Mitchell named NACMAI Hall of Fame Songwriter of the Year Inductee
Dan Mitchell
COSHOCTON – Singer, songwriter and producer Dan Mitchell was recently named a 2019 North American Country Music Association International (NACMAI) Hall of Fame Songwriter of the Year Inductee.
“I was surprised,” said Dan Mitchell, who is originally from Coshocton and now lives in Nashville. “I got a call from the CEO Peggy Franks. She had read over my website and said they would like to offer me an induction into the hall of fame and I said I’ll take that. I think Patsy Cline was one of the first people they ever inducted.”
The induction ceremony will take place over two days in March 2019 and Mitchell, who graduated from River View High School in 1971, will get to sing some of the songs he has written including “If You’re Gonna Play In Texas, You Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band,” and two of his songs that were sung by Moe Bandy.
“If You’re Gonna Play In Texas, You Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band” was co-written by Mitchell and turned out to be a number one hit for the band Alabama. BMI has certified it for more than four million airplays.
“I always said I wanted a gold record and a Cadillac,” he said. “When that song went number one I bought my Cadillac.”
Mitchell has RIAA certifications for more than 30 gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards. His resume also includes producing the Johnny PayCheck Project “The Last Outlaw” featuring George Jones. The tracks were recorded at The Bennett House and Johnny’s vocals were performed on location at the Chillicothe Correctional Institute in Ohio where Johnny was imprisoned. Mitchell managed PayCheck upon his release in 1991.
“I called him Uncle John,” Mitchell said. “He had a pretty bad reputation in the music industry, but he was really a sweet guy. Tiny Tim was amazing to work with too and George Jones was incredible.”
Mitchell has written hundreds of songs and the following are just a few of the artists who have recorded them: Waylon Jennings and Mel Tillis – “Mason Dixon Lines,” The Oak Ridge Boys – “Sometimes The Rain Won’t Let Me Sleep,” Jack Greene – “The Fool,” Leona Williams – “We Agree We Must Be In Love,” Moe Bandy – “Only If There Is Another You,” and Connie Smith – “Ten Thousand and One.”
“I’ve just always loved music,” Mitchell said. “My mom bought me a piano when I was 8 and I had a lot of different influences over the years. Our neighbors when I was 6 were always playing music and Mac Davis inspired me to write songs. I got to meet him in Nashville. I introduced myself to him and thanked him for being an inspiration.”
He is thankful for everyone who has helped him along the way in his career.
“I thank my mom for buying me a piano, my dad for letting me bang around on stuff and my wife and son for really putting up with a lot,” Mitchell said. “Cathy and Jason were always behind me and encouraged me to keep going and so were so many other people. When the press release about this came out I had 700 or 800 people on Facebook comment and got 400 to 500 text message. Every time something like this happens I sit down and answer each one individually so people know how important they are. It takes a village to raise a songwriter or singer.”
Category: People & Places
