On Tuesday, December 18, The Recording Academy announced that one its Grammy Trustee Award recipients during the 50th Grammy Awards in February 2008 will none other than Memphis’ own Hi Records legend Willie Mitchell. This same award was given to Stax Records’ Estelle “Lady A” Axton last year and Booker T. & the MGs received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. All great things for Memphis.
I think this honor for Willie Mitchell is outstanding and well deserved and long overdue. Aside from his tremendous musical accomplishments, Willie might just be the coolest person on the planet. He still works at his famed Royal Studios located on what was Lauderdale Street and is now Willie Mitchell Boulevard! And he is a more-than-gracious host to most anyone who drops by to visit. He recently told me, “Every time I hear a piece of really good music, it adds ten years to my life. It’s the reason I’m still alive.”
A popular trumpet player and band leader in his early career, Mitchell is probably best known for discovering and developing the talents of soul giants Al Green and Ann Peebles. He co-produced and engineered all of Green's albums from 1970 through 1976, including such seminal soul classics as "Tired Of Being Alone," "Here I Am (Come And Take Me)," and "Let's Stay Together." And, of course, he and Ann Peebles gave us “I Can’t Stand the Rain,” and other great hits. But he has also worked with many other great artists, including his own Hi Rhythm Section (pictured with him above from the Stax Museum exhibit "Stax Here and Now") Syl Johnson, Donald Bryant, Otis Clay, O.V. Wright, and, more recently, John Mayer.
So CONGRATULATIONS, WILLIE! We love you!
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