On This Date (June 28, 1982) Harry Mills / The Mills Brothers

Harry Mills
August 19, 1913 – June 28, 1982

Harry Mills was one-quarter of the popular vocal quartet, the Mills Brothers who scored several pop vocal hits throughout the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s.  They made a remarkable 2000+ recordings that sold over 50 million copies, earning them over 30 gold records.  Any worthy collection of their hits should include “Dinah,” “Caravan,” “Tiger Rag,” “Paper Doll,” and “Cab Driver.”  Harry Mills passed away from natural causes on June 28, 1982 although he did suffer from diabetes in his later years.  He was 68 when he died.

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The Mills Brothers

 

Died On This Date (April 12, 1989) Herbert Mills / The Mills Brothers

Herbert Mills
April 2, 1912 – April 12, 1989

Herbert Mills at far left
Herbert Mills at far left

As one of the famed Mills Brothers, Herbert Mills scored several hits over a career that lasted over 60 years.  Starting in 1925, brothers Herbert, Harry, John Jr., and Donald performed as Four Boys and a Guitar, somewhat of a novelty group due to their young ages (11 to 15).  By the early ’30s, the Mills Brothers were regularly performing on CBS Radio, singing Proctor & Gamble commercials.  There long string of hits included “Paper Doll,” “Tiger Rag,” “Lazy River” and “Bye Bye Blackbird.”  They recorded over 2200 songs!  Herbert Mills was 77 when he passed away on April 12, 1989.

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22 Great Hits - The Mills Brothers

Died On This Date (January 23, 1936) John Mills, Jr. / The Mills Brothers

John Mills, Jr.
October 19, 1910 – January 23, 1936

John Mills, Jr. with guitar
John Mills, Jr. with guitar

John Mills, Jr. along with his three brothers made up the Mills Brothers, a popular jazz vocal quartet throughout most of the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s.  John Jr. sang bass in the group and played guitar.  Their songbook included such hits as “Tiger Rag,” “Dinah,” and “St. Louis Blues.”  As the boys were just starting to establish themselves on the world stage, tragedy struck while on their first European tour as John Jr. came down with pneumonia with which he struggled for several months.  After they assumed he was well, the group headed back to England where John Jr. once again became sick, only this time resulting in his sudden death on January 24, 1936.   The guys eventually regrouped and struck out again with their father, John Sr. filling the vacant slot.



Died On This Date (December 8, 1967) John Mills, Sr. / The Mills Brothers

John Mills Sr.
February 11, 1889 – December 8, 1967

John Mills Sr. At Bottom

John Mills Sr. was the patriarch of the popular vocal quartet, the Mills Brothers who scored several pop vocal hits throughout the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s.  They made a remarkable 2000+ recordings that sold over 50 million copies, earning them over 30 gold records.  Any worthy collection of their hits should include “Dinah,” “Caravan,” “Tiger Rag,” “Paper Doll,” and “Cab Driver.”  When John Mills Jr. became ill and died in 1936, Mills Sr. took his place in the group.  J0hn Mills Sr. was 78 when he passed away on December 8, 1967.

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The Anthology 1931-1968 - The Mills Brothers