January 4, 2025 • 37 mins
This episode host Markivus Nious interviews singer, producer, songwriter, and stylist who's worked with Icon Stevie Wonder for 10 years, Bonita Mitchell. We also feature two singles off of her latest releases at the end of the show.
About Bonita Mitchell
For Bonita Mitchell, it all started on McAfee Hill in Eau Claire, Michigan where she was number five in a string of seven children belonging to Pastor Fletcher and Alice McAfee. As children, she and her siblings spent countless hours squirming on the first row of the church pew. There, in church, she began her singing career while anxiously observing the grace of her mother, Alice McAfee, a powerful gospel singer. At the age of five, she began singing in youth choirs mimicking her mom and sister, singing hit songs by Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Jackson. By the age of seven, she was an invited, celebrated guest artist at churches all over the City. Bonita was well on her way to becoming a recording artist. Yet, she struggled with her self-esteem. Her way of escape came from listening to and learning from every Stevie Wonder song she could learn. She became a consummate lead singer and songwriter all over the region.
By the time she finished college at the age of 22, she was singing Stevie Wonder and Anita Baker songs with passion and control. However, Mitchell’s early experiences left a deep fissure in her heart, and a burning desire to help others overcome their insecurities. She later relocated to Los Angeles and began working in the Fashion Industry as a fashion stylist/shopper, merchandiser, and sales representative at the prestigious California Mart. Yet, she continued to develop her passion for helping others and overcoming self-doubt through songwriting, singing, and producing. Bonita co-founded the singing group R.A.R.E. (Rebuilding Awareness Reaffirming Education) where she was able to address social issues through music in school and communities. Within a short time, the group was performing up and down the state of California while Bonita was continuing to use her knowledge of wardrobe to bring out the beauty in people of all ages. It was her passion for styling and being a personal shopper that allowed her to meet Lula Mae Hardaway, the mother of the legendary Stevie Wonder, her long-time idol. Ms. Hardaway was so excited about the work she was doing for her. She was compelled to recruit her services for her son. This lasted 10 years as Stevie Wonder’s wardrobe specialist, along with his Design Team, Bonita spent years traveling the world on tour with him all while developing her singing, writing, and producing skills as his protégé.
Bonita has a sultry, anointed, and powerful sound that moves you to your core. Her most requested cover songs are “ The Battle,” by Yolanda Adams and “Rainbow by Vicki Winans. She has shared the stage with National Recording artists such as Shawnice Wilson, Melvin & Doug Williams of the famed William Brothers, and AL Mac Wil on the 40th Anniversary of BET’s, Bobby Jones Gospel to name a few.
Some of the highlights of her singing career have been appearances with the students from the combined I’M Saving Myself and Musication Choirs on Good Morning America, Stevie Wonder House Full of Toys in Los Angeles, and the South Western Michigan Christmas Orchestra at Lake Michigan College, all to packed houses.
Bonita is not just an artist but a tool for change in the lives of youth and young adults through her I’m Saving Myself Prevention Program, a 501C3 organization. It was birthed in 1998 after a tragic suicide of a popular, young basketball star back in Eau Claire, her hometown. Bonita is a rare artist who has chosen to use her amazing gifts of vocal training, singing, writing, producing, and teaching to impact the lives of youth and their families in schools and communities all across America. “I’m Saving Myself,” has become the Anthem and the vehicle for change for hurting youth through music and performing arts. I’m Saving Myself along with Thread of Hope Records has been used to ignite hope in a hopeless generation, and give them a place of confidence and sustainability. Mitchell has written and produced two CDs under the Thread of Hope Record label. Her debut album titled “It Is Well With My Soul” was released in 2010, and it pays homage to the rich history of Gospel music with Hymns; she released original music on her follow-up release “Cherish Your Life,” a prevention and healing CD. Her upcoming project “Let This Mind Be In Me,” is scheduled to be released on all digital platforms in the Spring of 2021.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/deeper-than-music-with-markivus--2705530/support.
About Bonita Mitchell
For Bonita Mitchell, it all started on McAfee Hill in Eau Claire, Michigan where she was number five in a string of seven children belonging to Pastor Fletcher and Alice McAfee. As children, she and her siblings spent countless hours squirming on the first row of the church pew. There, in church, she began her singing career while anxiously observing the grace of her mother, Alice McAfee, a powerful gospel singer. At the age of five, she began singing in youth choirs mimicking her mom and sister, singing hit songs by Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Jackson. By the age of seven, she was an invited, celebrated guest artist at churches all over the City. Bonita was well on her way to becoming a recording artist. Yet, she struggled with her self-esteem. Her way of escape came from listening to and learning from every Stevie Wonder song she could learn. She became a consummate lead singer and songwriter all over the region.
By the time she finished college at the age of 22, she was singing Stevie Wonder and Anita Baker songs with passion and control. However, Mitchell’s early experiences left a deep fissure in her heart, and a burning desire to help others overcome their insecurities. She later relocated to Los Angeles and began working in the Fashion Industry as a fashion stylist/shopper, merchandiser, and sales representative at the prestigious California Mart. Yet, she continued to develop her passion for helping others and overcoming self-doubt through songwriting, singing, and producing. Bonita co-founded the singing group R.A.R.E. (Rebuilding Awareness Reaffirming Education) where she was able to address social issues through music in school and communities. Within a short time, the group was performing up and down the state of California while Bonita was continuing to use her knowledge of wardrobe to bring out the beauty in people of all ages. It was her passion for styling and being a personal shopper that allowed her to meet Lula Mae Hardaway, the mother of the legendary Stevie Wonder, her long-time idol. Ms. Hardaway was so excited about the work she was doing for her. She was compelled to recruit her services for her son. This lasted 10 years as Stevie Wonder’s wardrobe specialist, along with his Design Team, Bonita spent years traveling the world on tour with him all while developing her singing, writing, and producing skills as his protégé.
Bonita has a sultry, anointed, and powerful sound that moves you to your core. Her most requested cover songs are “ The Battle,” by Yolanda Adams and “Rainbow by Vicki Winans. She has shared the stage with National Recording artists such as Shawnice Wilson, Melvin & Doug Williams of the famed William Brothers, and AL Mac Wil on the 40th Anniversary of BET’s, Bobby Jones Gospel to name a few.
Some of the highlights of her singing career have been appearances with the students from the combined I’M Saving Myself and Musication Choirs on Good Morning America, Stevie Wonder House Full of Toys in Los Angeles, and the South Western Michigan Christmas Orchestra at Lake Michigan College, all to packed houses.
Bonita is not just an artist but a tool for change in the lives of youth and young adults through her I’m Saving Myself Prevention Program, a 501C3 organization. It was birthed in 1998 after a tragic suicide of a popular, young basketball star back in Eau Claire, her hometown. Bonita is a rare artist who has chosen to use her amazing gifts of vocal training, singing, writing, producing, and teaching to impact the lives of youth and their families in schools and communities all across America. “I’m Saving Myself,” has become the Anthem and the vehicle for change for hurting youth through music and performing arts. I’m Saving Myself along with Thread of Hope Records has been used to ignite hope in a hopeless generation, and give them a place of confidence and sustainability. Mitchell has written and produced two CDs under the Thread of Hope Record label. Her debut album titled “It Is Well With My Soul” was released in 2010, and it pays homage to the rich history of Gospel music with Hymns; she released original music on her follow-up release “Cherish Your Life,” a prevention and healing CD. Her upcoming project “Let This Mind Be In Me,” is scheduled to be released on all digital platforms in the Spring of 2021.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/deeper-than-music-with-markivus--2705530/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Behind every great song, that is a greater story.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
There of you, the fans. The truth simply, the truth
is the linked, just the neat sick of you, the fans.
