While attending GSU Chris studied classical guitar and voice. Chris performed the first student Guitar recital at GSU and was a key member in the development of the program. Works on Chris' senior recital included selections by classical greats, rock icons, and works of Mitchell's own composition.
Interested in visual art as well as performing arts, Chris began studying graphic design in 1996 and began focusing on graphic design to meet the design needs of his musical endeavors. That same year, he designed his first logo - a “Pladd Dot”.
While in college, Chris released two albums with his band Wallace Green with band mates Brian Hendrix and Larry Summerlin. The band released two albums; Wonderllamasoup in 1996 and evandrool in 1999.
In 1999, Chris launched Pladd Dot Music as a guitar lessons studio out of his apartment. In 2002, Pladd Dot moved to their first brick and mortar location. In 2005 Chris married the love of his life, Ashlee Mitchell. In the same year, Pladd Dot outgrew the space and and moved to a second location to add music retail. In 2008, Pladd Dot Music would move once again to a new 7,000 square foot facility to add more music lesson rooms, a larger retail space, and a recording studio. In that same year, Chris was asked to teach the guitar program at GSU. So yes - he was very busy.
Chris took a hiatus from personal recordings in 2007 to produce an album for his former student (and now colleague), Mary Hannah Riggins. The collaboration resulted in Damsel in Distress-a-lot, Mary Hannah's debut album on Pladd Dot Records. Two years later, Pladd Dot Records would release Ashlee Mitchell’s debut album entitled a lullaby album.
Chris' first instructional guitar book, lessons for life (and guitar), was published in February 2009. Chris published Away in a Manger - 12 Christmas Songs For Easy Guitar (2010) and Halloween Night - 13 Songs that go Bump in the Night (2011).
In 2012, Chris launched a manufacturing division of Pladd Dot Music and began manufacturing guitars and amplifiers in the company's 7,500 square foot Statesboro, Georgia factory. The two brands launched that year were Chris Mitchell Guitars, (or CMG) and Devilcat Amplifiers. That same summer, CMG was awarded the prestigious "Best In Show" by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) in Nashville, TN. Both companies now have national distribution from Maine to California along with international sales. Both are built in Statesboro, GA and have been seen on the stage with local musicians and national artists like Garth Brooks.
Chris recently released his newest album, the pieces of smalltown, which offers an honest "americana roots" tour of an artist's soul; tracing Mitchell's history to the small towns he knows and loves. the pieces of smalltown marks the artist's fifth album and is available on iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, Amazon, and CD (if you still have a player or just want some really cool artwork).
Chris is currently performing with his new group - the Chris Mitchell Band. The quintet was handpicked from the finest musicians in the area to form the new ensemble. Ryan Kelly (grandson of the legendary Emma Kelly) holds the bottom down on bass. Matt Fallin holds a doctorate in percussion performance (and as J.J. Evans would put it - is DY-NO-MITE!). Keith Barber adds the frillies and fills in the other guitar slot as "chord master extraordinaire.” The final member of the group is Chris' wife, Ashlee. Ashlee is a much better singer (and much better looking) than anyone else in the band.
Still best of friends and a close-knit trio, Chris will be joining his former band mates in Wallace Green once again for future releases.
Chris still teaches about 20 students a week and manages all aspects of Pladd Dot Music, Pladd Dot Publishing, and the manufacturing division that builds CMG and Devilcat. Pladd Dot Music currently has over 150 students enrolled in music lessons and has a retail division that caters to the Statesboro and Savannah area. Pladd Dot Music also has a band and orchestra division that services the instrument and repair needs of schools throughout Southeast Georgia as well as Chris’ alma mater, GSU!
Pladd Dot is currently launching a software division that makes super cool software for music students, music schools, and retail stores.
Chris lives in Statesboro with his wife Ashlee and their French Bulldog, Packer. Packer answers to the names “Packrat”, “Packtabulous”, “Packintosh”, and “Want some food?”.
Make sure you check out the new album while you're here. I've put it off for far too long and I think you'll find that it was worth the wait.
My life's work is about pursuing my passions. From music composition, education, manufacturing, and even toys. Check out my other sites to see what else I do.