Ollie Mitchell
Oliver Edward Mitchell | |
---|---|
Born | Los Angeles, California, United States | April 8, 1927
Died | May 11, 2013 Puako, Hawaii, United States | (aged 86)
Genres | Big band |
Occupation(s) | Trumpeter, bandleader |
Instrument | Trumpet |
Years active | 1944–2013 |
Website | http://www.olliem.com/ |
Ollie Mitchell (April 8, 1927 – May 11, 2013) was an American musician and bandleader. Born Oliver Edward Mitchell in Los Angeles on April 8, 1927, he was the son of Harold Mitchell, lead trumpeter for MGM Studios, who also taught Ollie to play the trumpet.[1]
Career
Mitchell would go on to play in big bands for Harry James, Buddy Rich and Pérez Prado, among others, as well as the NBC Symphony Orchestra. In the 1960s, Mitchell joined The Wrecking Crew, a group of studio and session musicians who played anonymously on many records for popular singers of the time, as well as television theme songs, film scores, advertising jingles. Mitchell was also an original member of Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass. He would go on to have his own bands—Ollie Mitchell's Sunday Band, and the Olliephonic Horns.[1]
Personal life
In 1995, Mitchell and his wife Nancy moved from Los Angeles to Puako, Hawaii, where he founded the Horns. In 2010, Mitchell published his memoir, Lost, But Making Good Time: A View from the Back Row of the Band.[2] According to his wife, he had recently stopped playing the trumpet, due to macular degeneration and hand problems from an automobile accident. Mitchell also suffered from cancer and died on May 11, 2013. He is survived by his wife and four children.[1]
Discography
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With Chet Baker
- Blood, Chet and Tears (Verve, 1970)
With Harry James
- The New James (Capitol Records – ST 1037, 1958)[3]
- Harry's Choice (Capitol Records – ST 1093, 1958)[4]
With Gerald Wilson
- California Soul (Pacific Jazz, 1968)
See also
References
- ^ a b c Musician, bandleader Ollie Mitchell dies, Hawaii Tribune-Herald, May 19, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
- ^ Lost, But Making Good Time: A View from the Back Row of the Band, amazon.com, September 20, 2010. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
- ^ "Harry James And His Orchestra – The New James". Discogs. Retrieved 2015-12-24.
- ^ "Harry James And His Orchestra – Harry's Choice". Discogs. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
External links
- Official website
- 2010 article about Mitchell in Hana Hou! magazine