The truth simply, the truth is the linked, just the.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
New good morning, good evening, wherever you are in the world.
Deeper than music radio, behind every great song, there's an
even greater story. I like to say, what's up to
everybody listening to us on Spreaker, Spotify, our Heart Radio
and all the great podcasts doing our podcast are actually
(00:46):
streaming our podcast around the world. Today, we have a
very special guest, and I'd like to say that there
are people that are light in the world, that bring
light to the world, and they give back to the
unity and they give back, and I love it when
people get back to the youth. I'm a fan of
the arts. You know, I'm a musical artist myself, and
(01:08):
if it wasn't for the arts, you know, it provided
me a pathway, it provided me opportunities. So I love
when I have guests that give back to the arts.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
Our guests, she also worked with a well.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Known person that I'm very inquisitive to know about, and
I'll speak to you guys, give you a little hint.
So if you know your music and if you know
your greats, songs in the Kia Life is one of
my favorite albums. And if you don't know about that album,
you need to research the album and the artist. She
comes by a way from the Midwest. She also is
(01:43):
a stylist. She has her own record label, and she
also produced two albums, and like I said, she has
a foundation that gives back to the community. Ladies and gentlemen,
we have Benita Mitchell here on Deeper than Music Radio.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
How you doing the Meina, I'm fantastic and thank you
also very much for allowing me to be.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
On your on your radio game, oh anytime. My first
question is Midwest. I've had experiences in the Midwest and
they involve extreme coal, so Michigan especially, so man, So
that's where it all started.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Yes, that's where it all started, right down here by
the fruit belt, probably maybe about thirty minutes from Southend, Indiana,
and I won thirty minutes from Chicago, Illinois.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Yeah, so actually yeah, I spend a little time in
southern Illinois, about four hours south of Chicago. But wait
where you mentioned though? The Midwest? Prince Michael Jackson. Yes,
a lot of great artists came out of the Midwest.
And like the Jacksons, you came from a quite a
big family.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Yes, my family, the McAfee family. My father is bunch
of McAfee and mother Alice mccaffe the clay both sides
of the family.
Speaker 5 (03:02):
I think one at twelve and the other one at
twelve or thirteen.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
So and there were seven of us kids in the family.
So yeah, we came from a very very big, loving
family and we're all over the country.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
And also a musical family, right, Yes, started in the church.
Speaker 5 (03:22):
Started in the church.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
My mother and father were in a group. My mother
sang with Mahelia Jackson. I mean she was all over,
but she didn't want to travel because she wanted to
take care of us kids. But she would wreck a church, okay,
her spirits. So some of us might have another sister
who's singing, element will doing urban country gospel music.
Speaker 5 (03:45):
So there's a lot of us singing in the industry
right now.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Wow, And I wanted to say, you mentioned another great
Mahela Jackson. So did you know coming from a young
or a talented family at the church, did you you
know at a young age that you this is what
you wanted to do.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
You wanted to sing?
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Let me yes, let me say it was pretty interesting
because I felt like there were seven of us siblings,
but I really felt like a little ugly duckling.
Speaker 5 (04:14):
But I figured I could sing. I could sing.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Stevie Wonder songs in the Key of Life was one
of those albums and one of the movements that kept
me pretty confident growing up as a kid. So yes,
my mother, I didn't really, I was very shy, didn't
want to sing in church, was made to sing in church,
but would sing Stevie Wonder songs all day long, starting
at the age of five years old.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
Wow. Wow, we mentioned Michigan. I did. Motown is right there, Okay.
I just thought about that. I was like, you know what,
you're not.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Too far from Motile, Okay, So you were right there, yeah,
right where, you know. A movement was in itself, and
the great Stevie Wonder was part of that movement.
Speaker 5 (04:56):
Let me tell you.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
The funny thing about it is that I'm really three
hours about three hours from Detroit, and I'm in the
heart of the country. I was a red dirt even
little lower girl, but I could dream. Thank God for
your Stevie Wonders and some of the people that allowed
music to live inside of those who are in these
(05:17):
rural areas.
Speaker 5 (05:18):
And yeah, three hours from Detroit.
Speaker 4 (05:22):
Wow. And then you mentioned, like, I know.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
It takes to be a musician, It takes you know, confidence,
and you mentioned you know you had some issues. Was
it hard. Did you struggle as you honed your craft
and you decide, hey, this is what I want to do.
And then at a young age singing choir and stuff
like that, where there's struggles are a little bit of insecurities, not.
Speaker 5 (05:47):
A little a lot.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
It was very frightening because introvert as a seven siblings,
five girls, two boys, and I was like in the middle.
So it was it was a bit of a challenge
of being confident, first of all in the way I looked.
And the one thing that I did have I had
a voice, I could sing, and I also was an athlete.
(06:09):
So those were two things that kind of gave me
the confidence growing up to continue to keep singing and
moving forward in my craft. And still didn't understand it completely,
but did not stop.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Yeah, And I wanted to ask you because we talked
so many grace like cool.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
What artists inspired you? Did you look up.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Steve, Stevie Wonder what I'm Gladys Knight, But more so
I would say Steven Wonder was he was it Michael Jackson,
but it was Steve. It was the songs in the
Key of Life that I would sing. I was singing
it so much my sister literally broke the album because
it was so positive. I mean, he's such an amazing
(06:57):
individual one. It's almost like I was able to really
become a part of his whole movement, you know when
he was when he was.
Speaker 5 (07:07):
Young, really caring about the world and love because that's
what he's saying about all the time.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
So here you are you saying gospel. You're three hours
from Detroit. I know that you. Did you create a
scene and did you start performing around Motown and building
up your your credibility and your experience?
Speaker 1 (07:29):
No, what I did, I did the opposite, because I
was running from my purpose and my talent. I end
up because I was also had various various gifts and talents.
Speaker 5 (07:41):
I ended up wanting to be an.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Advocate for making people feel good, and so I went
into clothing. I went into being able to t because
I was able to transform myself and really become that
competent person, and I wanted to make sure other women
and little girls felt the same way.
Speaker 5 (08:03):
So instead of singing.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
I took the route of news of styling. And Stevie
Wonder's mother was one of my first clients.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
Wow. And so in that time period you relocated to Los.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Angeles, relocated to Los Angeles, my mom and dad divorced
and it was like one of the most dramatic times
in my life. But it was actually the beginning only
because we moved from Michigan to Los Angeles and that's
where everything happened.
Speaker 4 (08:35):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
And was that was that a huge culture shock to
come from the Midwest all the way to the California.
Speaker 5 (08:42):
It was unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
But it was like a kid in a candy store
because of the garment district downtown Los Angeles.
Speaker 5 (08:49):
I kind of like fell right into it and it
was amazing, just amazing.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
And you mentioned fashion, So was that a way to
kind of to kind of like build up your confidence
and to kind of like, you know, you know, some people,
we perform and we become a persona and the fashion
is what helps us. Was that kind of a way
to build confidence and kind of cloak the insecurities.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Yes, God gave me the gift of transformation, and my
gift is I could put anything together. And you know,
it didn't matter what it looked like. When I put
clothes together and merchandising.
Speaker 5 (09:31):
It was, it was. It's just a natural talent and
was part of my purpose. And yes it was.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
It was that one nugget, one of the nuggets that
gave me the confidence to.
