News & Updates — trumpet

He produced Al Green and was an owner, engineer and staff producer for the Memphis-based soul label Hi Records. He also produced albums for Syl Johnson, Ann Peebles, O.V. Wright, Otis Clay and others. Papa Willie Mitchell was a major part of the Southern soul scene and his Hi Records company was one of the most successful independent labels in the world. A Memphis native, Mitchell started playing trumpet at 8 and was writing and arranging music soon after. His early groups included musicians such as Booker Little, Phineas Newborn Jr, Charles Lloyd and George Coleman. He gigged with Elvis...

Roy Eldridge was a great trumpet stylist with the swing bands, who always wanted to up the ante. He was one of the first black men to hold regular position in white orchestras, doing so with Gene Krupa (who has been arrested for defending Eldridge in racist environments), Artie Shaw and Benny Goodman. Consciously trying to play like a saxophonist, he was the Coleman Hawkins of the trumpet and was a huge inspiration to Dizzy Gillespie. He also played with Fletcher Henderson, Billie Holiday and was one of the protesting "Newport Rebels". If confronted, musically or otherwise, he may just...