Dwike Mitchell began his career as pianist for the Lionel Hampton Orchestra before joining Willie Ruff to form The Mitchell-Ruff Duo jazz group.
10 Facts About Dwike Mitchell
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Dwike Mitchell began playing piano around the age of three after his father, who had a job driving a garbage truck, brought home an old piano discarded by its owner.
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Dwike Mitchell began performing in public at the age of five.
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Under her tutelage, Dwike Mitchell learned the Khachaturian Piano Concerto and performed it with the academy's orchestra.
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Dwike Mitchell had abandoned his given name, Ivory, because of its popular association with piano keys.
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In 1954 Dwike Mitchell was reunited with French horn player Willie Ruff, whom Dwike Mitchell had befriended when both were stationed at Lockbourne.
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Ruff immediately phoned the television station, and in the ensuing conversation Dwike Mitchell convinced Ruff to abandon his symphony plans and instead join the Hampton orchestra.
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Dwike Mitchell remained in touch with his childhood hometown of Dunedin, giving concerts at both the University of South Florida and Dunedin High School.
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Dwike Mitchell went back in 1983 to spend time with his dying father.
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Dwike Mitchell died on April 7,2013, of pancreatic disease.