Mills Brothers - Wikipedia. I Ain't Got Nobody (1. The Mills Brothers, sometimes billed as The Four Mills Brothers, and originally known as The Four Kings of Harmony, were an African- Americanjazz and pop vocal quartet of the 2. The Mills Brothers were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1.
From the 1920s thru the mid-1950s many films were made with all African-American casts for distribution to black cinemas and all-black audiences. Year: Number: Title: 1934: 1: The World Moves On: 1934: 2: Handy Andy: 1934: 3: Baby Take a Bow: 1934: 4: She Learned About Sailors: 1934: 5: Charlie Chan's Courage. Early years. Their parents were John Hutchinson (February 1. John Hutchinson Mills Sr. 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 passersby. They entered an amateur contest at Piqua's May's Opera House, but 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. 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 ability to imitate musical instruments with their voices. Rise to stardom. 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 '2. Duke Ellington and his Orchestra played a date in Cincinnati. When the youngsters sang for Duke, he called Tommy Rockwell at Okeh Records, who signed them and brought the group to New York. In September 1. 93. Ralph Wonders urged broadcasting executive William S. Paley, at CBS Radio in New York, to turn on his office speaker and listen to an audition of four young men. For the audition they were . They had been called the . When Paley heard their performance, he immediately went downstairs and put them on the air. The next day, the Mills Brothers signed a three- year contract and became the first African- Americans to have a network show on radio. Their first recording for Brunswick Records, a cover of the Original Dixieland Jass Bandstandard . Harry Da. Costa. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA. 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959. Armymanchance1947, No location given. I grew up with Salty Brine and Jeff, his dog. I used to watch his program, Salty Brine's Shack. Woke up every morning with Salty.They remained on Brunswick until late 1. Decca, where they stayed well into the 1. On all of their Brunswick records, as well as the early Deccas, the label stated: No musical instruments or mechanical devices used on this recording other than one guitar. They were a hit on CBS in 1. They had their own popular radio series in 1. They began appearing in films. Their first, The Big Broadcast (Paramount Pictures, 1. Bing Crosby, Cab Calloway, and the Boswell Sisters. They also made three . Between 1. 93. 3 and 1. Brothers starred with Crosby for Woodbury Soap in Bing Crosby Entertains, making 2. CBS radio show. They also recorded their classics . They performed at the Regal Theatre for a special audience: King George V, Queen Mary, and their mother. While performing in England, John Jr. It took him months to recover from battling pneumonia. Before he was completely well, the brothers returned to England. They followed her suggestion and their father, John Sr. At this time, Norman Brown joined the Brothers as their guitar player. War years. Herbert recalls,We left England for the last time just three days before war was declared on Germany and the only boat we could get was to Australia. We were overseas from then on except for two months in 1. South America. We didn't get back until 1. In the meantime the Ink Spots were coming up, and people had sort of forgotten us. In the period between John Jr.'s death and their return to the States, they re- recorded . Gene Smith served as a stand- in for one year when Harry was drafted into the Army. Although Smith's solo singing did not particularly resemble the group's usual sound, he was able to harmonize well until the fourth brother's return. Smith is very noticeable in a number of the Mills Brothers' film appearances. Returning to the States, the Brothers were anxious for a hit and recorded . As a trio, the Mills Brothers were frequent guests on The Jack Benny Show, The Perry Como Show, The Tonight Show, The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom, The Dean Martin Show and The Hollywood Palace. A move from Decca to Dot Records brought a moderate 1. Silhouettes' . The Mills Brothers also charted . Carson Parks, who also penned . At the time, Harry was now almost blind because of diabetes. As a trio, Herbert, Harry and Donald continued performing on the oldies circuit until Harry's death in 1. Herbert and Donald continued until Herbert's death in 1. Then, Donald began performing with the third generation of the family . In 1. 99. 8 the Recording Academy recognized the Mills family's contributions to popular music when it presented Donald, as the sole surviving member, with a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement. After Donald's death of pneumonia on November 1. John III began touring under the name . Retrieved 1. 1 November 2. Retrieved 1. 1 November 2. Waymarking. com (2. Retrieved on 2. 01. Murrells, Joseph (1. The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. British Hit Singles & Albums (1. London: Guinness World Records Limited.
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