Willie Mitchell, musician and record producer, passed away this morning, Tuesday, January 5, 2010. Mitchell is honored on the Beale Street Brass Note Walk of Fame with note # 52, located on the sidewalk between the Hard Rock Cafe and the Old Daisy.
Born March 23, 1928, in Ashland, Mississippi, Mitchell was raised in Memphis where he began to play the trumpet. After he was discharged from the military in 1954, he became a popular trumpet-playing bandleader. In 1959, Mitchell signed on with Hi Records and released a string of singles. When studio owner Joe Cuoghi died in 1970, Mitchell took over operations of Hi Records. Mitchell and Hi had great success with Al Green and Anne Peeples and was known for its Hi Rhythm Section featuring the Hodges brothers. Mitchell left Hi at the end of his contract. He continued in the recording business with Royal Recording Studios. All Green recorded again with Mitchell in 2003 and 2005.
