In just the short years it seems that I knew James Mitchell, there are a lifetime worth of stories and I could tell. Many would be about the countless nights he’d spend until the sun rose, sharing with me an endless fountain of his musical knowledge during my first months in what I like to think of as “scoring boot camp”. Or shaking his lowered head in anguished frustration after I’d brought some whacked out piece of written music for him to look over.

Other’s would be about how much Joy I saw in a man who stood beside his son as they played live together for the first time during the world Olympics. Or how we’d sit in these small London cafes, sucking down loads of coffee while he and Ann Peebles spun tales from their past’s as James tried desperately to order from the menus in Japanese.

Or even how he would just call sometimes and hold the phone up while he made his son Jamel blow some complicated sax line he’d taught him from a Charlie Bird record. Man was he ever proud of his son Jamel…

But the real story of James Mitchell is as deep and monumental as his innovative approach was to arranging. Born on May 15th 1931, James changed paths from Memphis to the Army in 1950, where he served as a musician. Once he made it out of the service, he worked around the San Francisco area while attending a music conservatory before moving back to Memphis in 1964.

After he arrived back in Memphis, James started working with his brother and legendary Hi Records producer, Willie Mitchell . During the time, Willie had a group with Don Bryant and The Four Kings, releasing a number of classic singles including, Everything’s Gonna Be Alright, Doin the Mustang and Willie’s signature 20-75. But after the arrival of Hi Records’ queen Ann Peebles in 1969, it was then that James went on to create some of the most brilliant horn and string arrangements in the history of soul music.

Up until Hi Record’s was sold to Cream in 1979 James Mitchell arranged horns and strings on over ninety-percent of all the albums and singles his brother Willie produced including Al Green’s classic; Let ’s Stay Together, Ann Peebles Grammy Nominated I Can’t Stand the Rain and Otis Clay’s powerful Trying To Live My Life Without You. But even that is but a small glimpse into the incredible amount of history, he and his horn are not just a part of but greatly responsible for.

During his career, James Mitchell, like his arrangements have appeared on well over 300 gold records. The artist he’s performed and recorded with is staggering. From Willie Mitchell , Don Bryant , Ann Peebles , Al Green and Otis Clay . To Aretha Franklin , (including the Live at Fillmore East album) O.V. Wright , The Doobie Brothers , Robert Cray , Otis Redding , Rufus Thomas , Sam and Dave , Johnny Taylor . Joan Baez , B.B. King , and Elvis Presley .

But for of all his accomplishments and all the history James Mitchell has made happen. To me it was between the years 1996-2000 that he felt was his most coveted achievement. For it was in those last years of his life, through his immeasurable determination to be a good father that he was able to pass down to his son Jamel, not only much of his vast knowledge of music, but his own good morals, his warm spirit and his love for God, kindness and humanity.

So now when I look at Jamel, I see that James wasn’t just teaching his son the art of great arrangements, James was teaching him the art of life and mastering that art to me, is what made James Mitchell a true giant.

Forever your Brother
Paul Brown

  View the memorial book

View his Bio as a great horn player.

Read a tribute poem By Billie Ray Martin

  To find out more on the History of James Mitchell please visit these sites:

L-R James Mitchell, Jack Hale, Wayne Jackson
Backstage after a concert with the Doobie Brothers.
Story has it that the whip cream all
over Wayne was thrown by Cheech and Chong,
as a celebration of the final show of the tour.

http://www.hirecords.com/letsstaytogether.ram
(Hi Records)
(The Doobie Brothers)
(Aretha Franklin)
(Ann Peebles)
(Al Green)
(All Music Guide)
(Memphis Music Tour