Mitchbal

Nemiah “Mitchbal” Mitchell Jr.
Biography

Nemiah “Mitchbal” Mitchell Jr. could be described as a romantic dreamer, but after careful study, you will find him to be very focused on his goals and the reality of life. In Mitchbal’s world, that reality is “Everything your’re after, LOVE is the answer, Selfishness is the loser, and Understanding is the winner.”

As a child, Mitchbal, who was born on the 4th of July, lived a relative carefree life; he attended and graduated from John Marshall Harlan High School on the south side of Chicago, where he grew up with his older sister Bertha, Mother and Father, who worked the Steel Mills. Mitchbal has two younger siblings, Deborah and Cyrus. He would play baseball, basketball and enjoyed swimming at Chicago’s Park District

While growing up Mitchbal was always aware of his surroundings, not just the physical element but trends,as a result he felt he had to always keep on top of things, staying ahead of the curve. Not long after leaving high school he delivered telegrams downtown Chicago, and kept himself busy to satisfy his spirit of industriousness.

At 21 years of age, his life was about to change quite dramatically – Vietnam – Mitchball was drafted into the army, and before he knew it he was in basic training. He was not too worried at first, as he figured by the end of training the war would be over. That was not the case, after four months he was shipped to Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas.

After a short time of being stationed in the Lone Star state, his entrepreneurial spirit kicked in. He noticed two venues, the Inn Crowd and the Basin Street East which he felt he could Dee Jay at, as they had space for a ballroom in the back of the bar. He suggested this to the manager, that he be paid to spin records. He was turned down- Not to be deterred, he bought some old DJ equipment and renegotiated his idea, by taking money from the_door from anyone who wanted to come to the back ballroom to listen to the music. It worked! With his new self-titled moniker- “Lamar Mr. DJ.” (Conceived because people would always pronounce his first name Nemiah incorrectly), he decided to hold his first event on Easter of 1966. In one night, and there where quite a few, he made $50 to add to the $100 a month the Army was paying. Mitchbal became quite the celebrity in El Paso, bought himself a car and settled down somewhat, he had even joined the local Church choir.

After 10 months however, he got the call his unit was to be shipped to Vietnam” and the legend of Lamar Mr. DJ. was no more. While at war, Mitchbal’s was given the job of supervising cargo from the barge that would bring supplies ranging from Jeeps, food, uniforms, cigarettes and even alcohol. This was quite an experience for him, especially when corruption and greed reared its ugly head. Thankfully, before he knew it, after a year, he would be discharged.

Upon his return to Chicago, he would become involved in the music business, starting off by hiring out a PA system he had acquired; he eventually became more entrenched, finding venues for acts and ultimately managing a number of local bands. It was at this time that Mitchbal met David Baldwin, who was a music arranger at the time. They eventually formed a partnership that combined their last names “Mitchell” and “Baldwin” and became known as “Mitchbal” which Mitchell would ultimately inherit and adopt.

With Baldwin’s musical ability and Mitchbal’s talent for writing poetry, which began when he was in the Army; he would send the same poem to several sweethearts. For a number of years, they would send tapes to record companies and radio stations with the hope of getting a mayor deal. Typical of Mitchbal who felt, “If Motown mogul Berry Gordy can make it,” he thought, “I know my dreams can be attained too.” Nevertheless, his partnership with Baldwin would not last and after many years they went their separate ways.

Mitchbal began to have parties, but generally took things much slower than before. Eventually he decided he wanted to be a shoe salesmen (of all things), he felt that they pay was steady and honest, together with the fact that he would be able to interact with people, of which he seems to do naturally.  He spent some nine years in that business, working for O’Connor and Goldberg, and then Carson Prairie Scott where he was not only a top sales rep, but also a trainer for both companies.

In 1982, Mitchbal decided to get back in the music business, and started Mitchbal records (now Mitchbal Creative Enterprise) and released his first record “Love is the Answer.”  He received limited airplay on WGCI at the time, but only on Sunday during the Gospel hour. He would eventually release more records, with increasing success. He eventually began to collaborate with his first son, prior to becoming married, renowned Chicago producer Vince Lawrence, who enlightened Mitchbal to the changing sounds of the day, the Disco era. From this father and son collaboration the seeds of House and Garage music was born, they developed a group called the Z Factor and recorded the song, written by Vince called “(I Like To Do It In) Fast Cars.”WGCI’s music manager at the time, Richard Pegue, had no hesitation in playing the track as they felt it was so different and so good.

Mitchbal would eventually receive calls from Europe for his songs; he would receive an advance and then ship the masters overseas. Things began to pick up, perhaps way to fast for Mitchbal. He had become married on December 24, 1980, he had two young children, he had bought a home and life was good – or was it – the money began rolling and so did the drugs.

Mitchbal would become hooked and addicted on the drug, going through a bag of coke a week together with his abuse of alcohol. Mithcbal had strayed from his philosophy of “Everything you’re after, LOVE is the answer, selfishness is the loser, and understanding is the winner.” He became consumed, his home went into foreclosure and he had to send his wife and children away to live with family. He became broke, and could not afford to produce records anymore, and dark days set in.

But as life would have it, Mitchbal was down, but he sure was not out, being a loving and giving
person all his life, he had friends. He moved in with close associate and checked himself into rehab. He was determined to bounce back and get on the path he knew to be true. His catalyst came while going to his AA meetings, when a property became available for sale. He had been working and had built back his funds to some extent, he had rented an apartment, and his family was back He decided to use the addictive personality he had develop to pursue the building. After he proudly purchased the building, Mitchbal decided to get involved in real estate and over the years have developed an impressive portfolio of  Buying,  Maintaining, and Sales of properties in Chicago.

Today Mitchbal is back, clean and sober for more then 25 years and his message is solid as ever, “Love Is the Answer!” His new CD with this title is totally revamped and is now in over Six languages and over thirty different genres of music including House, Russian European Dance, Korean, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, Hip Hop, R&B and Spoken Word. A unique blend that will cover the universe with its intended message: “Everything you’re
after, LOVE is the answer, Selfishness is the loser, and Understanding is the winner.”

Nemiah “Mitchbal’ Mitchell currently resides on Chicago’s north side wth his wife of more that twenty seven years, Priscilla. They are both members of New Life Community Church, where Mitchbal is a trustee. His son, Nemiah Felipe Mitchell III is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute and is now studying for his Masters; his daughter, Mary Elizabeth Mitchell is a Staff Sergeant in the US Army Reserves, as well as a Chaplains Assistant, who is studying for her Bachelors degree at the Moody Bible Institute. His oldest son is the well regarded music producer, Vince Lawrence.