Willie Mitchell
March 23, 1928 – January 5, 2010
Willie Mitchell is best remembered as the esteemed producer who helped develop the Memphis soul sound of the ’60s and beyond. Mitchell learned to play the trumpet as a child and by the time he was in high school he was playing in local jazz bands. He soon formed his own band that reportedly performed at numerous New Years Eve parties at Elvis Presley’s home. He later went to work at Hi Records, first as a musician, then a producer, and ultimately running the company. It was under his watch that the label achieved its most success with releases by such legends as Bill Black, Al Green, Ann Peebles, and Mitchell himself. Willie Mitchell, age 81, died on January 5, 2010 as a result of cardiac arrest he suffered in December of 2009.
Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number 1 Albums for the assist.
Artists such as Willie Mitchell helped to change the world
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