Writing
WHAT GOES AROUND... is a fictional tale set in California, during the time when the optimistic 1960s are overtaken by the challenges of the 1970s: cocaine, political violence, changing tastes in music and sex, and the need to earn a living. We follow a group of young people whose lives collide when they join-up to record a song. Their lives then forever interwoven, they struggle onward towards dreams won and lost as a carved ivory snake watches over the journey.
The autobiographical Raised by Musical Mavericks: Recalling life lessons from Pete Seeger, Lightnin' Hopkins, Doc Watson, Rev. Gary Davis and others, was hailed as “an absolute masterpiece” by the late Chris Strachwitz and received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews.
"Greenhill employs a wonderful, elliptical approach to storytelling. "
-- Kirkus Reviews
Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
”A charming and informative must-read for music lovers.”
Mitch’s writings include album and CD liner notes as well as his recent book publication.
Raised by Musical Mavericks, describes how a gang of mighty musicians affected Mitch Greenhill’s coming of age in the turbulent 1960s. It is now available in paperback and ebook.
When Pete Seeger and Sonny Terry stepped into the family living room, I was an impressionable 13-year-old. They became the first in a series of houseguests and musical mentors, to be followed by Reverend Gary Davis, Doc Watson, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Merle Travis, Eric von Schmidt and others. My father had just embarked on a career in the music business that would include managing artists like Joan Baez and presenting artists like Bob Dylan. And as our family changed, along with the culture writ large, I was buffeted about in the wake.
Check out the playlist at Mitch’s YouTube channel.
Folklore Productions, The First 50 Years, an interview-based account of Folklore’s role in the folk revival and its legacy, 2007
“Remembering Doc Watson,” Merlefest program brochure, 2013
“Pete Seeger, As I Knew Him,” Cultural Weekly, January 2014
Liner Notes include: “Watson Country” (International Bluegrass Music Association award, Best Liner Notes 1997), “Merle Travis in Boston 1959” and “Live 1976”
“These are stories about a deep slice of a quirky and mysterious America that grabbed hold of us early on and refuses to let us go.”