Speaker 5 (09:42):
Know that you know what, even though I may be
a little.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
Insecure with my singing, I can still make people feel good,
you know.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, And you mentioned.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
Again this is like one of those but I always
you know, when you get close to somebody you idolize,
it's like wow, so we talk about you meet Stevie
Wonder's mom, and that builds into something even I'm pretty
sure that you you couldn't imagine in your wildest.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
Dreams, No, because I mean, think about it. It's like
this little girl looking at TV, dreaming all the time,
singing Stevie Wonder songs and based on my insecurities. In
the most dramatic time in my life, when my mom
and dad divorcing, I thought life was over and in actuality.
Once they moved to California, ended up in the garment
(10:29):
district and was selling clothes to very exquisite boutiques. One
of the first blacks to work downtown in the garment industry.
So when we met Stevie's mom, wanting to be special
when and to look fabulous, we had a line out
of Europe and went to her home and she put
one of those outfits on and it was like complete transformation.
Speaker 5 (10:53):
She's like, okay, you all have to meet my son.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
My son is in the middle of transforming his entire
wordbe apartment.
Speaker 5 (11:01):
Okay, wow. I could not believe it. God, you love me.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
I was gonna ask you, like, how how did that feel?
Speaker 3 (11:11):
And it's like, you got to meet my son and
you're gonna be that person he's transforming his transforming his wardrobe.
Speaker 4 (11:19):
It's you like, how was that?
Speaker 1 (11:22):
I can remember to this day the feeling of just
being an awe and I was numb.
Speaker 5 (11:29):
I couldn't even know I could not even talk. Okay.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
I was so in awe of this man who helped
form the confidence and talent within me, and I didn't
he didn't even know it. So I'm and I traveled
with him and went to every concert, been all over
this country and still I'm a fan, a major fan,
(11:53):
and and just in so much in awe that the
advocacy it had to be, not the fact that I
was with Stevie and I had to go around bragging
about it.
Speaker 5 (12:05):
It had to be.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Something to really go beyond that and to help other
kids and people know exactly how possible it is to
dream and things become a reality when you don't give.
Speaker 5 (12:21):
Up on life.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
Yes, and you missed it while that it was your imagination.
And I'm a firm believer like you advocate, and you know,
our imagination pushes us beyond, like the imagination is the spark,
and you got to have the motivation. And I like
how you know you gave back, like I want to
push an advocate for people, because like you said, you
were in rural Michigan and now look we're talking about
(12:46):
you being with mister Stevie Wonder and it lasted like
what a ten year.
Speaker 5 (12:50):
You as a year tour.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
I've been old, I mean South Africa, mynic carl Is,
I mean, you name it. I've been there and there's
no way I can bless you with that much favor
and a kid at five years old singing this man's
songs and you're traveling with him, and you not want
to share that and give that love back to other people.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
So, like, how was it that experience with Stevie Man?
Speaker 5 (13:20):
Oh my god? It was epic.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
It was epic, from the clothing to his personality to
the people who I've worked with. And it's interesting because
I found myself, you know, even a counselor on the road,
was some of the background singers and the band.
Speaker 5 (13:38):
Everybody was just beautiful.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
It was such a lovely time in my life that
just keeps me.
Speaker 5 (13:46):
I'm still I'm still, I'm still flying.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
And that's why I can walk into these schools and
meet these kids and tell them you can dream.
Speaker 5 (13:54):
It doesn't matter.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
I was a little country eating, dirt eating girl, And
guess what if God can do it for me, He's
something can do it for you.
Speaker 5 (14:03):
You just got you can't give up.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
Mmm.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
Yeah definitely. And And like did you did being with Stevie?
Did it like enhance your your artistry? Like was he
aware that you also with fashion? You were also a singer?
Did you guys talk about music, fashion?
Speaker 5 (14:27):
Yes, we did. It's so funny to get my sister.
Speaker 6 (14:30):
She's uh.
Speaker 5 (14:31):
She used to try to manage me.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
And like one of the first times I sat down
with him on the piano and I sang one of
my favorite songs with him, All is Fair in Love,
and I could hardly I could hardly sing. I was
sewing all He's Stevie has critiqued several of my program
songs and he has played her monica on one of
(14:56):
the anthems for the program, just called Dreams. So I'm
I'm I'm in awe every day when I even think
of him. I'm still in awe of the opportunity I
have been given to meet this icon, and he's a
part of the family.
Speaker 5 (15:15):
So it's it's a blessing.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
But then like for you as well as a singer,
I see that you you know, you work with artists
as shared the stage with a Sonise Wilson, Melvin and
Doug Williams, the Williams brothers, al Mac will and and
so he very rooted. Like we said, the foundation was
the church, and you've also shared the stage with phenomenal
(15:43):
gospel singers. Think in the back of you into fashion.
So were you still doing music or like, how did
were you still doing music in fashion or or was
it just okay, I went from this, I'm going back
to my artistry.
Speaker 5 (15:59):
It was both. It's it's always been both. Yeah, Because
what I.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Didn't understand is that the in the industry, fashion is
fashion make up all of those different careers that are
behind the scenes.
Speaker 5 (16:14):
It's just it's a part of it.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
So even as a singer, I'm having to even put
my own car, but garments together, my clothing, my look,
I've got to do all of that even for myself
right now.
Speaker 4 (16:26):
Mm hmmm hm.
Speaker 5 (16:27):
So it almost hand in hand.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
So, I mean, we've been discussing your phenomenal journey so
so far in your journey, like what has been like
a highlight like or our moment of one of those
Like if you say one of your top ten, what's
what's the highlight that stands out?
Speaker 5 (16:50):
I would say the highlight that stands.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
Out in my life is the is the day I
sat on the piano with Stevie Wonder and we sang
all is Fair and Love.
Speaker 4 (17:00):
Yeah, I mean Motown legend.
Speaker 5 (17:03):
Right there, Hello, my five year old kids singing the song.
And then I'm sitting smack right next to him.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
Oh my god, it's like, Oh, even thinking about it
now is like wow, that was really cool.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
And then so during this timeframe as well, I also
want to touch upon you also, we talked about the
youth and inspiring the youth and young adults. You have
your I'm Saving Myself prevention program. How has that started?
And then can you give us a little insight on
your program?
Speaker 1 (17:39):
Yes, the program was started actually throughout my parents record company.
I wanted the record company to be a kind of
like an innovative record company where we created music that
dealt with issues where kids could they could think about,
you know, some of the feelings that they were having,
but they didn't really have to talk about it, but
(18:01):
they could ask for help. So it's this intervention and
prevention music which is now social and emotional learning.
Speaker 5 (18:09):
So we were called back from.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
Los Angeles when a kid had committed had completed suicide,
and we went to one of my schools here in
Michigan from California. Threat of Hope records and Threat of
Hope is just exactly what it means. Just a little
bit of a hope can light the eyes and the
minds and hearts of anybody if we're willing to give it.
(18:31):
So the record company went to the school, inspiring from
kindergarten all the way up the twelfth grade kids, only
to find out two years later, after we were running
our Celebrate Life and Pursue Your Dream school tour through
the record company, that another student had thought about committing suicide.
And he told me, miss Mitchell, if you have any
(18:54):
doubt whether or not this program works, which is threat
of hope, Records Celebrate Life and Pursue your Dreams too.
He said, I'm living witness because the day that we
did the show, I had planned the date at the
time and the place of.
Speaker 5 (19:07):
Where I was going to commit suicide.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
And I heard the song I heard you Katie sing,
which is one of our first artists on the label,
our abstinent.
