×

Steve Mitchell 1946 – 2019

‘A legacy of love’

An aura, or vibe of encouraging positivity surrounded Steve Mitchell, igniting a passion of music that enlightened whatever small spark he saw in others. Through his art and character, locals remember him for lighting their way.

“Steve’s legacy is a legacy of love,” said Dave Brumbaugh, executive director of the Uptown Music Collective. “Anyone who had the opportunity to see Steve play music, share a few words with him, or to feel his joyful embrace couldn’t help but be changed by it.”

Mitchell was one of the few who made it big. Growing up in Troy, he moved to San Francisco in 1967 where he was commercially heard on Charlie Brown TV specials, Garfield the Cat and numerous commercials.

But that was only his craft — playing with numerous bands and people such as Joe Henderson, Blue Mitchell, Herb Ellis, George Marsh, Van Morrison and The Coasters, was his art. In 1976 he was recognized as “the best west coast studio musician,” by the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences.

In 1995 he returned to central Pennsylvania, impacting locals in ways unforeseen.

Mitchell would frequently be seen at gigs throughout the state, including the Bullfrog Brewery and Billtown Blues Association’s presentations.

Hired by one of many, Brumbaugh said he had the opportunity to play with Mitchell on numerous occasions.

“He was a master of coaxing a wide variety of timbres out of his drums and cymbals and weaving them all together, with a badass groove, into a beautifully tasty musical gumbo,” he said.

Mitchell was a symphony conductor behind the sticks, and a motivator behind the scenes.

“Steve was all about you and what you were doing,” he said. “He had huge wings and he would take everyone under them and try to usher each of them to a new level of understanding of music,” said Brumbaugh.

This was never more evident than at Mitchell’s drum circles at the Billtown Blues festivals, said Bonnie Tallman, executive director.

“He would come in and bring a whole truckload of percussive instruments, and put everybody that was present in a circle,” she said.

Children, adults, or aged, it didn’t matter.

“He would just show and demonstrate that music can be made with just simply a variety of progressive sounds and drums,” said Tallman

Uri Kline, of Muncy, was one such student who said Mitchell’s lessons went deeper than the rhythm.

“He was there really to enhance who you already were,” he said. “He could see value in people, like nobody else. He’d take on any musician of any skill level, any genre, or any person, and he would hone in on what their passion was, and what they were great at — what made them human.”

Even into Mitchell’s infirment, Kline said he would call to encourage him on his way.

“He was always incredibly supportive,” he said. “Sometimes he would call me out of the blue and say, ‘Keep doing what you’re doing.’ “

That support inundated Sascha Feinstein, an English professor at Lycoming College, who said Mitchell inspired him to pick up his saxophone once more. When deciding on a gig, Mitchell was always his first call to determine availability.

“Steve brought with him such a deep history of the music,” he said. “He was very sensitive to the essence of whatever was being played, and his sense of timing was, of course, impeccable, but also his sense of texture, and his sense of nurturing.”

Nothing but positivity exuded from Mitchell in his friendships, which was especially clear in conversations about art, said Feinstein.

“He had an aura that was immediately embracing,” he said. “Steve made you feel good about the world. He made you feel as though somehow you were important to his life.”

Mitchell, who Feinstein said was “one of the most spiritually open and generous people I have ever known,” lived to inspire others to pursue music.

“He was a powerful force for love and joy,” he said.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today