William Melvin Mitchell (November 3, 1926 – April 18, 2001) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

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Career

Mitchell was born in

Kansas City The Kansas City metropolitan area is a bi-state metropolitan area anchored by Kansas City, Missouri. Its 14 counties straddle the border between the U.S. states of Missouri (9 counties) and Kansas (5 counties). With and a population of more ...

Missouri Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...

, United States. He and his family moved to Detroit, where he received early music education at Cass Tech. He was known for his close association with trumpeter

Thad Jones Thaddeus Joseph Jones (March 28, 1923 – August 20, 1986) was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader who has been called "one of the all-time greatest jazz trumpet soloists". Biography Thad Jones was born in Pontiac, Michigan, U ...

, who was also from Detroit, and worked in several big bands, including

Woody Herman Woodrow Charles Herman (May 16, 1913 – October 29, 1987) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading groups called "The Herd", Herman came to prominence in the late 1930s and was active until his dea ...

's when he replaced

Gene Ammons Eugene "Jug" Ammons (April 14, 1925 – August 6, 1974), also known as "The Boss", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. The son of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons, Gene Ammons is remembered for his accessible music, steeped in soul and ...

. In 1949, Mitchell recorded with the

Milt Buckner Milton Brent Buckner (July 10, 1915 – July 27, 1977) was an American jazz pianist and organist, who in the early 1950s popularized the Hammond organ.Arwulf ArwulfMilt Buckner biography All Music. He pioneered the parallel chords styleFeathe ...

band, as well as making several recordings with Thad Jones. From 1951 to 1954, Mitchell led the house band at the Blue Bird Inn in Detroit. The band operated in different configurations, including with drummer Oliver Jackson and his bassist brother

Ali ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib ( ar, عَلِيّ بْن أَبِي طَالِب; 600 – 661 CE) was the last of four Rightly Guided Caliphs to rule Islam (r. 656 – 661) immediately after the death of Muhammad, and he was the first Shia Imam. ...

; as a quartet with

Terry Pollard Terry Pollard (August 15, 1931 – December 16, 2009) was an American jazz pianist and vibraphonist active in the Detroit jazz scene of the 1940s and 1950s. She has been described as a "major player who was inexplicably overlooked." Pollard began ...

, Beans Richardson, and

Elvin Jones Elvin Ray Jones (September 9, 1927 – May 18, 2004) was an American jazz drummer of the post-bop era. Most famously a member of John Coltrane's quartet, with whom he recorded from late 1960 to late 1965, Jones appeared on such widely celebrate ...

; as a quintet including Thad Jones; and, for several months in 1953, with

Miles Davis Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Davis adopted a variety of music ...

as a guest soloist. From 1956 to 1957, he played with

Dizzy Gillespie John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (; October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer. He was a trumpet virtuoso and improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy Eldridge but addi ...

in his big band. From 1957 until 1961, and from 1966 to 1967, Mitchell played with

Count Basie William James "Count" Basie (; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and the ...

. In the early 1960s, he co-led a group with

Al Grey Al Grey (June 6, 1925 – March 24, 2000) was an American jazz trombonist who was a member of the Count Basie orchestra. He was known for his plunger mute technique and wrote an instructional book in 1987 called ''Plunger Techniques''. Care ...

, The Al Grey Billy Mitchell Sextet, which won the ''

Down Beat ' (styled in all caps) is an American music magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond", the last word indicating its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chi ...

'' magazine new band award in 1962. Mitchell performed and recorded with the

Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band The Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band was a jazz big band co-led by American drummer Kenny Clarke and Belgian pianist François "Francy" Boland. They were one of the most noteworthy jazz big bands formed outside the United States, featuring top ...

in Europe in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was musical director for

Stevie Wonder Stevland Hardaway Morris ( Judkins; May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, who is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that include rhythm and blues, Pop musi ...

for a short time during this period. He died in Rockville Centre, New York, in 2001. He died in

Rockville Centre Rockville Centre, commonly abbreviated as RVC, is an incorporated village located in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, on the South Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. The population was 24,023 at the 2010 census. Histor ...

of lung cancer at the age of 74. He is not to be confused with Billy Mitchell, the jazz pianist and keyboardist, whose career was with Optimism Records in the 1980s.

