Willie Mitchell has passed. In the ’60’s he was a successful recording artist gigging at college campuses with songs like “Mercy” but he is famous for signing Al Green and producing all of his classic albums when Green was making a name for himself on the Memphis based Hi Records. “I’m Still In Love With You,” “Let’s Stay Together,” “Call Me (Come Back Home)” and everything that Green did at Hi Records would not have been what it was without Mr. Mitchell’s touch. Ann Pebbles mostly known for “I Can’t Stand The Rain” because of Missy Elliot’s hip-hop cover of it was also produced by Mr. Mitchell. Rod Stewart, Keith Richards, Bob Seger, Paul Butterfield, Syl Johnson, O.V. Wright, John Mayer, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Jimmy McCracklin and others benefitted from his productions as well. Mitchell was the co-owner of Hi Records at one point and is the owner of Royal Studio where John Mayer just finished recording his album. Mitchell was trumpeter and his band performed at many New Year’s Eve parties for Elvis. A native of Ashland, Mississippi Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Green worked together on Green’s 1985 He Is The Light, I Can’t Stop from 2003 and Everything’s OK in 2005.
