Billy Mitchell (pianist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Billy Mitchell
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| Birth name | William Allen Mitchell |
| Born | November 23, 1943 Tarrytown, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, smooth jazz, swing |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, producer, arranger, author, community activist |
| Instruments | Piano, keyboards |
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Labels | Pausa, Vista, Optmism, PRC |
William Allen Mitchell (born November 23, 1943) is an American jazz pianist, music producer, and writer. He is also known for his important work helping young people in his community.
Contents
Billy Mitchell's Music Journey
Billy Mitchell was born in Tarrytown, New York, in 1943. He grew up in Buffalo, New York. His father was a minister and worked to improve his community. Billy's older brother is the comedian and actor Scoey Mitchell.
Billy's mother first showed him how to play the piano when he was a child. But he didn't like formal lessons. Instead, he learned by listening to jazz music and recordings. He would listen to the songs and then play them himself.
In the early 1960s, Billy went to Morehouse College. He studied history and political science. But he loved music! He would often sneak into the music department to play jazz. He also joined a jazz group outside of school. This was his first time performing for an audience. In 1970, he moved to Los Angeles to start a music career.
In the 1970s, Billy started his own group called the Billy Mitchell Trio. Later, it became the Billy Mitchell Group. During the 1980s and 1990s, he performed at many clubs and music festivals. One of these was the Sedona Jazz Festival.
During the 1980s, Mitchell wrote a monthly column for Gig magazine. This column gave advice to musicians about their work and careers. His book, The Gigging Musician, is based on these articles. It also includes interviews with people who work in the music industry.
Mitchell appeared in the 1988 film Bird, directed by Clint Eastwood. In the movie, he played the part of Charlie Parker's pianist. He also appeared in a TV show called Jazz. This show was about the lives of black musicians.
In 2002, Mitchell started The Scholarship Audition Performance Preparatory Academy (SAPPA). He created SAPPA to help students from inner-city areas. It helps them get ready for music and art scholarship competitions. SAPPA also holds music workshops. These workshops give free music lessons in different programs around Los Angeles. Mitchell also created the Watts-Willowbrook Conservatory and Youth Symphony.
Awards and Special Recognitions
- Gold Crown Award, Pasadena Arts Council, 2006
- Local Hero Award, KCET and Union Bank, 2010
- Living Legend Award, Living Legend Foundation, 2012
Music Albums (Discography)
As the main artist
- Blue City Jam (Pausa, 1984)
- Night Theme (Pausa, 1986)
- Faces (Vista, 1987)
- In Focus (Optimism, 1988)
- Live All Night Long (USA, 1996)
- Passion (USA, 1998)
- Never Give Up On Love (Paras, 2000)
- The Traveler (Vista, 2006)
- The Circle Of Friends-LIVE (Vista, 2011-14-17-19)
