Chris Mitchell
Chris Mitchell loves to sing and is almost always doing what he loves. Spend more than a few minutes with him and you will be serenaded with verses, choruses, and instrumental breaks real and imagined, sung, hummed, scatted, and tapped. It could be annoying, but he does it well.
The Akron, Ohio native began his musical journey in second grade, studying violin and singing in school assemblies. He wrote his first song in sixth grade, A silly little instrumental plunked out on the piano. The musical wheels started turning and spun into years of voice lessons, twelve bands, one orchestra, two music schools, and countless nights singing, dancing, producing and entertaining.
In the late 1990s, Nashvilles party scene flocked to see what Chris would do next in his band The Collection, a spectacle that included hot pants, feather boas, choir robes, and a nonstop funky dance groove. Outrageousness ruled. However, years of high-energy shows and afterhours fun do have consequences.
This past decade took Chris on a different, sometimes darker journey; a series of personal, spiritual, and physical consequences caused him to reassess his direction and even consider withdrawing from performing altogether. There was scar tissue to remove and a voice to rehabilitate.
During his own hiatus from performing, Chris began to focus on helping other artists in finding places and venues to play. It was during this time that he created Chris Mitchell Presents a monthly event that spawned the start of several successful Nashville artists.
During this time a percussionist / producer kept pressing Chris to sing again. He resisted but ultimately let music back in. A career that had been placed in storage was reclaimed, and Chris once again sang out.
Life goes on. Sometimes you find yourself uninsured an on a morphine drip. And sometimes, out of nowhere, you can fall in love. There are many starts and stops, and many chances for small steps forward.
His latest release, Sing is a deeply personal journey, a collection of R&B, pop, and rock songs borne from a broken soul on a journey back into the light and hopefulness of today.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
1997 - 2000 - Chris Mitchell & The Collection ruled the Nashville club scene with a show so wild and contagious that they broke and held all sales records at 12th & Porter, Nashville TN.
Liquor sales NYE 1998 in excess of $6,500.00. Go drunk people!
1990 - 2000 - Chris performed as Robert Plant in "Led Zeppelin You Bitch!" at the famous 12th & Porter Playroom in Nashville, TN to sold out crowds and rave reviews in 2000 and 2001.
2003 - "Wish List" made the top 13 finalists on Tonos Pro qualifying Chris for spot on the submission CD in the Jim Brickman Tonos songwriting opportunity.
June 2009 - Work began on "Sing". Chris Mitchell teamed up with producers Pino Squillace & Mike Farona to record the first studio album in 10 years.
2008 - Chris was invited to join SESAC
2009 - Chris began performing with "The Long Players", a varitable Who's Who of Nashville's best musicians that performs a cover album from end to end for charity several times a year.
Chris joined in on albums like Led Zeppelin's "ZOSO", and Prince's "Purple Rain".
December 2009 Chris joined the ranks of AQUAVELVET, a tribute to all things fabulous about the 60's. Band Leader, multi-instrumentalist, and arranger Jim Hoke, and the great Kristi Rose are the bands main attractions. Chris performs choice covers like "Lonely Girl" & "Diamonds Are Forever".
Feb. 5th, 2010 Chris began performing with Ned Zeppelin, an album perfect tribute to the great music of Led Zeppelin at Mercy Lounge, Nashville TN. Attendance was at 200 for the first show!
Feb. 26th, 2010 "Sing" The first studio release from Chris in over 10 years will be released and celebrated at 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville, TN.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
Nashville, TN
Your musical influences
Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Mel Torme, Chet Baker, Luther Vandross, Chaka Khan, Heart, John Mayer, Alice In Chains, Led Zeppelin, Mathew Ward, Mary J. Blige, Nat King Cole, Natalie Cole.
What equipment do you use?
Native Intruments Komplete 5, Acid, Sonar, Sound Forge, Sonar, Reason, Yamaha W7, Roland M-DC1, Roland M-BD1, Fruity Loops, East-West Strings
Anything else?
The Collection Rocks!
