Video: Willie Mitchell - That Driving Beat
Soul Music Legend And The Man Behind 'The Al Green Sound' Willie Mitchell Is A Fan Of The Art Of R2C2H2 Tha Artivist
Tha Artivist Remembers Willie Mitchell:
I had an encounter with the legendary Memphis soul music master Willie Mitchell...It was at the 2007 W.C. Handy Heritage Awards @ The Gibson Guitar Lounge in downtown Memphis...This was the same awards show where I met the late great Blues Queen KoKo Taylor...I made friends with Mr. Willie Mitchell quick by giving him a print of my artwork...In spite of his legendary status I found Mr. Willie Mitchell to be very humble, approachable and above all patient...You would never know that this was the man who gave us Al Green and the horn riffing, percussive driven and atmospheric Hi Rhythm signature sound that took Mitchell's marquee soul star into the music stratosphere...Willie Mitchell's music has become synonymous with the terms "grown folks music" and "baby making music"...And for good reason...I have no doubt that his music has provided the soundtrack for intimate events which have allowed many of us to be here today...The man will no doubt be missed but his music, indeed his spirit lives...And the beat goes on...You can't stop the music!
Producer And Musician Willie Mitchell Dead At 81
Associated Press - January 5, 2010 12:04 PM ET
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Willie Mitchell, a record producer and musician who worked with Al Green and dozens of others has died at the age of 81.
Mitchell's son, Lawrence Mitchell, said his father suffered a cardiac arrest on Dec. 19 and died at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis at 7:25 a.m. Tuesday..
Willie Mitchell owned Royal Studio where Buddy Guy, John Mayer and many others recorded their music.
In the 1970s, Mitchell also owned Hi Records of Memphis, the label for Green.
He received a Trustees Award from the Grammy Foundation in 2008.
A trumpeter, Mitchell and his band provided the musical entertainment at several New Year's Eve parties for Elvis Presley at Presley's Graceland home.
A Memphis boulevard was named in his honor in 2004.
Mitchell was born and raised in Ashland, Miss.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.
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