Mitchell, George (Little Mitch)

Mitchell, George (Little Mitch), jazz cornetist; b. Louisville, Ky., March 8, 1899; d. Chicago, Ill., May 27, 1972. He played on many of Jelly Roll Morton’s most famous recordings. He started on trumpet at the age of 12. He joined the St. Augustine School Band, then became a member of the Louisville Musical Club Brass Band (led by Wilbur Winstead), touring with the band during the summers of 1916–17. He toured with several minstrel shows, and then settled in Chicago, where he worked with various bands through 1921. He spent the next two years on the road, and then returned to Chicago in 1923 where he joined Carroll Dickerson’s band; in late summer of 1924, he joined Doc Cooke, remaining with him through summer of 1925. About this time, he switched from played trumpet to cornet. He joined Lil Armstrong’s Band at Dreamland, remaining with her from fall 1925-spring of 1926. Mitchell made many freelance recordings during this period, including sessions with Jelly Roll Morton’s Red Hot Peppers and The New Orleans Wanderers, as well as with his own bands. After gigging with various bands, he rejoined Doc Cooke’s Orch. in September 1927, remaining with him about two years. He then worked with Earl Hines from summer 1929-spring 1930, and again summer 1930-spring 1931. In the early 1930s, he left full-time music to become a bank messenger although he continued to gig around town. He retired from his day job in the early 1960s.

—John Chilton (Who’s Who of Jazz)/Lewis Porter