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Mills Brothers

The Mills Brothers were a major African-American jazz and pop vocal group of the 20th century producing more than 2,000 recordings that sold more than 50 million copies and garnered at least three dozen gold records. The Mills Brothers were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998

The group was originally composed of four brothers all born in Piqua, Ohio, just 25 miles north of Dayton: John Jr. (1911-1936) basso and guitarist, Herbert (1912-1989) tenor, Harry (1913-1982) baritone, and Donald (1915-1999) lead tenor.

Their parents were John H. and Eathel Mills. Their father, John Sr., owned a barber shop and founded a barbershop quartet, called the '"Four Kings of Harmony"'.

As the boys grew older, they began singing in the choir of the Cyrene African Methodist Episcopal Church and in the Park Avenue Baptist Church in Piqua. After their lessons at the Spring Street Grammar School, they would gather in front of their father's barbershop on Public Square or at the corner of Greene and Main to sing and play the kazoo to passerbys.

They entered an amateur contest at Piqua's Mays Opera House. That fateful day, while on stage, Harry discovered he had lost his kazoo. He cupped his hands to his mouth and imitated a trumpet. The success of his imitation led to all the brothers taking on instruments to imitate and created their early signature sound. John Jr. accompanied the four-part harmony first with a ukulele and then a guitar. They practiced imitating orchestras they heard on the radio. John, as the bass, would imitate the tuba. Harry, a baritone, imitated the trumpet. Herbert became the second trumpet and Donald the trombone. They entertained on the Midwest theater circuit, at house parties, tent shows, music halls and supper clubs throughout the area and became well known for their close harmonies, mastery of scat singing, and their amazing ability to imitate musical instruments with their voices.

Then in 1928, after playing May's Opera House in Piqua between Rin Tin Tin features, they accompanied the Harold Greenameyer Band to Cincinnati for an audition with radio station WLW. The Band was not hired, but the Mills brothers were. With the help of Seger Ellis, WLW Cincinnati DJ and a music legend of the '20s, they quickly became local radio stars and got their major break when Duke Ellington and his Orchestra played a date in Cincinnati. When the youngsters sang for Duke, he was so impressed he called Tommy Rockwell at Okeh Records, who signed them and brought the group to New York.

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Video / DVD

Mills Brothers Christmas

Mills Brothers Christmas

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers


Video / DVD

Mills Brothers: Birth of R&B

Mills Brothers: Birth of R&B

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Vocal harmony groups seemed to be everywhere in the 1930s and 1940s. The Depression played a role, of course, since entertainment was the only way out of harrowing poverty for most people and singing meant you didn't need to buy an instrument. The demand for vocal harmony groups surged during this period, primarily because they were cheaper to hire and record than orchestras. Vocalists didn't quality to become members of the American Federation of Musicians. Among the most popular vocal ...

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Video / DVD

Mills Brothers V. Ink Spots

Mills Brothers V. Ink Spots

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers


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Performance / Tour

Mills Brothers with Gina Eckstine Swing into Reagle Music Theatre February 19-20

Mills Brothers with Gina Eckstine Swing into Reagle Music Theatre February 19-20

Source: Jan Nargi

WALTHAM, MA—The Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston welcomes back by popular demand The Mills Brothers (John Mills and Elmer Hopper) for two shows only on Saturday and Sunday, February 19 and 20, at 2 p.m. in the Robinson Theatre, 617 Lexington Street, Waltham. With special guest Gina Eckstine, daughter of acclaimed jazz vocalist and band leader Billy Eckstine, this hit-filled concert is a tribute to the artists' legendary predecessors whose unforgettable tunes are iconic entries in the Great American ...

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