Boo Mitchell carries on the legacy of his father, Willie Mitchell, as a producer of chart-topping record hits. One of Boo Mitchell’s proudest achievements was taking home the “Record of the Year” Grammy in 2016—the first time in the history of the Grammy Awards that a Memphis-made record garnered the award. Boo’s father is remembered and revered as a pioneer of the Memphis Soul sound. A partnership between Al Green and Willie Mitchell created their first home-run hit in 1971, followed by a number-one hit every year for the next four years.
This show was originally broadcast June 1, 2017 and is reposted as a “best-of-the-best” podcast in celebration of Journeys of Discovery’s 30th anniversary producing on-air and digital media podcasts featured on KCBX and NPR One.
A distinctive nuance at the Royal Studios, instituted by Boos father back in the 1960's and 1970's, is its reliance of old-fashioned tube technology recording equipment such as the 8-channel Ampex 351 reel-to-reel tape recorder, old-style mikes, and more.
Correspondent Tom Wilmer visits with Boo Mitchell in the control room at Royal Studios located in the heart of Memphis, Tennessee. Al Green sold more than 20 million records while under contract with Royal Studios. A mere sampler of other artists who have recorded hits at Royal Studios include: Charlie Rich, Chuck Berry, Ike and Tina Turner, Ann Peebles, Rod Stewart, Keith Richards, Melissa Etheridge, and Bruno Mars.
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