Speaker 5 (19:18):
Song, I'm Saving Myself, he said.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
When she sang the hook of that song, recommit, It's
not too late save yourself. With wedding day it was,
he said, I tailored that song to my situation, recommitted
myself to God, and that day it birthed our nonprofit
I'm Saving Myself, and we've probably serviced over thirty to
(19:42):
forty thousand youth, empowering them to move beyond their dark
side and make good choices and try to build that
inner person so they can be confident not to bully.
And we can see what's happening now and on the
planet because a lot of people are hurting, a lot
of frama that's undiagnosed, and people are just looking for love.
(20:04):
And those of those who have the opportunity to sow
positivity and light into individuals, we got to take it
when we have the opportunity, because we never know who's
on the edge and who wants to maybe go in
a room somewhere and blow their heads off.
Speaker 5 (20:23):
But we can prevent that just by sowing the seed
of love and hope.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
Yeah, you're right, because you never know what the next
person is going through. And we now have a society
where more people are connected technology and not connected through people.
And we're social creatures, right, so when we, you know,
isolate ourselves. Like you said, you don't know what the
(20:49):
next persons going through. I also wanted to bring to
light as well. Like so through your organization, you do
vocal training, singing, writing, producing and teaching music and the
arts to impact the lives of the youth and trouble youth,
and I like to say thank you for that.
Speaker 4 (21:09):
I believe like the arts is a good way.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
You know, music's a universal language and it helps ignite imagination.
You know, imagination has no boundaries. I also wanted to
talk about Threat of Hope records. We talked about it.
It's also ties in with your organization. How did that
come about and what was the motivation. I love that
(21:32):
Threat of Hope. I love that name.
Speaker 7 (21:35):
You know.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
The motivation was due to the level of insecurity I
had and what I wanted to sew into others because
it was that hope. Stevee Stevie gave me.
Speaker 5 (21:53):
That hope, and I mean the Lord of my family.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
But when you're a kid and you're dreaming a lot
of times you need people outside of your family to
validate you and to give you that push. And Thered
of Hope is just that that vehicle. We have contracts
with the schools been our various schools, COVID public schools
where we work with students to this day. I just
(22:17):
finished with two Christmas programs, and I mean, you got
babies that are in the first grade that are singing
like masters. And we have the opportunity to really really
build those vocals in those in those students as well
as confidence. You know, as they're getting these books and
everything pushed at them, going through hell maybe in their
(22:38):
homes and everything happening around them is not positive, they
can take that nugget of talent and really be proud
once we get them off that stage.
Speaker 5 (22:49):
It was. It's just I can't even.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
Explain how humble I am that God has given me
the opportunity to be a part of sowing hope into
the lives of young people and really as families.
Speaker 5 (23:04):
Now, Yeah, it's amazing.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
And it's good too, because I know, like with the youth,
like you said, the youth have been hurting.
Speaker 4 (23:12):
You know, we have record numbers.
Speaker 3 (23:14):
I mean, we just had a school shooting Wasn't in Wisconsin,
right in the Middlewest, and it's like we become numb
to it, and a lot of kids are diagnosed with depression,
you know, things that that nature post COVID. You know,
we're still healing and recovering from that, even though it's
been years since that happened. But I feel like it
(23:36):
had a profound effect on the youth because they were
the ones that were you know, isolated and not going
to school where you know graduations were impacted. You know,
we were isolated and transitioning back to normal. Speaking to
your music, you've written and produced two CDEs under threat
of Hope Records. Can you give us insight on your
(23:59):
music and those your artworks?
Speaker 5 (24:02):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
Some of the insight I would say is the gospel
album that I put together because I love hymnos. The
first one was called It Is Well with My Soul,
a message for the mind, heart and soul, and it
had some some of the original songs that I've written
based on the pain. I mean, hits are actually made
(24:27):
from the level of pain that we go through. But
I would say there's another song that was written by
Vicky Whinings called the Rainbow, and that's really one of
the number one songs on that first CD that everyone
just absolutely love. I mean, ten years later, I'm still
performing that song. And then I coupled it with a
(24:49):
intervention and prevention CD which is called Cherish Your Life.
And Cherish your Life is all about songs dealing with suicide, prevention,
building self a stick, just me these feelings. I've got
indicators of how you're feeling. If you're if you're being depressed,
go get some help. Kind of it speaks to the
(25:11):
mind and soul for you to embrace the fact that
you might be going through you know, these various situations
and you can quietly get helped, I mean with journals
and everything, and even if you want to go to
a therapist.
Speaker 5 (25:27):
But if you don't want to go to a therapist,
even with.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
Our intervention and Prevention CD it gives you the calmness
to solve some of the issues within your mind and
eventually reach out for help.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
Yes, yes, yeah, and thank you so much, Benita Mitchell.
And as always are you know great interviews. The time
just it slips away. But before we before we leave,
I have three questions. The first one is listeners have
(26:03):
heard your journey, your wonderful story, and how could they
find out about your music, what you're doing your programs,
selfless promotion? Where are you and how could the listeners
find out more about you and your music?
Speaker 1 (26:17):
Okay, I'm My website is Bonita Mitchell dot com or
info Bonita Mitchell dot com is the website.
Speaker 5 (26:27):
Threat of Hope Records. I'm sorry.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
Th oh Records dot com is the program website and
then I'm all over social media TikTok, Instagram as well
as Facebook, and my music is on youtube' so on Spotify, Apple,
so over all of the platforms. It's actually through a
(26:54):
new distributor, through Sony, one of the Christian distributors. So
a while, yeah, I'm they can under my name Anita Mitchell.
You can google me and I should pop up.
Speaker 3 (27:10):
And then my next question is, so this illustrious career,
you know, when it's all said and done, decided, I'm
gonna pass the torch. How would you like to be
remembered your musical legacy.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
I would like to be remembered based on the amount
of love, the amount of willingness to give and and serve.
Speaker 5 (27:42):
That's that's it in a nutshell.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
And then my last question, what does music mean to
Benita Mitchell?
Speaker 1 (27:53):
Music means freedom, Music means self expression. And it is
like that voice that speaks when you really don't have
to talk.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Yeah yeah, and it's it's universal, and it's just crazy
that you know, just just circling back with the artist
that you worked with and the things that you've done
is timeless, like timeless music, Like we're talking about albums
decades and then you talked about your album it's like
twenty ten that still it resonates with people. And we
(28:32):
talked about the late great thrillers like forty years old
and it's still it blows my mind, like wow music
it has it's forever. You know, it's something that's a
gift that's forever. So Benita Mitchell, thank you so much
for being on the show and sharing your wonderful story.
Speaker 4 (28:51):
Ladies and gentlemen, you heard the journey. You know where to.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
Find the music and the website to stick around and
also to hear about her wonderful program.
Speaker 4 (29:02):
She has for the youth.
Speaker 3 (29:03):
And uh it's Marquis is Nice and Anita Mitchell signing
off for Deeper Music.
Speaker 4 (29:08):
Thank you for listening.
Speaker 5 (29:10):
Thank you so very much. I feel so all alone.
Speaker 6 (29:37):
Nobody knows the way I feel.
Speaker 8 (29:47):
I heard so bad and sad. I don't know what.
Speaker 9 (29:54):
Is real.
Speaker 5 (30:00):
I have thought about.
Speaker 6 (30:03):
But I know it's not the way. There's something rises
inside me. Hold down for chest another.
Speaker 9 (30:19):
Day, A home for another.
Speaker 5 (30:25):
Home is what keeps me going home.
Speaker 9 (30:30):
Won't let me go home. This is what I hold
on today. Home and we'll get better home.
Speaker 5 (30:43):
I can see the light home.
Speaker 9 (30:46):
I'm going to be okay. I have to make a choice.
Speaker 8 (30:54):
I choose to live.
