When I went to interview Lawrence “Boo” Mitchell a year ago, it was a cold, February morning and I stood on the front stoop knocking and hoping I hadn’t gotten the day or the time wrong. I hadn’t. When he showed up, he apologized while working his phone and unlocking the door all in one motion. And through it all he had that warm, Cheshire grin of his, as though everything he’s involved in is fun for him and he’d like for you to be in on it as well.
He was late that day because he’d just returned from the GRAMMY awards show in Los Angeles, there as the local president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Last night he was at the awards show as a nominee and then winner for the recording of “Uptown Funk” — performed by Bruno Mars with a production credit for Mitchell, and winner of Record of the Year.
It would be understandable if you were left waiting at the doorstep of Royal Studio in the coming days as the staff has plenty to celebrate. It’s another feather in the funky cap of the house that has given the world so much soul. In the meantime, enjoy this story from last year.