Discography

As leader

* '' This Is Billy Mitchell'' ( Smash, 1962) * '' A Little Juicy'' (Smash, 1964) * '' Now's the Time'' (

Catalyst Catalysis () is the process of increasing the rate of a chemical reaction by adding a substance known as a catalyst (). Catalysts are not consumed in the reaction and remain unchanged after it. If the reaction is rapid and the catalyst recyc ...

, 1976) * ''

The Colossus of Detroit ''The Colossus Of Detroit'' is an album by jazz saxophone, saxophonist Billy Mitchell (saxophonist), Billy Mitchell, released in 1978 by Xanadu Records.Xanadu, 1978) * '' De Lawd's Blues'' (Xanadu, 1980) With

Al Cohn Al Cohn (November 24, 1925 – February 15, 1988) was an American jazz saxophonist, arranger and composer. He came to prominence in the band of clarinetist Woody Herman and was known for his longtime musical partnership with fellow saxophonist Zo ...

* '' Xanadu in Africa'' (Xanadu, 1981) * ''

Night Flight to Dakar ''Night Flight to Dakar'' is an album by saxophonists Al Cohn and Billy Mitchell (saxophonist), Billy Mitchell, pianist Dolo Coker, bassist Leroy Vinnegar and drummer Frank Butler (musician), Frank Butler recorded in Dakar in 1980 for Xanadu Recor ...

'' (Xanadu, 1982) With

* ''

Dizzy Atmosphere ''Dizzy Atmosphere'' is a jazz standard by Dizzy Gillespie originally recorded in 1945 with Charlie Parker. Harmonically, it is based on the chord progression found in George Gershwin's I Got Rhythm, or "rhythm changes Rhythm changes are a commo ...

'' ( Specialty, 1957) * ''Motor City Scene'' (United Artists, 1959) * ''

The Last of the Big Plungers ''The Last of the Big Plungers'' is an album by trombonist Al Grey and the Basie Wing released in 1960 on Argo Records.The Al Grey - Billy Mitchell Sextet'' (Argo, 1962) * ''

Snap Your Fingers "Snap Your Fingers" is a song written by Grady Martin and Alex Zanetis. It was originally recorded by gospel singer Joe Henderson in 1962, whose version peaked at No. 2 on the R&B charts, and at No. 8 on the Hot 100. "Snap Your Fingers" also pea ...

'' (Argo, 1962) * '' Night Song'' (Argo, 1963)

As sideman

With

* '' Basie Plays Hefti'' (Roulette, 1958) * ''

Sing Along with Basie ''Sing Along with Basie'' is an album by vocalese jazz group Lambert, Hendricks & Ross with Joe Williams and the Count Basie Orchestra recorded in 1958 and originally released on the Roulette label.Kitora, R.Count Basie Discography Retrieved Nov ...

'' (Roulette, 1958) * '' Basie One More Time'' (Roulette, 1959) * ''

Breakfast Dance and Barbecue ''Breakfast Dance and Barbecue'' is a live album by pianist, composer and bandleader Count Basie and his Orchestra with vocalist Joe Williams featuring tracks recorded at a Disc Jockey convention in Florida in 1959 and originally released on the ...

'' (Roulette, 1959) * '' Strike Up the Band'' (Roulette, 1959) * ''

Chairman of the Board The chairperson, also chairman, chairwoman or chair, is the presiding officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office, who is typically elected or appointed by members of the grou ...

'' (Roulette, 1959) * ''

Everyday I Have the Blues "Every Day I Have the Blues" is a blues song that has been performed in a variety of styles. An early version of the song is attributed to Pinetop Sparks and his brother Milton. It was first performed in the taverns of St. Louis by the Spark ...