Speaker 6 (30:58):
My life.
Speaker 9 (31:02):
Yes I do is tomorrow will.
Speaker 4 (31:05):
Be a better day and the sun will.
Speaker 9 (31:09):
Give it line.
Speaker 8 (31:17):
Even though I can't see.
Speaker 6 (31:20):
Everything will be just fine because I'm going to run
this race and pass the finish line.
Speaker 7 (31:37):
When you'll get weird with hord.
Speaker 5 (31:43):
Is what keeps me going on, loon, let me go.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
Home, his wor hold on.
Speaker 7 (31:52):
Today, ho it will get better? Sit down home.
Speaker 8 (32:03):
I'm going to be okay.
Speaker 7 (32:08):
I refuse to give up and let my whole diag.
I had this dream inside of me, and.
Speaker 9 (32:17):
Hope keeps it alive.
Speaker 7 (32:20):
The fire has.
Speaker 6 (32:22):
Been lit and the flame wall burn out.
Speaker 8 (32:27):
When I hold on to it, it makes me want
to shave.
Speaker 9 (32:39):
Well. Keep you going home, wall, Let you go home.
Speaker 5 (32:46):
Want you hold.
Speaker 9 (32:47):
All today home?
Speaker 5 (32:52):
You well get better home, you get.
Speaker 9 (32:56):
See down that hide home.
Speaker 6 (32:59):
You're going to be okay.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
We'll keep you go.
Speaker 9 (33:08):
Water, Let you go.
Speaker 5 (33:11):
Just want you got hold on to day.
Speaker 9 (33:16):
Don't get home. You will get back home.
Speaker 5 (33:21):
You well see a like all you're gonna be.
Speaker 9 (33:25):
You're gonna be okay. Don't get mine.
Speaker 8 (33:31):
You can make the same choice. There is only one
way choose life.
Speaker 5 (33:38):
For your stuff. That's whose gay, it's your day.
Speaker 7 (33:44):
M h.
Speaker 5 (34:05):
You love Heaven came down to her.
Speaker 9 (34:09):
Just to save my soul.
Speaker 8 (34:13):
You make no reputation of yourself.
Speaker 9 (34:16):
You desire what to make me up.
Speaker 8 (34:21):
Not in the midst of my days, instrucchers tried to
have its way, controlling ever re thought ever reword.
Speaker 9 (34:34):
I said, it's not the mine, it's mine.
Speaker 7 (34:42):
Yeah, I need you be any good.
Speaker 5 (34:47):
In me.
Speaker 9 (34:48):
That it be in me is mine, Lota.
Speaker 5 (35:01):
Pray already Lord, that your peace moonies.
Speaker 8 (35:09):
Let your word holy spirit didn't guide me from the
story a pride, I believe, Lord, so business control my mind.
Speaker 9 (35:25):
Lord, I thank you for your presence. Please you my lie.
Speaker 5 (35:36):
Me.
Speaker 7 (35:38):
Let me think of.
Speaker 4 (35:40):
Heaven.
Speaker 7 (35:44):
I need to Jesus jre you giving me.
Speaker 8 (35:54):
Went topitys Lord everything every reason.
Speaker 9 (36:00):
Ever read you it's not mine and me, it's fund
It is up on the d in my mind. Help
(36:24):
me not pa so tells fair loud okay, so.
Speaker 7 (36:39):
Sure he me think not.
Speaker 9 (36:42):
Okay? Come you.
Speaker 5 (36:45):
Think you can article sure?
Speaker 2 (36:49):
Love?
Speaker 9 (36:55):
Not in making more table, you said, my mother, you
pay the.
Speaker 7 (37:08):
Cocundy mordam.
Speaker 9 (37:20):
Flaschild you know.
Speaker 7 (37:24):
Tomata focus all these things.
Speaker 9 (37:31):
Please control
Behind every great song, that is a greater story.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
There of you, the fans. The truth simply, the truth
is the linked, just the neat sick of you, the fans.
The truth simply, the truth is the linked, just the.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
New good morning, good evening, wherever you are in the world.
Deeper than music radio, behind every great song, there's an
even greater story. I like to say, what's up to
everybody listening to us on Spreaker, Spotify, our Heart Radio
and all the great podcasts doing our podcast are actually
(00:46):
streaming our podcast around the world. Today, we have a
very special guest, and I'd like to say that there
are people that are light in the world, that bring
light to the world, and they give back to the
unity and they give back, and I love it when
people get back to the youth. I'm a fan of
the arts. You know, I'm a musical artist myself, and
(01:08):
if it wasn't for the arts, you know, it provided
me a pathway, it provided me opportunities. So I love
when I have guests that give back to the arts.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
Our guests, she also worked with a well.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Known person that I'm very inquisitive to know about, and
I'll speak to you guys, give you a little hint.
So if you know your music and if you know
your greats, songs in the Kia Life is one of
my favorite albums. And if you don't know about that album,
you need to research the album and the artist. She
comes by a way from the Midwest. She also is
(01:43):
a stylist. She has her own record label, and she
also produced two albums, and like I said, she has
a foundation that gives back to the community. Ladies and gentlemen,
we have Benita Mitchell here on Deeper than Music Radio.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
How you doing the Meina, I'm fantastic and thank you
also very much for allowing me to be.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
On your on your radio game, oh anytime. My first
question is Midwest. I've had experiences in the Midwest and
they involve extreme coal, so Michigan especially, so man, So
that's where it all started.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Yes, that's where it all started, right down here by
the fruit belt, probably maybe about thirty minutes from Southend, Indiana,
and I won thirty minutes from Chicago, Illinois.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Yeah, so actually yeah, I spend a little time in
southern Illinois, about four hours south of Chicago. But wait
where you mentioned though? The Midwest? Prince Michael Jackson. Yes,
a lot of great artists came out of the Midwest.
And like the Jacksons, you came from a quite a
big family.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Yes, my family, the McAfee family. My father is bunch
of McAfee and mother Alice mccaffe the clay both sides
of the family.
Speaker 5 (03:02):
I think one at twelve and the other one at
twelve or thirteen.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
So and there were seven of us kids in the family.
So yeah, we came from a very very big, loving
family and we're all over the country.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
And also a musical family, right, Yes, started in the church.
Speaker 5 (03:22):
Started in the church.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
My mother and father were in a group. My mother
sang with Mahelia Jackson. I mean she was all over,
but she didn't want to travel because she wanted to
take care of us kids. But she would wreck a church, okay,
her spirits. So some of us might have another sister
who's singing, element will doing urban country gospel music.
Speaker 5 (03:45):
So there's a lot of us singing in the industry
right now.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Wow, And I wanted to say, you mentioned another great
Mahela Jackson. So did you know coming from a young
or a talented family at the church, did you you
know at a young age that you this is what
you wanted to do.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
You wanted to sing?
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Let me yes, let me say it was pretty interesting
because I felt like there were seven of us siblings,
but I really felt like a little ugly duckling.
Speaker 5 (04:14):
But I figured I could sing. I could sing.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Stevie Wonder songs in the Key of Life was one
of those albums and one of the movements that kept
me pretty confident growing up as a kid. So yes,
my mother, I didn't really, I was very shy, didn't
want to sing in church, was made to sing in church,
but would sing Stevie Wonder songs all day long, starting
at the age of five years old.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
Wow. Wow, we mentioned Michigan. I did. Motown is right there, Okay.
I just thought about that. I was like, you know what,
you're not.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Too far from Motile, Okay, So you were right there, yeah,
right where, you know. A movement was in itself, and
the great Stevie Wonder was part of that movement.
