Biography of The Mills Brothers

Few Black vocal groups made the impact of The Mills Brothers, either commercially or musically, and their long-lasting reign as hitmakers stretched from the early 30s to the late 60s. John, Herbert, Harry, and Donald Mills were born in Piqua, OH. After polishing their harmonies around Cincinnati, they scored their first #1 hit in 1931 with the rousing "Tiger Rag." The group's enduring gimmick involved imitating various instruments vocally, with John providing guitar backing until his death in 1935 (his father, John Sr, replaced him). Major stars of records, radio, and film, The Mills Brothers were tremendously popular. "Paper Doll" and "You Always Hurt the One You Love" were wartime favorites on Decca. The group gently swung to the top of the charts with "Glow Worm" in 1952, and even took a tentative stab at rock & roll in 1958 with a cover of The Silhouettes' "Get a Job." As late as 1968, the group, by then a trio after their dad's retirement, registered a solid seller with "Cab Driver," and they remained a popular TV and nightclub attraction through 1982 (when Harry died). ~ Bill Dahl