During
our
childhood,
"The Mitchell Girls"
sang and performed at many churches in Athens and Hocking counties, for
Nelsonville Telethons, and for Civic Groups
throughout the area, The Murray City Methodist Calvary Church
was our home church. Later in our teen
years we sang at area church songfests with our cousins Terri and
Connie Robson.
Here is a sample of our early music. Our mother, Marlene
Robinson Mitchell, found an old tape recording from 1969. Our
step grandfather Ray Sanborn had recorded us singing at our home in
Coalgate Hollow, just outside Murray
City. We had sang on a Telethon
in Nelsonville
the night before.
My technically amazing son Anthony Quinn
(and musician in his own right) was recently able to repair and
re-record this nearly 40 year old cassette tape. Ray is speaking at the
beginning of the song introducing us. You can also hear our
grandmother Naomi
Campbell Robinson Sanborn. Our mother was our coach
and song leader and our best fan.
We had a lot of fun days growing up in the middle of the Wayne National Forest
out in Coalgate Hollow. Mom kept us busy singing, and
cheerleading; Dad kept us busy working in one of the best gardens
around; and we had plenty of time to hike, raise small domestic
animals, and enjoy the fruits of the forest.
Our nearest neighbors in Coalgate, in 1969, were the Kinnisons, Warrens,
Wrights, Matheneys, and Campbell's.