Mitch McCracken

  • Home
  • Mitch McCracken

Mitch McCracken Mitch McCracken has spent most of his adult life as a Disc Jockey on album rock stations. His first Much different from the radio of today.

McCracken’s first job in radio was at the third station to go rock on FM, WMC FM in Memphis. When DJs played what they wanted to play and said what they wanted to say. Radio was fun then, especially if you had a dream job, working for the Father of Rock and Roll, Sam Phillips, at his station in Florence, Ala, WQLT. Working for Estelle Axton, the “AX” of Stax Records, was another high point of his

career. McCracken accepted the position of National Promotion Director of her new label, Fretone Records. Mitch took their first record right up the charts, and “Disco Duck” by Rick Dees was named the Peoples Choice Award Winner of 1977. Mitch is known among his friends and family for his storytelling. His writing style makes you think he is sitting right there with you telling his story, like his 1974 interview with Jim Morrison, who died in Paris in 1971. Now Mitch is returning to those fun daze of radio, playing what he did at album rock stations all those years before. Internet radio gives the freedom back to the DJ. Hear Mitch for yourself on Radio Free Brian Jay (Listen.BrianJay.com). Friday and Saturday from 3-8 pm CST.

06/11/2024

The other day, I was out grocery shopping at my local supermarket around 6:30 pm when an older man turned a corner into the pasta aisle and put his hands on my shoulder. I jumped up. My first instinct was to get angry and ask him to please not touch me. Then I noticed something. The man was crying. He looked distraught and confused.

Suddenly, he asked, ‘Do you know where my wife is? I’ve been looking for her.’ I told him I didn’t know and suggested maybe he ask the store front for help finding her. I was thinking maybe he lost her in the aisles. Hasn’t everyone lost someone this way? I was wrong.

He proceeded to ask, ‘Where is my wife? She was right here.’ Tears welled up in his eyes. I told him once again that I was not sure and gestured to walk with him to the customer service counter where they could use the overhead speaker service to make an announcement for her. He obliged.

There, the woman asked for a name. He looked to me in confusion, as if I had the answer for him. The woman half rolled her eyes and turned to me. ‘Miss. Do you have THE NAME?’ I explained he was a stranger and I had no other information than she did. ‘Is this a joke?’ she asked. By then, it became really clear to me that this man was very confused. Not just regular confused, but Alzheimer's confused. Having had a grandpa with this condition, I knew it all too well.

I took him to the food court and we sat down. He was now shaking and crying softly. ‘Where is my love?’ I held his hands and I asked him if he had a cell phone. My heart was breaking for him. He said he wasn’t sure, so I asked if I could search his pockets. He obliged. I was careful. In it, I found a small flippy phone. I searched through his contacts and found one that read ‘Daughter Krissy.’ I immediately called her. She answers in seconds.

Hello?’ she said, her voice already sounding frantic. I explained that I was with an older man who I assumed was her father. That we were at the supermarket on Lane St and he was very distraught and upset.

‘On my way, ‘she said. ‘Can you make sure he doesn’t wander off?’ She continued, ‘Thank you, thank you. I’m coming.’

For 20-something minutes, I sat with a crying stranger. I held his hands. I wiped his tears. When he shivered, I layed my jacket down in his lap. I gave him answers he needed to hear in the moment. I kept him from trailing off. Because that’s the least I could have done.

Suddenly, in walks this tall young woman who looked about 28 or 29. Long black hair and green eyes. We locked eyes and she came rushing over. ‘Thank you. THANK YOU,’ she said. ‘I had to leave for just an hour, and this happens. I knew I shouldn’t have left him. I’m SO sorry.’ She explained that he sometimes runs off and looks for his wife. That he lost her 13 years ago, but he never stops trying.

She proceeded to help him out of his chair and thanked me once again. On their way out, I heard him say once more, ‘Where is my wife?’ My heart hurt, but I was so happy to see him with his family again. I share this not only because this man touched my heart, but to say this:

The majority of this world are strangers to you. I know that. But never forget that we all share this world together, and in it we can share kindness. That is the only thing that can keep us going. If you see something, do something. You never know how big your impact can be on someone else’s life.

I don’t care that the shopping cart I accidentally left in the pasta aisle during the frenzy of this situation was unloaded and put away.

