Episode #032: The Legendary Howie Mitchell
Listen Now (Duration 56 min.)
In this episode, we present the stories and music of Howie Mitchell. An innovator of dulcimer building and playing in the 1950s and 60s, Howie is credited with spreading the idea of the 6 and half fret, the DAD Mixolydian tuning, and the chord melody style of playing dulcimer starting in the late 1950s. All three of these ideas caught on in the dulcimer world and for many players is the standard way of playing dulcimer.
Guests:
Howie Mitchell
David Mitchell
Dennis Dorogi
Bonnie Carol
Max Krimmel
Charlotte Williams
Caroline Paton
Music:
• Lucky’s Tune - from Howie Mitchell’s private recording from the 1970s
• The River - from Howie Mitchell The Solo Album (1962)
• Deep Blue Sea - from Howie Mitchell and Jean Ritchie recorded by Jean (1957)
• Mixed Up - from Howie Mitchell and Charlotte Williams private recording (1958)
• I'm Sad and I'm Lonesome - from Howie Mitchell The Solo Album (1962)
• Soldier’s Joy - from Howie Mitchell The Solo Album (1962)
• Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes - from Howie Mitchell The Solo Album (1962)
• The Hound Dog Song - from Golden Ring: A Gathering of Friends For Making Music (1964)
• Golden Ring Around My Susan Girl - from Golden Ring: A Gathering of Friends For Making Music (1964)
• Introduction and Demonstration of the Dulci-less - from The Mountain Dulcimer -- How to make it and play it -- (after a fashion) (1965)
• The Double Dulcimer - from The Mountain Dulcimer -- How to make it and play it -- (after a fashion) (1965) Played with Ann Mitchell.
• Old Molly Hare - from Howie Mitchell’s private recording from the 1970s
• Believe Me If All Those Enduring Young Charms - from Howie Mitchell The Solo Album (1962)
Website Resource Links:
Folk-Legacy
Howie Mitchell - Free Music Archive
Photos
Golden Ring: A Gathering of Friends For Making Music
The Mountain Dulcimer -- How to make it and play it -- (after a fashion)
Howie Mitchell at home in 2017
Howie Mitchell with his son David and grandson, 2017
Howie recording Dulciless with Sandy Paton
Howie recording Dulciless