'' (Roulette, 1959) * ''

Dance Along with Basie ''Dance Along with Basie'' is an album released by pianist, composer and bandleader Count Basie featuring tracks recorded in late 1959 and originally released on the Roulette label. Reception The album won the Best Performance by a Band for Da ...

'' (Roulette, 1959) * ''

Not Now, I'll Tell You When ''Not Now, I'll Tell You When'' is an album by pianist and bandleader Count Basie featuring tracks recorded in 1960 and originally released on the Roulette Records, Roulette label.Kitora, R.Count Basie Discography - 1960-1969 accessed November 3, ...

'' (Roulette, 1960) * ''

The Count Basie Story ''Count Basie Story'' is a double album by pianist, composer and bandleader Count Basie featuring tracks originally performed by his orchestra in the 1930s and 1940s rerecorded in 1960 as a celebration of its 25th anniversary and first released on ...

'' (Roulette, 1960) * ''

Kansas City Suite ''Kansas City Suite'' (subtitled ''The Music of Benny Carter'') is an album by pianist, composer and bandleader Count Basie featuring tracks recorded in 1960 and originally released on the Roulette label.Kitora, R.Count Basie Discography - 1960-1 ...

'' (Roulette, 1960) * '' Count Basie/Sarah Vaughan'' (Roulette, 1961) * ''

Back with Basie ''Back with Basie'' (subtitled ''More Hit Performances of the '60s'') is an album released by pianist, composer and bandleader Count Basie featuring tracks recorded in 1962 (with one from 1960) and originally released on the Roulette label.Kitora, ...

'' (Roulette, 1962) * ''

Basie's Beat ''Basie's Beat'' is a 1967 album by Count Basie and his orchestra. The trombonist Richard Boone sings on two of the tracks, "Boone's Blues" and "I Got Rhythm". Track listing # "It's Only a Paper Moon" ( Harold Arlen, E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, Billy ...

'' (Verve, 1967) With the

* '' Handle with Care'' (Atlantic, 1963) * ''

Now Hear Our Meanin' ''Now Hear Our Meanin'' is an album by the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band featuring performances recorded in Germany in 1963 and released on the Columbia label in 1965.Off Limits'' (Polydor, 1971) * '' November Girl'' (Black Lion, 1976) with

Carmen McRae Carmen Mercedes McRae (April 8, 1920 – November 10, 1994) was an American jazz singer. She is considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century and is remembered for her behind-the-beat phrasing and ironic interpre ...

With

* ''

World Statesman ''World Statesman'' is an album by trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, recorded in 1956 and released on the Norgran label.Dizzy Gillespie at Newport ''Dizzy Gillespie at Newport'' is a 1957 live album by Dizzy Gillespie, featuring his big band, recorded at the 1957 Newport Jazz Festival. Reception The AllMusic review states: "This brilliant CD captures one of the high points of Dizzy Gillespi ...

'' (Verve, 1957) * ''

Birks' Works ''Birks' Works'' is an album by trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie recorded in 1957 and released on the Verve label.

'' (Verve, 1958) * ''

Dizzy in Greece ''Dizzy in Greece'' is an album by trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, recorded in 1956 and 1957 and released on the Verve label.

'' (Verve, 1979) With

Milt Jackson Milton Jackson (January 1, 1923 – October 9, 1999), nicknamed "Bags", was an American jazz vibraphonist, usually thought of as a bebop player, although he performed in several jazz idioms. He is especially remembered for his cool swinging solo ...

* ''

Meet Milt Jackson ''Meet Milt Jackson'' is an album by American jazz vibraphonist Milt Jackson featuring performances recorded between 1949 and 1956 and released on the Savoy label.

'' (Savoy, 1949) * '' Roll 'Em Bags'' (Savoy, 1949) * ''Soul Brothers'' with Ray Charles (Atlantic, 1958) With others *

Ernestine Anderson Ernestine Anderson (November 11, 1928 – March 10, 2016) was an American jazz and blues singer. In a career spanning more than six decades, she recorded over 30 albums. She was nominated four times for a Grammy Award. She sang at Carnegie Hall, ...

