Published
Tue, Jan 23, 2024, 11:45
- Nemiah Mitchell Jr ran the pioneering label of the same name alongside his son, Vince Lawrence.
House music pioneer Nemiah Mitchell Jr, AKA Mitchbal, has died at the age of 79.
The news was confirmed in an email sent to Resident Advisor last Wednesday, January 17th, by Mitchell's son Vince Lawrence and French DJ and producer Jerome Derradji. The cause of death wasn't disclosed.
"It's with profound sadness that I inform you of the passing of Nemiah Mitchell Jr, affectionately known as Mitchbal," the email read. "Mitchbal is arguably recognised as one of the key originators of Chicago house music back in the early '80s through his very early and legendary labels, Mitchbal Records and Chicago Connection Records."
Cofounded by Mitchell and Lawrence in 1982, Mitchbal is arguably the first house label. It released groundbreaking records from the likes of Frankie Knuckles, Z-Factor (Lawrence and Jesse Saunders), Jeanette Thomas, Mr. Lee, Risque Rhythm Team (Mitchell, Mr.Lee and K-Alexi) and Libra Libra, paving the way for Trax, DJ International and many other outlets in the process.
Mitchell went on to launch another influential label, Chicago Connection, in 1986, before disappearing from public view. Derradji's Still Music label later put out 122 BPM: The Birth Of House Music, a compilation of tracks from both labels, plus previously unheard material.
Listen to the compilation via SoundCloud, read some social media tributes and revisit Todd L. Burns's feature on Mitchbal Records from 2012.