Died On This Date (November 12, 2008) Mitch Mitchell / Drummer For Jimi Hendrix
themusicsover John “Mitch” Mitchell
July 9, 1947 – November 12, 2008
Mitch Mitchell is best remembered as the drummer in the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Coming from a jazz background, Mitchell was also credited for being one of the pioneers of jazz fusion. Prior to his work with Hendrix, Mitchell lived in London and did session work for such ’60s rock acts as the Pretty Things, Georgie Fame, and the Riot Squad. He hooked up with Hendrix in 1966 and played on all three legendary Experience albums, Axis: Bold as Love, Are You Experienced?, and Electric Ladyland. He also backed Hendrix at Woodstock. Although he was officially out of Hendrix’s band by 1969, Mitchell can still be heard playing on his posthumous releases of the early ’70s. Through the ’80s and ’90s, Mitchell stayed fairly active performing with other musicians and doing session work. Just before his passing, Mitchell participated in a Hendrix tribute tour alongside the likes of David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos, Buddy Guy, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Eric Johnson. In less than a week after the tour ended, Mitch Mitchell, 62, died of natural causes in his sleep.
Thanks to Stephen Brower for the assist.
What You Should Own
Kenny Kirkland was one of the most influential jazz pianist of recent years. Kirkland was just six years old when he began learning to play the piano. and by the time he reached his early 20s, Kirkland was touring Europe professionally. Although Kirkland’s career was cut short after just 25 years, he performed or recorded with many of the top names of contemporary jazz. That list includes Tom Scott, Ernie Watts, Stanley Jordan, Arturo Sandoval, Kevin Eubanks, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, and Stanley Clarke. He even spent a short period playing piano in the Tonight Show band. Kenny Kirkland died of congestive heart failure at the age of 43.