Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Louis A. Mitchell was born December 17, 1885 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and began performing in vaudeville revues and minstrel shows from around the turn of the century, playing drums and bandoline. After a move to New York City in 1912, he founded his own group, the Southern Symphonists’ Quartet.

He sang and drummed for James Reese Europe in 1918, and the following year founded a new group, which he called Louis Mitchell’s Jazz Kings. By the end of the decade, Mitchell began touring the United States, as well as, Europe, concentrating on the United Kingdom and France. He did solo percussion shows in addition to ensemble programs, and his drum solos were greeted harshly by French audiences. Nevertheless, his ensemble spent five years as the house band of the Casino de Paris.

He recorded for Pathe Records in 1922 and 1923, with Sidney Bechet playing with him at this time, however, Bechet did not appear on the recordings. Louis remained in France until 1930, branching into restaurant and nightclub management in addition to music. He renamed one of his clubs Chez Florence due to the popularity of performer Florence Embry Jones.

Moving back to the United States in 1930 after the failure of The Plantation, his last club, but he played little in his last decades. Drummer and bandleader Louis Mitchell transitioned on September 12, 1957.

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