How to access data from MYSQL database

All,

I have a site that needs the client to update their own data.

This has been done in a simple way using php and a mysql database.

I now have a need for the client to enter some text which will be stored into the database.

This is then displayed using a EDGE Animation.

I can find examples on using JQUERY / PHP / JSON etc but nothing that convinces me this can really be done using MYSQL.

Not being an expert on these things I was hoping that there might be a simple tutoiral somewhere that would give a hint on how to do this.

Again, plenty of tutorials suggesting that it can be done but nobody seems to have proven this.

Thanks for any tips

Pete