Willie Mitchell - Definition

Willie Mitchell is a soul, r&b, rock and roll, pop and funk music producer and arranger who runs Royal Recording in Memphis, Tennessee. He is best known for his Hi Records label of the 1970s, which released albums by a large stable of popular Memphis soul artists, including Mitchell himself, Al Green and Ann Peebles. Known at the studio as "Papa Willie," Mitchell earned his nickname by taking over the reigns of Hi Records in 1970 and guiding it lovingly, like a proud parent, through its most successful period.

A trumpeter and bandleader in his own right, Mitchell released a number of popular singles for Hi Records as an artist in the 1960s, including "Soul Serenade."

Discography

• Sunrise Serenade - 1963
• It's Dance Time - 1965
• It's What's Happenin - 1966
• Ooh Baby, You Turn Me On - 1967
• The Hit Sound of Willie Mitchell - 1967
• Willie Mitchell Live at the Royal - 1968
• On Top - 1969
• Solid Soul - 1969
• Soul Bag - 1969
• Robbin's Nest - 1970
• The Many Moods of Willie Mitchell - 1970
• Hold It - 1971
• Listen Dance - 1971
• Willie Mitchell Live - 1977
• Willie Willie Willie - 1981
• That Driving Beat - 1986
• Walkin' With Willie - 2003