Phillip Mitchell facts for kids

Leroy Phillip Mitchell (born June 27, 1944), also known as Prince Phillip Mitchell, is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and music producer. He wrote popular songs like "Starting All Over Again" for Mel and Tim. He also wrote "It Hurts So Good" and "Leftovers," which were big hits for Millie Jackson. Phillip Mitchell also had his own successful songs in the 1970s and 1980s.

Phillip Mitchell's Musical Journey

Early Life and Starting Music

Phillip Mitchell was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He started singing when he was in school. He first learned to play the trumpet. Then, he taught himself to play the guitar and piano. He began writing his own songs at a young age.

He became the lead singer for a local group called the Checkmates. They recorded their first songs in 1961. After that, he joined another group called the Cash Registers. They performed in Indianapolis, where Phillip got his nickname "Prince."

From Touring to Songwriting

Phillip Mitchell joined a musical show that toured the southern States. When the show reached Muscle Shoals, he decided to stay. He signed with Rick Hall's Fame record label as a performer. However, his songs were not released at that time.

In 1969, he returned to Muscle Shoals. He signed a contract as a songwriter with Muscle Shoals Sound. This label was run by Roger Hawkins and Barry Beckett. While there, he wrote "It Hurts So Good." This song was first recorded by Katie Love in 1971. It later became a hit for Millie Jackson and Susan Cadogan.

Writing Hits for Other Artists

Phillip Mitchell also wrote songs for Stax Records. His most famous song was "Starting All Over Again." He originally wrote it for Sam and Dave. But it was recorded by Mel and Tim instead. Their version became a hit on the Billboard charts in 1972.

He signed with Hi Records in 1971. He recorded several more songs. Some were produced by Willie Mitchell, who was not related to him. Others were produced by Phillip Mitchell himself. He also worked as a producer for other artists. He continued to write many songs for Millie Jackson. These included songs on her popular albums Caught Up (1974) and Still Caught Up (1975).

His Own Singing Success

Phillip Mitchell's song "There's Another in My Life" became his first hit as a singer. It was released in 1975 and reached number 58 on the R&B chart. He also wrote "A Star in the Ghetto," which was recorded by the Average White Band with Ben E. King. He wrote songs for other famous singers too, like Bobby Womack and Candi Staton.

In 1977, Phillip Mitchell was performing in Louisville again. He was contacted by jazz musician Norman Connors. Mitchell wrote and sang on Connors' hit song "Once I've Been There." He also toured with Connors. Because of this, Atlantic Records signed Mitchell. He had several hit songs with them. His most successful was "One On One," which reached number 32 on the R&B chart in 1978.

As Prince Phillip Mitchell, he released two albums on Atlantic. These were Make It Good (1978) and Top of the Line (1979). Both albums featured his own songs.

Later Career and New Ventures

After his contract with Atlantic ended, Phillip Mitchell took a break from music. He returned in 1986 with the album Devastation on the Ichiban label. This album included the song "You're Gonna Come Back To Love," which was a minor R&B hit.

Later, he performed on tour in the UK and Europe. He also started his own recording company in Louisville, called 3rd Dynasty Records. In 2004, a collection of his recordings and songs he wrote for others was released. It was called Something New To Do: The Phillip Mitchell Songbook.