, ''Moanin' Moanin' Moanin' '' (Mercury, 1960) *

Tony Bennett Anthony Dominick Benedetto (born August 3, 1926), known professionally as Tony Bennett, is an American retired singer of traditional pop standards, big band, show tunes, and jazz. Bennett is also a painter, having created works under his birth ...

, '' In Person!'' (Columbia, 1958) * Dave Burns, ''Warming Up!'' (Vanguard, 1964) *

Paul Chambers Paul Laurence Dunbar Chambers Jr. (April 22, 1935 – January 4, 1969) was an American jazz double bassist. A fixture of rhythm sections during the 1950s and 1960s, he has become one of the most widely-known jazz bassists of the hard bop era. ...

, Tommy Flanagan, ''Motor City Scene'' (Lone Hill, 2004) *

Dolo Coker Charles Mitchell "Dolo" Coker (November 16, 1927 – April 13, 1983) was a jazz pianist and composer who recorded four albums for Xanadu Records and extensively as a sideman, for artists like Sonny Stitt, Gene Ammons, Lou Donaldson, Art Pepper, Ph ...

, ''Anniversary'' (Xanadu, 1985) *

Nat King Cole Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American singer, jazz pianist, and actor. Cole's music career began after he dropped out of school at the age of 15, and continued f ...

, ''Welcome to the Club'' (Capitol, 1959) *

Sammy Davis Jr. Samuel George Davis Jr. (December 8, 1925 – May 16, 1990) was an American singer, dancer, actor, comedian, film producer and television director. At age three, Davis began his career in vaudeville with his father Sammy Davis Sr. and the ...

, ''I Gotta Right to Swing'' (Brunswick, 1960) *

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was based ...

, Count Basie, ''First Time! The Count Meets the Duke'' (Columbia, 1971) *

Jimmy Heath James Edward Heath (October 25, 1926 – January 19, 2020), nicknamed Little Bird, was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger, and big band A big band or jazz orchestra is a type of musical ensemble of jazz music that usually co ...

, ''

Little Man Big Band ''Little Man Big Band'' (also written ''Little Man, Big Band'') is a Grammy-nominated album by saxophonist Jimmy Heath featuring performances recorded in 1992 and released on the Verve label.Fitzgerald, MJimmy Heath discography accessed April 22, ...

'' (Verve, 1992) *

Jon Hendricks John Carl Hendricks (September 16, 1921 – November 22, 2017), known professionally as Jon Hendricks, was an American jazz lyricist and singer. He is one of the originators of vocalese, which adds lyrics to existing instrumental songs and rep ...

, ''Fast Livin' Blues'' (Columbia, 1962) *

Bobby Hutcherson Robert Hutcherson (January 27, 1941 – August 15, 2016) was an American jazz vibraphone and marimba player. "Little B's Poem", from the 1966 Blue Note album '' Components'', is one of his best-known compositions.Huey, Steve. "Components – Bob ...

, ''The Al Grey & Dave Burns Sessions'' (Lone Hill, 2004) *

Eddie Jefferson Eddie Jefferson (August 3, 1918 – May 9, 1979) was an American jazz vocalist and lyricist. He is credited as an innovator of vocalese, a musical style in which lyrics are set to an instrumental composition or solo. Jefferson himself claims t ...

, '' Things Are Getting Better'' (Muse, 1974) *

, '' Detroit-New York Junction'' (Blue Note, 1956) * Thad Jones, '' The Magnificent Thad Jones'' (Blue Note, 1956) *

Leiber-Stoller Big Band Lyricist Jerome Leiber (April 25, 1933 – August 22, 2011) and composer Michael Stoller (born March 13, 1933) were American songwriting and record producing partners. They found success as the writers of such crossover hit songs as " Hound Dog" ( ...

, ''Yakety Yak'' (Atlantic, 1960) *

Percy Mayfield Percy Mayfield (August 12, 1920August 11, 1984) was an American Rhythm and blues singer with a smooth vocal style. He also was a songwriter, known for the songs " Please Send Me Someone to Love" and "Hit the Road Jack", the latter being a song ...

