George Mitchell (musician)
Encyclopedia
George Mitchell, was a Scottish
musician, best known for having devised the long-running The Black and White Minstrel Show
.
He was born in Falkirk, Scotland. Mitchell's grandfather was well-known Scottish choir master John Laing, and both of his parents were amateur singers. He was educated at Southgate County School
in North London. Mitchell was a pianist before his World War II
military service. During the war, he served with the Royal Army Pay Corps at Finsbury Circus. This posting enabled him to organise choirs within the armed forces and put on shows at the Cripplegate Theatre http://www.theatrestrust.org.uk/resources/theatres/show/3204-cripplegate-theatre among others. After the war he formed the George Mitchell Choir for BBC
radio
. After some success, the name was changed to the George Mitchell Glee Club, and it continued in that form until 1957, when the George Mitchell Minstrels were created. In 1958, the Minstrels, in red make-up which looked black on camera, transferred to television
.
The show was an enormous hit, with a peak viewing audience of 16.5 million viewers in 1964. It won the Golden Rose of Montreux for Best TV Show in the World in 1961.
The show appeared in a prime-time slot for twenty years, but during the 1970s its popularity declined, partly because of the style of music becoming dated and partly because of an increase in racial awareness. It was not perceived as politically correct
, and was axed by the BBC after several unsuccessful attempts to change the format. Mitchell was awarded the OBE in 1975. The minstrel show continued to be performed on stage until 1992. After George Mitchell retired to the United States
, his son, Rob Mitchell, led the ensemble in his place.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
musician, best known for having devised the long-running The Black and White Minstrel Show
The Black and White Minstrel Show
The Black and White Minstrel Show was a British light entertainment show that ran on BBC television from 1958-1978 and was a popular stage show. It was a weekly light entertainment and variety show presenting traditional American minstrel and Country songs, as well as show and music hall numbers,...
.
He was born in Falkirk, Scotland. Mitchell's grandfather was well-known Scottish choir master John Laing, and both of his parents were amateur singers. He was educated at Southgate County School
Southgate School
Southgate School is a state comprehensive secondary school in the London Borough of Enfield. It has approximately 1574 pupils.The school has Specialist Science Status. The school is situated just east of the Cat Hill roundabout of the A111 and A110, between Cockfosters and Oakwood tube stations...
in North London. Mitchell was a pianist before his World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
military service. During the war, he served with the Royal Army Pay Corps at Finsbury Circus. This posting enabled him to organise choirs within the armed forces and put on shows at the Cripplegate Theatre http://www.theatrestrust.org.uk/resources/theatres/show/3204-cripplegate-theatre among others. After the war he formed the George Mitchell Choir for BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
. After some success, the name was changed to the George Mitchell Glee Club, and it continued in that form until 1957, when the George Mitchell Minstrels were created. In 1958, the Minstrels, in red make-up which looked black on camera, transferred to television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
.
The show was an enormous hit, with a peak viewing audience of 16.5 million viewers in 1964. It won the Golden Rose of Montreux for Best TV Show in the World in 1961.
The show appeared in a prime-time slot for twenty years, but during the 1970s its popularity declined, partly because of the style of music becoming dated and partly because of an increase in racial awareness. It was not perceived as politically correct
Politically Correct
Politically Correct may refer to:*Political correctness, language, ideas, policies, or behaviour seeking to minimize offence to groups of people-See also:*Politically Correct Bedtime Stories, book by James Finn Garner, published in 1994...
, and was axed by the BBC after several unsuccessful attempts to change the format. Mitchell was awarded the OBE in 1975. The minstrel show continued to be performed on stage until 1992. After George Mitchell retired to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, his son, Rob Mitchell, led the ensemble in his place.