That I had to re-find everything. I don’t care that I ate dinner a little later that night. That I went home and cried my eyes out in the kitchen for this sweet, poor man. Kindness costs nothing.

Credit - Kelsey Rae







06/11/2024
06/11/2024

06/11/2024
31/10/2024

For those who are interested, my new number is 901.907.2103.

The introduction to I'm glad you're here is short and to the point.I wrote this book for several reasons, mainly because...
28/10/2024

The introduction to I'm glad you're here is short and to the point.

I wrote this book for several reasons, mainly because I wanted you to know who Margaret Elliott Tatum was; she was a strong, intelligent, independent, kind woman with a loving heart. I believe that each person has a soul mate. I didn't believe in soul mates until I met mine. Sometimes, you meet your soul mate late in life. I met mine after I turned 65. When I was young, the thought of my grandparents feeling any passion for each other would almost make me sick. So, I also wanted you to know that even older adults have loving hearts, and you can feel the same passion in your 70s as in your 20s. This is a love story. It's my love story. I hope you enjoy it.

28/10/2024
I asked the question about Robin Williams' depression because I was worried about my own mental health. I'm proud to say...
28/10/2024

I asked the question about Robin Williams' depression because I was worried about my own mental health. I'm proud to say I start therapy on November 18th. If you have been depressed for over a month, you should think about the same thing. The picture is funny; depression is not. If I can help you in any way, reach out to me.

I know Facebook gets a bad rap, but I couldn't have better friends. You have been kind and patient with me as I grieved ...
27/10/2024

I know Facebook gets a bad rap, but I couldn't have better friends. You have been kind and patient with me as I grieved the loss of the love of my life, Margaret Elliotte Tatum. Good news! The pity party is over. I will share memories of Maggie, but I will do it with a smile on my face and love in my heart. Thank you, one and all!

Maggie and I once discussed how our relationship would be the last one for each of us. She was going to be a "Cat Lady,"...
24/10/2024

Maggie and I once discussed how our relationship would be the last one for each of us. She was going to be a "Cat Lady," but since she was the first to go, that would make me a "Cat Man," being a disc jockey; I prefer Katmandu!

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music GroupKatmandu (Live In Detroit/1975) · Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band'Live' Bullet℗ 2011 Hideout Records & Distrib...

It is also...
20/10/2024

It is also...

Address


Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Mitch McCracken posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Mitch McCracken:

Videos

Shortcuts

  • Address
  • Telephone
  • Alerts
  • Contact The Business
  • Videos
  • Claim ownership or report listing
  • Want your business to be the top-listed Event Planning Service?

Share

Our Story

This show started as a series of articles for the Examiner about Memphis musicians. It started with the death of Jim Dickenson, with him died a lot of great stories. Before I knew it, Willie Mitchell was also gone taking his stories with him. There was no documentation of their stories and I wanted to do that, document the stories of Memphis music and musicians.

After writing several articles on people like Jimi Jamison, Jim Dickenson, Willie Mitchell and Shawn Lane I wanted to take it to the next level by doing a radio interview show. I pitched it to a broadcast station who agreed to air the show, but things fell apart. I then pitched my friends David Fleischman and Jon Scott of All Memphis Music.com who liked the idea and I started recording the interviews. The first Interview with my friend Jack Rowell, Jr. aired on 8/13/2013. Since then I have done interviews with Don Nix, Reba Russell, Jimi Jamison, Jon Fry, JoJo Jefferies, Steve Cobb, Eric Hughes and Greg Reding. These are not question and answer interviews, they are conversations.

Many of the people I interviewed have shared stories that they have never told anyone else in an interview. That was what I was looking for, not just stories but unique stories. The response to the show has been overwhelmingly positive, much better than I ever imagined. For me this is a dream come true. It is an honor to sit down and talk to these icons of Memphis music and to document their stories.

I plan on creating a website to archive all the shows so they can be heard at any time. I thank Brenda O’Brien of Pancho’s and Neil Hines of Neil’s Music Room for their support as sponsors from week one. I need more sponsors to continue the show, if you know of anyone who might want to support this project to help preserve Memphis music please inbox me. To get updates on the Memphis Music InterView podcast, subscribe to my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/mitchmccracken), or listen at (https://www.buzzsprout.com/739001/episodes/2180546).