Speaker 5 (04:56):
Let me tell you.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
The funny thing about it is that I'm really three
hours about three hours from Detroit, and I'm in the
heart of the country. I was a red dirt even
little lower girl, but I could dream. Thank God for
your Stevie Wonders and some of the people that allowed
music to live inside of those who are in these
(05:17):
rural areas.
Speaker 5 (05:18):
And yeah, three hours from Detroit.
Speaker 4 (05:22):
Wow. And then you mentioned, like, I know.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
It takes to be a musician, It takes you know, confidence,
and you mentioned you know you had some issues. Was
it hard. Did you struggle as you honed your craft
and you decide, hey, this is what I want to do.
And then at a young age singing choir and stuff
like that, where there's struggles are a little bit of insecurities, not.
Speaker 5 (05:47):
A little a lot.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
It was very frightening because introvert as a seven siblings,
five girls, two boys, and I was like in the middle.
So it was it was a bit of a challenge
of being confident, first of all in the way I looked.
And the one thing that I did have I had
a voice, I could sing, and I also was an athlete.
(06:09):
So those were two things that kind of gave me
the confidence growing up to continue to keep singing and
moving forward in my craft. And still didn't understand it completely,
but did not stop.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Yeah, And I wanted to ask you because we talked
so many grace like cool.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
What artists inspired you? Did you look up.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Steve, Stevie Wonder what I'm Gladys Knight, But more so
I would say Steven Wonder was he was it Michael Jackson,
but it was Steve. It was the songs in the
Key of Life that I would sing. I was singing
it so much my sister literally broke the album because
it was so positive. I mean, he's such an amazing
(06:57):
individual one. It's almost like I was able to really
become a part of his whole movement, you know when
he was when he was.
Speaker 5 (07:07):
Young, really caring about the world and love because that's
what he's saying about all the time.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
So here you are you saying gospel. You're three hours
from Detroit. I know that you. Did you create a
scene and did you start performing around Motown and building
up your your credibility and your experience?
Speaker 1 (07:29):
No, what I did, I did the opposite, because I
was running from my purpose and my talent. I end
up because I was also had various various gifts and talents.
Speaker 5 (07:41):
I ended up wanting to be an.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Advocate for making people feel good, and so I went
into clothing. I went into being able to t because
I was able to transform myself and really become that
competent person, and I wanted to make sure other women
and little girls felt the same way.
Speaker 5 (08:03):
So instead of singing.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
I took the route of news of styling. And Stevie
Wonder's mother was one of my first clients.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
Wow. And so in that time period you relocated to Los.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Angeles, relocated to Los Angeles, my mom and dad divorced
and it was like one of the most dramatic times
in my life. But it was actually the beginning only
because we moved from Michigan to Los Angeles and that's
where everything happened.
Speaker 4 (08:35):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
And was that was that a huge culture shock to
come from the Midwest all the way to the California.
Speaker 5 (08:42):
It was unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
But it was like a kid in a candy store
because of the garment district downtown Los Angeles.
Speaker 5 (08:49):
I kind of like fell right into it and it
was amazing, just amazing.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
And you mentioned fashion, So was that a way to
kind of to kind of like build up your confidence
and to kind of like, you know, you know, some people,
we perform and we become a persona and the fashion
is what helps us. Was that kind of a way
to build confidence and kind of cloak the insecurities.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Yes, God gave me the gift of transformation, and my
gift is I could put anything together. And you know,
it didn't matter what it looked like. When I put
clothes together and merchandising.
Speaker 5 (09:31):
It was, it was. It's just a natural talent and
was part of my purpose. And yes it was.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
It was that one nugget, one of the nuggets that
gave me the confidence to.
Speaker 5 (09:42):
Know that you know what, even though I may be
a little.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
Insecure with my singing, I can still make people feel good,
you know.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, And you mentioned.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
Again this is like one of those but I always
you know, when you get close to somebody you idolize,
it's like wow, so we talk about you meet Stevie
Wonder's mom, and that builds into something even I'm pretty
sure that you you couldn't imagine in your wildest.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
Dreams, No, because I mean, think about it. It's like
this little girl looking at TV, dreaming all the time,
singing Stevie Wonder songs and based on my insecurities. In
the most dramatic time in my life, when my mom
and dad divorcing, I thought life was over and in actuality.
Once they moved to California, ended up in the garment
(10:29):
district and was selling clothes to very exquisite boutiques. One
of the first blacks to work downtown in the garment industry.
So when we met Stevie's mom, wanting to be special
when and to look fabulous, we had a line out
of Europe and went to her home and she put
one of those outfits on and it was like complete transformation.
Speaker 5 (10:53):
She's like, okay, you all have to meet my son.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
My son is in the middle of transforming his entire
wordbe apartment.
Speaker 5 (11:01):
Okay, wow. I could not believe it. God, you love me.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
I was gonna ask you, like, how how did that feel?
Speaker 3 (11:11):
And it's like, you got to meet my son and
you're gonna be that person he's transforming his transforming his wardrobe.
Speaker 4 (11:19):
It's you like, how was that?
Speaker 1 (11:22):
I can remember to this day the feeling of just
being an awe and I was numb.
Speaker 5 (11:29):
I couldn't even know I could not even talk. Okay.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
I was so in awe of this man who helped
form the confidence and talent within me, and I didn't
he didn't even know it. So I'm and I traveled
with him and went to every concert, been all over
this country and still I'm a fan, a major fan,
(11:53):
and and just in so much in awe that the
advocacy it had to be, not the fact that I
was with Stevie and I had to go around bragging
about it.
Speaker 5 (12:05):
It had to be.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Something to really go beyond that and to help other
kids and people know exactly how possible it is to
dream and things become a reality when you don't give.
Speaker 5 (12:21):
Up on life.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
Yes, and you missed it while that it was your imagination.
And I'm a firm believer like you advocate, and you know,
our imagination pushes us beyond, like the imagination is the spark,
and you got to have the motivation. And I like
how you know you gave back, like I want to
push an advocate for people, because like you said, you
were in rural Michigan and now look we're talking about
(12:46):
you being with mister Stevie Wonder and it lasted like
what a ten year.
Speaker 5 (12:50):
You as a year tour.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
I've been old, I mean South Africa, mynic carl Is,
I mean, you name it. I've been there and there's
no way I can bless you with that much favor
and a kid at five years old singing this man's
songs and you're traveling with him, and you not want
to share that and give that love back to other people.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
So, like, how was it that experience with Stevie Man?
Speaker 5 (13:20):
Oh my god? It was epic.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
It was epic, from the clothing to his personality to
the people who I've worked with. And it's interesting because
I found myself, you know, even a counselor on the road,
was some of the background singers and the band.
Speaker 5 (13:38):
Everybody was just beautiful.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
It was such a lovely time in my life that
just keeps me.
Speaker 5 (13:46):
I'm still I'm still, I'm still flying.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
And that's why I can walk into these schools and
meet these kids and tell them you can dream.
Speaker 5 (13:54):
It doesn't matter.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
I was a little country eating, dirt eating girl, And
guess what if God can do it for me, He's
something can do it for you.
Speaker 5 (14:03):
You just got you can't give up.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
Mmm.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
Yeah definitely. And And like did you did being with Stevie?
Did it like enhance your your artistry? Like was he
aware that you also with fashion? You were also a singer?
Did you guys talk about music, fashion?
Speaker 5 (14:27):
Yes, we did. It's so funny to get my sister.
Speaker 6 (14:30):
She's uh.
