Freddie Mitchell

Freddie Mitchell (April 8, 1918—June 20, 2010) was an American jazz, rock n' roll, and rhythm & blues tenor saxophonist.

He worked with some of the biggest names of the day in jazz and R&B scene, including Benny Carter, Fletcher Henderson, Ovie Alston, LaVern Baker, and Bette McLaurin, and also led the house band at Derby Records, where he was the label's musical director in the early 1950s.

Active from 1941 to 1959, he was involved in 37 recording sessions. Some of his unreleased rock recordings from the 1940s were issued in the 1950s under the alias "Hen Gates".

Freddie Mitchell was born in Orlando, Florida, on April 8, 1918.

Growing up in Tampa, Florida, Mitchell got an early start in music; he learned to play piano at a young age and also performed as a blues pianist. When he was 13, his family relocated to New York, where he began playing the saxophone and clarinet. He ultimately chose the saxophone as his instrument of choice.

After completing his education, Mitchell began his professional music career in the early 1940s. In January 1941, he worked in Benny Carter Orchestra and made a few recordings ("Cuddle up, huddle up", "There, I've Said it Again", "Babalu") on Victor Records, playing his saxophone alongside Jimmy Archey and Vic Dickerson (trombone); Sidney De Paris, Jonah Jones, and Russell Smith (trumpet); George Dorsey, George Irish, and Bill White (saxophone); Ted Sturgis (string bass); Herb Thomas (guitar); Sonny White (piano); and J. C. Heard (drums).

He then recorded with Fletcher Henderson and Ovie Alston.

In 1949, Mitchell entered a contract with Derby Records and assembled a studio band to back many of Derby's artists in his capacity as the label's musical director.

Some of his notable releases for Derby include:

• "Doby's Boogie" + "Hog Head" (co-written with Bernie Marder, Eddie Heller, and Larry Newton) — Derby #713, 1949. "Doby's Boogie" reached number 3 on R&B Hit Parade.
• "Jingle Bell Boogie" + "Auld Lang Syne Boogie" (Rip Harrigan on piano) — Derby #723, 1949
• "Air Mail Boogie" (written by Benny Goodman, Charlie Christian, and Jimmy Mundy) + "I Told You We Were Through" — Derby #728, 1949
• "Idaho Boogie" (written by Jesse Stone) + "Easter Parade" (written by Irving Berlin) — Derby #733, 1949
• "On The Alamo Boogie" (written by Isham Jones) + "Sugar Foot Rag" (written by Hank Garland and Vaughn Horton) — Derby #738, 1950
• "Frenesi" (written by Alberto Dominguez) + "Freddie's Calypso" — Derby #740, 1950
• "Music Makers Boogie" (written by Harry James) + "Summertime Boogie" (written by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin) — Derby #741, July 1950

While working with Derby, Mitchell came in contact with Eunice Davis, a budding singer from New York who was looking for work. Mitchell, who, up to that point, had mostly recorded instrumentals for Derby, asked Davis to come up with a few songs. Davis proposed "Rock Little Daddy", a song that she wrote in 15 minutes. Mitchell loved the song and after he convinced Derby executive Larry Newton to record it, the song was released just after Christmas of 1950. With a fusion of rock n' roll sound and a walking blues pattern on the piano, the song was an instant hit and launched Davis' career. Cecil Gant's 1951 song "Rock Little Baby" is based on "Rock Little Daddy".

Mitchell and his house band at Derby also worked with Bette McLaurin, Honey Brown, Doc Pomus, Jerome Darr, and Jerry Blake. For Pomus, he recorded Send For The Doctor - The Early Years 1944-55 alongside Bill Graham (baritone saxophone); Jimmy Lewis (bass); Pee Wee Tinney (drums); Mickey Baker and Ralph Williams (guitar); Al Tinney and Ernie Hayes (piano); King Curtis and Sam "The Man" Taylor (tenor saxophone).

After his contract with Derby lapsed, Mitchell released several notable sides on numerous labels for the remainder of the 1950s.

In 1952, he played in the backing band of Big Joe Turner ("I'll Never Stop Loving You", Atlantic Records). The following year, he recorded "I'm Goin' Home" and "Roses Of Picardy" on Brunswick Records. Later that year, he went on his first overseas tour in Europe with LaVern Baker.

Mitchell also played tenor sax on LaVern Baker's eponymous 1957 rock n' roll/R&B album (on Atlantic Records). He was accompanied by Mickey Baker (guitar); Lawrence Brown (trombone); Emmett Berry and Shad Collins (trumpet); Gene Redd and Ray Ellis (arrangement); Hank Jones (piano); Sylvester "Vess" Payne and Connie Kay (drums); Jimmy Lewis (guitar); Dave McRae (baritone saxophone); Sam "The Man" Taylor (tenor saxophone); and Lloyd Trotman (double bass);

In 1956, Mitchell recorded rock/funk/soul tracks "Easter Parade" and "Freddie's New Calypso" on ABC Paramount.

Some of Mitchell's early rock n' roll masters from the Derby label were re-issued in the 1950s under the band name "Hen Gates And His Gaters":

• Rock and Roll (Plymouth Records, 1953)
• Rock And Roll No. 2 (Plymouth Records, 1956)
• Stomp Rock (Remington, 1956)
• Let's Go Dancing To Rock And Roll (Masterseal, 1957)

He also recorded with saxophonist King Curtis ("Soul Groove").

In 1956, Mitchell made an appearance in Will Price's music film Rock Rock Rock! alongside LaVern Baker, Alan Freed, Tuesday Weld, Chuck Berry, and Teddy Randazzo.

With the music scene changing in the 1960s, Mitchell retired from the music business, only occasionally playing in New York City.

Video: Auld Lang Syne Boogie (1949)

Mitchel died in Mount Vernon, New York, on June 20, 2010, at age 92.