Memphis is saying goodbye to Lorraine "Lo" Mitchell, the soft-spoken force who quietly held things together at Royal Studios and helped keep the Mitchell family legacy humming along in the background. Her son, Grammy-winning producer Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell, confirmed she died last week. Friends and neighbors recall that the studio felt like family to her, and the city will honor her with a public celebration this weekend.
Family announcement and memorial
Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell shared on social media that his mother "has graduated from this world and passed on to the next one," adding that "me and oona lost our mother about a week ago." WREG reports Lorraine was the daughter of the late producer Willie Mitchell and is survived by her children Boo and Oona and her sister Yvonne Mitchell. A celebration honoring Lorraine is set for Saturday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum next to FedExForum.
A life rooted in Royal Studios
Royal Studios, founded and shaped by the late Willie Mitchell, is one of Memphis's most storied recording rooms, known for its sloped tracking floor and vintage gear that helped define the Hi Records sound, as described by WKNO. Studio lore holds that the welcoming, family-style atmosphere Lorraine nurtured helped sessions feel like home for new artists stepping into that classic room.
Grammy night and the timing
The Recording Academy named the soundtrack to Ryan Coogler's film Sinners among the night's winners, a project that leaned on Memphis musicians and producers tied to Royal. GRAMMY.com lists Sinners as a winner, and local coverage noted Boo Mitchell accepting the award alongside guitarist Eric Gales. Action News 5 captured the hometown reaction.
Where to pay respects
The public celebration will take place at the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum at 191 Beale St, a downtown landmark that traces the city's music history and sits near the FedExForum. Visitors can find exhibit and visitor details on the museum's downtown listing. Downtown Memphis provides the address and hours for guests planning to attend.
Royal Studios remains a family-run operation, with Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell and Oona Mitchell Beane continuing to oversee the studio while preserving its analog heart, a continuity that local reporting has followed as part of Memphis's studio resurgence. Memphis Magazine has chronicled that revival and Royal's ongoing role in the city's music scene.
