The Mills Brothers

In 1930, four brothers named Mills began a career that still lasts today, even if only by name. They began their lives in a small town called Piqua, Ohio, about 75 miles south of Toledo and 25 miles north of Dayton.

John Jr. was born in 1910, Herbert in 1912, Harry F. in 1913, and Donald F. in 1915, all in Piqua, Ohio. They were the sons of John H. and Eathel Mills. John Sr. was a barber in this small town and a member of a barbershop quartet called the "Four Kings of Harmony."

They sang in the choir at their church and were also asked to sing at the Park Avenue Baptist Church. Usually, 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 for passers-by.

They entered an amateur contest at Piqua's Mays Opera House. On stage, Harry discovered he has lost his kazoo. He cupped his hands to his mouth and imitated a trumpet. It was the beginning of their “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 at house parties, lawn fetes, music halls and supper clubs.

Duke Ellington and Seger Ellis, WLW Cincinnati DJ and a music legend of the '20s, are credited for their national recognition. The brothers were local radio stars when Duke 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.

The brothers were highly successful and well liked. They were recognized nationally, then internationally. In 1934, The Mills Brothers became the first African-Americans to give a command performance before British royalty. They performed at the Regal Theatre for a special audience; King George V, Queen Mary, and the very special woman sitting in a box seat, their mother.

Soon after this, while performing in England, John Jr. became ill. He was months recovering from pneumonia. Before he was completely well, the Brothers returned to England. John Jr. once again became sick and then died in the beginning of 1936.

In the period between John Jr.'s death and their return to the States, they re-recorded "Lazy River." It was followed by "Someday You'll Want Me to Want You," "Swing Is the Thing," "Long About Midnight," "Organ Grinders Swing " and "The Song is Ended." They honored Duke Ellington with a swing version of the "Caravan" and then produced a series of classic recordings; "South of the Border," which they performed on a tour of South America, along with "Ain't Misbehavin‘," "It Don’t Mean a Thing," "Jeepers Creepers," "Three Little Fishes" and "Basin Street Blues."

After their return to the States, they needed a hit. They recorded "I'll Be Around." Donald Mills chose "Paper Doll" as the B-side of the record. "I'll Be Around" became a popular hit, and then a disk jockey turned the record over. "Paper Doll," recorded in just fifteen minutes, sold six million copies and became the group's biggest hit.

That song was one of my dad's favorites, and he requested it every time he was in a club.

Today, the music of the “OLDIES” is kept alive by public broadcast television stations in Doo Wop concerts that continue to sell out major auditoriums. I enjoy the nostalgia of the big band era and the singing groups that made life a little easier and pleasant during the 50's and 60's.

If you would like to get a view of what the sounds of real singing should be, go to www.youtube.com and type in Mills Brothers. Select a video, sit back and turn the time machine back and enjoy harmony singing as I enjoy it. You will be glad you did.

Thank you, Mills Brothers, for over 2,000 recordings between 1928 and 1990.

Percival A. Friend, Retired
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