Mills Blue Rhythm Band
Encyclopedia
The Mills Blue Rhythm Band was an American big band
of the 1930s.
The band was formed in Harlem
in 1930, with reedman Bingie Madison
the first of its many leaders. It started life as the Coconut Grove Orchestra, changing to Mills Blue Rhythm Band when Irving Mills
became its manager in 1931. At various times the same group was known as the "Blue Rhythm Band", "Blue Ribbon Band", "Blue Rhythm Boys", "The Blue Racketeers", "Earl Jackson's Musical Champions", "Earl Jackson and his Orchestra", "Duke Wilson and his Ten Blackberries", "King Carter's Royal Orchestra", "Mills Music Masters", "Harlem Hot Shots" and uncredited playing behind Louis Armstrong
.
The Mills Blue Rhythm Band were based at The Cotton Club in New York
. They worked steadily through the 1930s deputizing for the Duke Ellington
and Cab Calloway
Orchestras; often taking their undesirable engagements. Violinist Carroll Dickerson
briefly fronted the band, followed by Drummer Willie Lynch in 1931 and then compere Jimmy Ferguson (Baron Lee). Edgar Hayes
, Eddie Mallory and Dave Nelson all had temporary stints as band leader until Lucky Millinder
permanently took over the role in 1934.
The band recorded 150 sides for a variety of labels including Brunswick
, Columbia
, Victor, the ARC stable of labels (including Oriole
, Perfect
, Regal
, Romeo
, Banner
, Melotone
, Domino), Variety, and Vocalion
. Despite success with a few hit records (including "Truckin'" and "Ride, Red, Ride") and a strong lineup of talented soloists, the group never became one of the more prominent black bands of the day. This is often attributed to the lack of a single identifable leader, and Irving Mills' preference to have the band perform an understudy role. Many of the Mills Blue Rhythm Band's recordings are now considered jazz classics by collectors, and they're not too difficult to find on auction lists, which indicates that they did sell records over their lifespan.
The group disbanded in 1938. Millinder joined Bill Doggett
's band before reforming it into his own orchestra in 1940
Irving Mills
revived the Mills Blue Rhythm Band name for two recording sessions in 1947 under the guidance of Van Alexander
. The only original band member at either of the 1947 sessions was trumpeter Charlie Shavers
.
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
of the 1930s.
The band was formed in Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
in 1930, with reedman Bingie Madison
Bingie Madison
Bingie Madison was an American jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist.Madison began his career as a pianist, working first out of Des Moines, Iowa and then touring Canada and California in 1921...
the first of its many leaders. It started life as the Coconut Grove Orchestra, changing to Mills Blue Rhythm Band when Irving Mills
Irving Mills
Irving Mills was a jazz music publisher, also known by the name of "Joe Primrose."Mills was born to Jewish parents in the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City. He founded Mills Music with his brother Jack in 1919...
became its manager in 1931. At various times the same group was known as the "Blue Rhythm Band", "Blue Ribbon Band", "Blue Rhythm Boys", "The Blue Racketeers", "Earl Jackson's Musical Champions", "Earl Jackson and his Orchestra", "Duke Wilson and his Ten Blackberries", "King Carter's Royal Orchestra", "Mills Music Masters", "Harlem Hot Shots" and uncredited playing behind Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
.
The Mills Blue Rhythm Band were based at The Cotton Club in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. They worked steadily through the 1930s deputizing for the Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
and Cab Calloway
Cab Calloway
Cabell "Cab" Calloway III was an American jazz singer and bandleader. He was strongly associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, New York City where he was a regular performer....
Orchestras; often taking their undesirable engagements. Violinist Carroll Dickerson
Carroll Dickerson
Carroll Dickerson was a Chicago and New York-based dixieland jazz violinist and bandleader, probably better known for his extensive work with Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines or his more brief work touring with King Oliver....
briefly fronted the band, followed by Drummer Willie Lynch in 1931 and then compere Jimmy Ferguson (Baron Lee). Edgar Hayes
Edgar Hayes
Edgar Hayes was an American jazz pianist and bandleader.Hayes attended Wilberforce University, where he graduated with a degree in music in the early 1920s. In 1922 he toured with Fess Williams, and formed his own group, the Blue Grass Buddies, in Ohio in 1924...
