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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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MILLS BROTHERS, The

Perhaps the most popular vocal group of all time, with 70 hit records '31--68. Brothers from Piqua OH, Herbert (b 2 April '12; d 12 April '89), Harry (b 19 Aug. '13; d 28 June '82), Donald (b 29 April '15; d 13 Nov.'99), accompanied on bass notes and guitar by John (b 11 Feb. 1889, d '35), who was replaced by father John Sr (b 11 Feb. 1889; retired '56; d 8 Dec. '67). Sweet close-harmony style was perfected late '20s; in early days they imitated instrumental sounds with their voices: sang on WLW Radio Cincinnati; to NYC '30, network radio; many hits were two-sided incl. first: 'Tiger Rag'/'Nobody's Sweetheart'; 'Dinah' '32 was backed with 'Can't We Talk It Over?', both with Bing Crosby; other big hits incl. 'St Louis Blues' and 'Bugle Call Rag' '32; 'Swing It, Sister' and 'Sleepy Head' '34, all no. 2, all on Brunswick; switched to Decca label and recovered from the Depression on cut-price records, some with Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong. Biggest hit of all was 'Paper Doll' '43, no. 1 for twelve weeks, selling several million copies, phenomenal for the era; 'You Always Hurt The One You Love' was no. 1 '44, both songs always associated with them, as well as 'I Love You So Much It Hurts'/'I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm' and 'Someday (You'll Want Me To Want You)' '49, all top ten. 'Be My Life's Companion' '52 was first hit on which they were accompanied (by Sy Oliver band) by anything other than their guitar; 'The Glow-Worm' same year with Hal McIntyre band was their last no. 1, song adapted from '08 hit originally from a German operetta. After John Sr's retirement they continued as a trio, on Dot from '58, top 40 entries with a cover of Silhouettes' R&B hit 'Get A Job' '58, 'Cab Driver' '68, the latter pulling album Fortuosity to no. 21 in the Billboard album chart, whereupon they had three more in the top 200 albums same year: The Board Of Directors with Count Basie, My Shy Violet, Dream. After '82 Donald and his son John III worked as a duo. Incredible that after more than 60 years of showbiz success there were no recordings at all listed in the Schwann catalogue '97.