Speaker 5 (14:31):
She used to try to manage me.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
And like one of the first times I sat down
with him on the piano and I sang one of
my favorite songs with him, All is Fair in Love,
and I could hardly I could hardly sing. I was
sewing all He's Stevie has critiqued several of my program
songs and he has played her monica on one of
(14:56):
the anthems for the program, just called Dreams. So I'm
I'm I'm in awe every day when I even think
of him. I'm still in awe of the opportunity I
have been given to meet this icon, and he's a
part of the family.
Speaker 5 (15:15):
So it's it's a blessing.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
But then like for you as well as a singer,
I see that you you know, you work with artists
as shared the stage with a Sonise Wilson, Melvin and
Doug Williams, the Williams brothers, al Mac will and and
so he very rooted. Like we said, the foundation was
the church, and you've also shared the stage with phenomenal
(15:43):
gospel singers. Think in the back of you into fashion.
So were you still doing music or like, how did
were you still doing music in fashion or or was
it just okay, I went from this, I'm going back
to my artistry.
Speaker 5 (15:59):
It was both. It's it's always been both. Yeah, Because
what I.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Didn't understand is that the in the industry, fashion is
fashion make up all of those different careers that are
behind the scenes.
Speaker 5 (16:14):
It's just it's a part of it.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
So even as a singer, I'm having to even put
my own car, but garments together, my clothing, my look,
I've got to do all of that even for myself
right now.
Speaker 4 (16:26):
Mm hmmm hm.
Speaker 5 (16:27):
So it almost hand in hand.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
So, I mean, we've been discussing your phenomenal journey so
so far in your journey, like what has been like
a highlight like or our moment of one of those
Like if you say one of your top ten, what's
what's the highlight that stands out?
Speaker 5 (16:50):
I would say the highlight that stands.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
Out in my life is the is the day I
sat on the piano with Stevie Wonder and we sang
all is Fair and Love.
Speaker 4 (17:00):
Yeah, I mean Motown legend.
Speaker 5 (17:03):
Right there, Hello, my five year old kids singing the song.
And then I'm sitting smack right next to him.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
Oh my god, it's like, Oh, even thinking about it
now is like wow, that was really cool.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
And then so during this timeframe as well, I also
want to touch upon you also, we talked about the
youth and inspiring the youth and young adults. You have
your I'm Saving Myself prevention program. How has that started?
And then can you give us a little insight on
your program?
Speaker 1 (17:39):
Yes, the program was started actually throughout my parents record company.
I wanted the record company to be a kind of
like an innovative record company where we created music that
dealt with issues where kids could they could think about,
you know, some of the feelings that they were having,
but they didn't really have to talk about it, but
(18:01):
they could ask for help. So it's this intervention and
prevention music which is now social and emotional learning.
Speaker 5 (18:09):
So we were called back from.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
Los Angeles when a kid had committed had completed suicide,
and we went to one of my schools here in
Michigan from California. Threat of Hope records and Threat of
Hope is just exactly what it means. Just a little
bit of a hope can light the eyes and the
minds and hearts of anybody if we're willing to give it.
(18:31):
So the record company went to the school, inspiring from
kindergarten all the way up the twelfth grade kids, only
to find out two years later, after we were running
our Celebrate Life and Pursue Your Dream school tour through
the record company, that another student had thought about committing suicide.
And he told me, miss Mitchell, if you have any
(18:54):
doubt whether or not this program works, which is threat
of hope, Records Celebrate Life and Pursue your Dreams too.
He said, I'm living witness because the day that we
did the show, I had planned the date at the
time and the place of.
Speaker 5 (19:07):
Where I was going to commit suicide.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
And I heard the song I heard you Katie sing,
which is one of our first artists on the label,
our abstinent.
Speaker 5 (19:18):
Song, I'm Saving Myself, he said.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
When she sang the hook of that song, recommit, It's
not too late save yourself. With wedding day it was,
he said, I tailored that song to my situation, recommitted
myself to God, and that day it birthed our nonprofit
I'm Saving Myself, and we've probably serviced over thirty to
(19:42):
forty thousand youth, empowering them to move beyond their dark
side and make good choices and try to build that
inner person so they can be confident not to bully.
And we can see what's happening now and on the
planet because a lot of people are hurting, a lot
of frama that's undiagnosed, and people are just looking for love.
(20:04):
And those of those who have the opportunity to sow
positivity and light into individuals, we got to take it
when we have the opportunity, because we never know who's
on the edge and who wants to maybe go in
a room somewhere and blow their heads off.
Speaker 5 (20:23):
But we can prevent that just by sowing the seed
of love and hope.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
Yeah, you're right, because you never know what the next
person is going through. And we now have a society
where more people are connected technology and not connected through people.
And we're social creatures, right, so when we, you know,
isolate ourselves. Like you said, you don't know what the
(20:49):
next persons going through. I also wanted to bring to
light as well. Like so through your organization, you do
vocal training, singing, writing, producing and teaching music and the
arts to impact the lives of the youth and trouble youth,
and I like to say thank you for that.
Speaker 4 (21:09):
I believe like the arts is a good way.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
You know, music's a universal language and it helps ignite imagination.
You know, imagination has no boundaries. I also wanted to
talk about Threat of Hope records. We talked about it.
It's also ties in with your organization. How did that
come about and what was the motivation. I love that
(21:32):
Threat of Hope. I love that name.
Speaker 7 (21:35):
You know.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
The motivation was due to the level of insecurity I
had and what I wanted to sew into others because
it was that hope. Stevee Stevie gave me.
Speaker 5 (21:53):
That hope, and I mean the Lord of my family.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
But when you're a kid and you're dreaming a lot
of times you need people outside of your family to
validate you and to give you that push. And Thered
of Hope is just that that vehicle. We have contracts
with the schools been our various schools, COVID public schools
where we work with students to this day. I just
(22:17):
finished with two Christmas programs, and I mean, you got
babies that are in the first grade that are singing
like masters. And we have the opportunity to really really
build those vocals in those in those students as well
as confidence. You know, as they're getting these books and
everything pushed at them, going through hell maybe in their
(22:38):
homes and everything happening around them is not positive, they
can take that nugget of talent and really be proud
once we get them off that stage.
Speaker 5 (22:49):
It was. It's just I can't even.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
Explain how humble I am that God has given me
the opportunity to be a part of sowing hope into
the lives of young people and really as families.
Speaker 5 (23:04):
Now, Yeah, it's amazing.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
And it's good too, because I know, like with the youth,
like you said, the youth have been hurting.
Speaker 4 (23:12):
You know, we have record numbers.
Speaker 3 (23:14):
I mean, we just had a school shooting Wasn't in Wisconsin,
right in the Middlewest, and it's like we become numb
to it, and a lot of kids are diagnosed with depression,
you know, things that that nature post COVID. You know,
we're still healing and recovering from that, even though it's
been years since that happened. But I feel like it
(23:36):
had a profound effect on the youth because they were
the ones that were you know, isolated and not going
to school where you know graduations were impacted. You know,
we were isolated and transitioning back to normal. Speaking to
your music, you've written and produced two CDEs under threat
of Hope Records. Can you give us insight on your
(23:59):
music and those your artworks?
Speaker 5 (24:02):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
Some of the insight I would say is the gospel
album that I put together because I love hymnos. The
first one was called It Is Well with My Soul,
a message for the mind, heart and soul, and it
had some some of the original songs that I've written
based on the pain. I mean, hits are actually made
(24:27):
from the level of pain that we go through. But
I would say there's another song that was written by
Vicky Whinings called the Rainbow, and that's really one of
the number one songs on that first CD that everyone
just absolutely love. I mean, ten years later, I'm still
performing that song. And then I coupled it with a
(24:49):
intervention and prevention CD which is called Cherish Your Life.