, Eddie Mallory and Dave Nelson all had temporary stints as band leader until Lucky Millinder
Lucky Millinder
Lucius Venable "Lucky" Millinder was an American rhythm and blues and swing bandleader. Although he could not read or write music, did not play an instrument and rarely sang, his showmanship and musical taste made his bands successful...
permanently took over the role in 1934.
The band recorded 150 sides for a variety of labels including Brunswick
Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records is a United States based record label. The label is currently distributed by E1 Entertainment.-From 1916:Records under the "Brunswick" label were first produced by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company...
, Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, Victor, the ARC stable of labels (including Oriole
Oriole Records
Oriole Records may refer to:* Oriole Records * Oriole Records...
, Perfect
Perfect Records
Perfect Records was a United States based record label of the 1920s and 1930s. It was a subsidiary of Pathé Records, producing standard lateral cut 78 rpm disc records for the US market....
, Regal
Regal Records
Regal Records may refer to:*Regal Records - a British record label, founded by the Columbia Graphophone Company*Regal Records - a Spanish record label*Regal Records - a United States company...
, Romeo
Romeo Records
Romeo Records was a record label based in the United States of America in the 1920s and 1930s. It was a subsidiary of Cameo Records, manufactured to be sold exclusively at the S. H. Kress & Co. department store chain...
, Banner
Banner Records
Banner Records was a United States based record label of the 20th century.Banner Records was launched in January 1922 by the Plaza Music Company of New York City. Banner was an extremely popular label in the 1920s, concentrating on popular music of the day. To this day, Banners are often found all...
, Melotone
Melotone Records
Melotone Records has been the name of two unrelated record companies.* Melotone Records , Australia* Melotone Records , United States of America...
, Domino), Variety, and Vocalion
Vocalion Records
Vocalion Records is a record label active for many years in the United States and in the United Kingdom.-History:Vocalion was founded in 1916 by the Aeolian Piano Company of New York City, which introduced a retail line of phonographs at the same time. The name was derived from one of their...
. Despite success with a few hit records (including "Truckin'" and "Ride, Red, Ride") and a strong lineup of talented soloists, the group never became one of the more prominent black bands of the day. This is often attributed to the lack of a single identifable leader, and Irving Mills' preference to have the band perform an understudy role. Many of the Mills Blue Rhythm Band's recordings are now considered jazz classics by collectors, and they're not too difficult to find on auction lists, which indicates that they did sell records over their lifespan.
The group disbanded in 1938. Millinder joined Bill Doggett
Bill Doggett
Bill Doggett was an American jazz and rhythm and blues pianist and organist. He is best known for his tracks, "Honky Tonk" and "Hippy Dippy", and variously working with The Ink Spots, Johnny Otis, Wynonie Harris, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Jordan.-Biography:William Ballard Doggett was born in...
's band before reforming it into his own orchestra in 1940
Irving Mills
Irving Mills
Irving Mills was a jazz music publisher, also known by the name of "Joe Primrose."Mills was born to Jewish parents in the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City. He founded Mills Music with his brother Jack in 1919...
revived the Mills Blue Rhythm Band name for two recording sessions in 1947 under the guidance of Van Alexander
Van Alexander
Van Alexander is an American bandleader, arranger, and composer.Alexander led bands and arranged from high school, and studied composition in college. He landed a job selling arrangements to Chick Webb in the middle of the 1930s...
. The only original band member at either of the 1947 sessions was trumpeter Charlie Shavers
Charlie Shavers
Charles James Shavers , known as Charlie Shavers, was an American swing era jazz trumpet player who played at one time or another with Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Eldridge, Johnny Dodds, Jimmy Noone, Sidney Bechet, Midge Williams and Billie Holiday...
.
Members
- Henry "Red" Allen, trumpet
- Buster BaileyBuster BaileyWilliam C. "Buster" Bailey was a jazz musician specializing in the clarinet, but also well versed on saxophone...