, ''Weakness Is A Thing Called Man'' (RCA Victor, 1970) *

Jimmy McGriff James Harrell McGriff (April 3, 1936 – May 24, 2008) was an American hard bop and soul-jazz organist and organ trio bandleader. Biography Early years and influences Born in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Germantown, Pennsylvania, Uni ...

, ''The Big Band'' (Solid State, 1966) *

Martin Mull Martin Eugene Mull (born August 18, 1943) is an American actor, comedian and musician who has appeared in many television and film roles. He is also a painter and recording artist. As an actor, he first became known in his role on ''Mary Hartman, ...

, ''Normal'' (Capricorn, 1974) *

Pony Poindexter Norwood "Pony" Poindexter (February 8, 1926, New Orleans, Louisiana – April 14, 1988, Oakland, California) was an American jazz saxophonist. Poindexter began on clarinet and switched to playing alto and tenor sax. In 1940 he studied unde ...

, ''

Pony's Express ''Pony's Express'' is the debut album by saxophonist Pony Poindexter which was released on the Epic label in 1962.Fitzgerald, M.Pony Poindexter Leader Entryaccessed July 2, 2015 Reception Ken Dryden of Allmusic stated: "It's a shame that Pony Po ...

'' (Epic, 1962) *

Bernard Purdie Bernard Lee "Pretty" Purdie (born June 11, 1939) is an American drummer, and an influential R&B, soul and funk musician. He is known for his precise musical time keeping and his signature use of triplets against a half-time backbeat: the "Purdie ...

, ''

Stand By Me (Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get) ''Stand By Me (Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get)'' is an album led by jazz drummer Bernard Purdie which was recorded for the Mega label in 1971 and released on their Flying Dutchman Series.

'' (Mega, 1971) *

Mel Torme Mel, Mels or MEL may refer to: Biology * Mouse erythroleukemia cell line (MEL) * National Herbarium of Victoria, a herbarium with the Index Herbariorum code MEL People * Mel (given name), the abbreviated version of several given names (including ...

, ''Night at the Concord Pavilion'' (Concord 1990) *

Sarah Vaughan Sarah Lois Vaughan (March 27, 1924 – April 3, 1990) was an American jazz singer. Nicknamed "Sassy" and "Jazz royalty, The Divine One", she won two Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, and was nominated for a total of nine ...

, ''No Count Sarah'' (Mercury, 1959) *

Ernie Wilkins Ernest Brooks Wilkins Jr. (July 20, 1922 – June 5, 1999) was an American jazz saxophonist, conductor and arranger who spent several years with Count Basie. He also wrote for Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, and Dizzy Gillespie. He was musical direc ...

, ''Hard Mother Blues'' (Mainstream, 1970) * Ernie Wilkins, ''Screaming Mothers'' (Mainstream, 1974) * Joe Williams, ''Everyday I Have the Blues'' (Roulette, 1979) *

Frank Vignola Frank Vignola (born December 30, 1965) is an American jazz guitarist. He has played in the genres of swing, fusion, gypsy jazz, classical, and pop. Career Vignola grew up on Long Island, New York. His father played accordion and banjo and ...

, ''Appel Direct'' (Concord Jazz, 1993) *

Frank Wess Frank Wellington Wess (January 4, 1922 – October 30, 2013) was an American jazz saxophonist and flutist. In addition to his extensive solo work, Wess is remembered for his time in Count Basie's band from the early 1950s into the 1960s. Critic ...

Harry Edison Orchestra, ''Dear Mr. Basie'' (Concord Jazz, 1990) * Frank Wess, ''Entre Nous'' (Concord Jazz, 1991)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Billy 1926 births 2001 deaths 20th-century saxophonists American jazz saxophonists American male jazz musicians American male saxophonists Cass Technical High School alumni Count Basie Orchestra members Hard bop saxophonists Swing saxophonists Jazz musicians from Missouri Musicians from Kansas City, Missouri Pausa Records artists Verve Records artists Xanadu Records artists 20th-century American male musicians