And Cherish your Life is all about songs dealing with suicide, prevention,
building self a stick, just me these feelings. I've got
indicators of how you're feeling. If you're if you're being depressed,
go get some help. Kind of it speaks to the
(25:11):
mind and soul for you to embrace the fact that
you might be going through you know, these various situations
and you can quietly get helped, I mean with journals
and everything, and even if you want to go to
a therapist.
Speaker 5 (25:27):
But if you don't want to go to a therapist,
even with.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
Our intervention and Prevention CD it gives you the calmness
to solve some of the issues within your mind and
eventually reach out for help.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
Yes, yes, yeah, and thank you so much, Benita Mitchell.
And as always are you know great interviews. The time
just it slips away. But before we before we leave,
I have three questions. The first one is listeners have
(26:03):
heard your journey, your wonderful story, and how could they
find out about your music, what you're doing your programs,
selfless promotion? Where are you and how could the listeners
find out more about you and your music?
Speaker 1 (26:17):
Okay, I'm My website is Bonita Mitchell dot com or
info Bonita Mitchell dot com is the website.
Speaker 5 (26:27):
Threat of Hope Records. I'm sorry.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
Th oh Records dot com is the program website and
then I'm all over social media TikTok, Instagram as well
as Facebook, and my music is on youtube' so on Spotify, Apple,
so over all of the platforms. It's actually through a
(26:54):
new distributor, through Sony, one of the Christian distributors. So
a while, yeah, I'm they can under my name Anita Mitchell.
You can google me and I should pop up.
Speaker 3 (27:10):
And then my next question is, so this illustrious career,
you know, when it's all said and done, decided, I'm
gonna pass the torch. How would you like to be
remembered your musical legacy.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
I would like to be remembered based on the amount
of love, the amount of willingness to give and and serve.
Speaker 5 (27:42):
That's that's it in a nutshell.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
And then my last question, what does music mean to
Benita Mitchell?
Speaker 1 (27:53):
Music means freedom, Music means self expression. And it is
like that voice that speaks when you really don't have
to talk.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Yeah yeah, and it's it's universal, and it's just crazy
that you know, just just circling back with the artist
that you worked with and the things that you've done
is timeless, like timeless music, Like we're talking about albums
decades and then you talked about your album it's like
twenty ten that still it resonates with people. And we
(28:32):
talked about the late great thrillers like forty years old
and it's still it blows my mind, like wow music
it has it's forever. You know, it's something that's a
gift that's forever. So Benita Mitchell, thank you so much
for being on the show and sharing your wonderful story.
Speaker 4 (28:51):
Ladies and gentlemen, you heard the journey. You know where to.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
Find the music and the website to stick around and
also to hear about her wonderful program.
Speaker 4 (29:02):
She has for the youth.
Speaker 3 (29:03):
And uh it's Marquis is Nice and Anita Mitchell signing
off for Deeper Music.
Speaker 4 (29:08):
Thank you for listening.
Speaker 5 (29:10):
Thank you so very much. I feel so all alone.
Speaker 6 (29:37):
Nobody knows the way I feel.
Speaker 8 (29:47):
I heard so bad and sad. I don't know what.
Speaker 9 (29:54):
Is real.
Speaker 5 (30:00):
I have thought about.
Speaker 6 (30:03):
But I know it's not the way. There's something rises
inside me. Hold down for chest another.
Speaker 9 (30:19):
Day, A home for another.
Speaker 5 (30:25):
Home is what keeps me going home.
Speaker 9 (30:30):
Won't let me go home. This is what I hold
on today. Home and we'll get better home.
Speaker 5 (30:43):
I can see the light home.
Speaker 9 (30:46):
I'm going to be okay. I have to make a choice.
Speaker 8 (30:54):
I choose to live.
Speaker 6 (30:58):
My life.
Speaker 9 (31:02):
Yes I do is tomorrow will.
Speaker 4 (31:05):
Be a better day and the sun will.
Speaker 9 (31:09):
Give it line.
Speaker 8 (31:17):
Even though I can't see.
Speaker 6 (31:20):
Everything will be just fine because I'm going to run
this race and pass the finish line.
Speaker 7 (31:37):
When you'll get weird with hord.
Speaker 5 (31:43):
Is what keeps me going on, loon, let me go.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
Home, his wor hold on.
Speaker 7 (31:52):
Today, ho it will get better? Sit down home.
Speaker 8 (32:03):
I'm going to be okay.
Speaker 7 (32:08):
I refuse to give up and let my whole diag.
I had this dream inside of me, and.
Speaker 9 (32:17):
Hope keeps it alive.
Speaker 7 (32:20):
The fire has.
Speaker 6 (32:22):
Been lit and the flame wall burn out.
Speaker 8 (32:27):
When I hold on to it, it makes me want
to shave.
Speaker 9 (32:39):
Well. Keep you going home, wall, Let you go home.
Speaker 5 (32:46):
Want you hold.
Speaker 9 (32:47):
All today home?
Speaker 5 (32:52):
You well get better home, you get.
Speaker 9 (32:56):
See down that hide home.
Speaker 6 (32:59):
You're going to be okay.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
We'll keep you go.
Speaker 9 (33:08):
Water, Let you go.
Speaker 5 (33:11):
Just want you got hold on to day.
Speaker 9 (33:16):
Don't get home. You will get back home.
Speaker 5 (33:21):
You well see a like all you're gonna be.
Speaker 9 (33:25):
You're gonna be okay. Don't get mine.
Speaker 8 (33:31):
You can make the same choice. There is only one
way choose life.
Speaker 5 (33:38):
For your stuff. That's whose gay, it's your day.
Speaker 7 (33:44):
M h.
Speaker 5 (34:05):
You love Heaven came down to her.
Speaker 9 (34:09):
Just to save my soul.
Speaker 8 (34:13):
You make no reputation of yourself.
Speaker 9 (34:16):
You desire what to make me up.
Speaker 8 (34:21):
Not in the midst of my days, instrucchers tried to
have its way, controlling ever re thought ever reword.
Speaker 9 (34:34):
I said, it's not the mine, it's mine.
Speaker 7 (34:42):
Yeah, I need you be any good.
Speaker 5 (34:47):
In me.
Speaker 9 (34:48):
That it be in me is mine, Lota.
Speaker 5 (35:01):
Pray already Lord, that your peace moonies.
Speaker 8 (35:09):
Let your word holy spirit didn't guide me from the
story a pride, I believe, Lord, so business control my mind.
Speaker 9 (35:25):
Lord, I thank you for your presence. Please you my lie.
Speaker 5 (35:36):
Me.
Speaker 7 (35:38):
Let me think of.
Speaker 4 (35:40):
Heaven.
Speaker 7 (35:44):
I need to Jesus jre you giving me.
Speaker 8 (35:54):
Went topitys Lord everything every reason.
Speaker 9 (36:00):
Ever read you it's not mine and me, it's fund
It is up on the d in my mind. Help
(36:24):
me not pa so tells fair loud okay, so.
Speaker 7 (36:39):
Sure he me think not.
Speaker 9 (36:42):
Okay? Come you.
Speaker 5 (36:45):
Think you can article sure?
Speaker 2 (36:49):
Love?
Speaker 9 (36:55):
Not in making more table, you said, my mother, you
pay the.
Speaker 7 (37:08):
Cocundy mordam.
Speaker 9 (37:20):
Flaschild you know.
Speaker 7 (37:24):
Tomata focus all these things.
Speaker 9 (37:31):
Please control
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.