, clarinet - Wilbur de ParisWilbur de ParisWilbur de Paris was a trombone player and band leader, especially known for mixing New Orleans jazz style with Swing.De Paris was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, where his father, Sidney G...
, trombone - Carroll DickersonCarroll DickersonCarroll Dickerson was a Chicago and New York-based dixieland jazz violinist and bandleader, probably better known for his extensive work with Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines or his more brief work touring with King Oliver....
, violin - Harry "Sweets" Edison, trumpet
- Joe GarlandJoe GarlandJoseph Copeland "Joe" Garland was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and arranger, best known for writing "In the Mood"....
, tenor saxophone, arrangements - Edgar HayesEdgar HayesEdgar Hayes was an American jazz pianist and bandleader.Hayes attended Wilberforce University, where he graduated with a degree in music in the early 1920s. In 1922 he toured with Fess Williams, and formed his own group, the Blue Grass Buddies, in Ohio in 1924...
, piano - Shelton Hemphill, trumpet
- J. C. HigginbothamJ. C. HigginbothamJ. C. Higginbotham was an American jazz trombonist. His playing was robust and swinging.In the 1930s and 1940s he played with some of the premier swing bands, including Luis Russell's, Benny Carter's, Red Allen's, and Fletcher Henderson's. He also played with Louis Armstrong, who had taken over...
, trombone - Charlie HolmesCharlie HolmesCharlie Holmes was an alto jazz saxophonist of the swing era. He also played clarinet in jazz and oboe for the Boston Civic Symphony Orchestra in 1926....
, alto saxophone - Benny James, banjo, guitar
- Wardell Jones, trumpet
- Billy KyleBilly KyleWilliam Osborne "Billy" Kyle was an American jazz pianist.-Biography:Kyle was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He began playing the piano in school and by the early 1930s worked with Lucky Millinder, and later the Mills Blue Rhythm Band. In 1938, he joined John Kirby's band, but was drafted in...
, piano - Lawrence LucieLawrence LucieLawrence Lucie was an American jazz guitarist.- Early life :Lucie was born in Emporia, Virginia. He learned banjo, mandolin, and violin as a child and played with his family at dances. Lucie's father, a barber, also played jazz music...
, guitar - Castor McCordCastor McCordCastor "Cass" McCord was an American jazz saxophonist. He was the twin brother of saxophonist Ted McCord. McCord started out as a member of Edgar Hayes's Blue Grass Buddies in 1924. He then attended Wilberforce University, where he played in the student band run by Horace Henderson...
, saxophone - Gene Mikell, clarinet, alto saxophone,
- Lucky MillinderLucky MillinderLucius Venable "Lucky" Millinder was an American rhythm and blues and swing bandleader. Although he could not read or write music, did not play an instrument and rarely sang, his showmanship and musical taste made his bands successful...
, bandleader - Charlie ShaversCharlie ShaversCharles James Shavers , known as Charlie Shavers, was an American swing era jazz trumpet player who played at one time or another with Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Eldridge, Johnny Dodds, Jimmy Noone, Sidney Bechet, Midge Williams and Billie Holiday...
, trumpet - Tab SmithTab SmithTalmadge "Tab" Smith , was an American swing and rhythm and blues alto saxophonist. He is best known for the tracks, "Because Of You" and "Pretend". He variously worked with Count Basie, the Mills Rhythm Boys and Lucky Millinder.-Biography:Smith was born in Kinston, North Carolina, United States...
, alto saxophone - O'Neill SpencerO'Neill SpencerWilliam "O'Neill" Spencer was a jazz drummer and singer. He is most known for his work in the John Kirby Sextet....
, drums - George WashingtonGeorge Washington (trombonist)George Washington was an American jazz trombonist.Washington was born in Brunswick, Georgia and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. He began playing trombone at age ten and attended Edward Waters College in the early 1920s. He relocated to Philadelphia in 1925 and played with J.W...
, trombone - Crawford WethingtonCrawford WethingtonArthur Crawford Wethington was an American jazz saxophonist. He was born in Chicago and died in White Plains, New York....
, clarinet, alto saxophone, baritone saxophone