Dipsea Trail starting from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach which takes nearly 4 hours. And there are dozens of hikes all around that mountain and even to a cabin for the public 3/4s of the way up the railroad grade trail called the West Point Inn. Many bikers will start at Mill Valley and cycle to the top of the mountain, Stinson Beach, or all the way out to Point Reyes and back or cycle over the mountain to the Fairfax-Bolinas road and then have lunch in Fairfax before cycling back.
Even the locals will flock out to Stinson Beach by car on the weekends. This is what many of them love about Mill Valley, closer access to Stinson.
To an outsider of Mill Valley, these are the things that are meaningful. To an insider living there I can't even say except that it is one of the most expensive places in all of Marin county to live.
The song romanticizes the town much more than it really deserves because there is really nothing there but the song was very enchanting and the history and video were interesting.
Candlestick was built about ten years before.
Is this the same Rita Abrams that wrote a children's song called "lets work it out"?
No Black kids singing in that video?😥😥😥
Why? Does there need to be? Do black always have to be next to Whites? How many videos with blacks that have no Whites? Exactly. Do Whites would want to be next to blacks?