THE MILLS BROTHERS

by Shirley A. Ramaley

The Mills Brothers were a very popular group with teenagers and adults of the 50’s. I remember listening to them on the radio after school, and I bought as many of their records as I could afford. While they were an established group before the 50’s, they became favorites of many people in those years.

I’d come home from high school and turn on my favorite radio station. The Mills Brothers were frequently played by the DJ. We didn’t watch TV then and we didn’t have computers. We listened to the radio and played records.

They were one of the longest-lasting “oldie’s” groups in American popular music. One great Number One hit, was “Glow Worm,” and today it remains one of my favorites. I had it on a record, then cassette and now a CD. It was Number One on the pop charts in 1952.

In 1958 another hit, “Get A Job,” made considerable influence on doo-wop. Through their decades of music, they made more than 2,000 recordings that sold more than 50 million copies and earned them at least three dozen gold records.

The brothers first began singing in the choir of the Cyrene African Methodist Episcopal Church, in Piqua, Ohio, 25 miles north of Dayton. They often gathered in front of their father’s barbershop to sing. They were originally known as “Four Boys And A Guitar.”

Eventually they became well known for their close harmony and amazing ability to imitate musical instruments with only their voices. The day they signed a contract with CBS radio they became the first African Americans to do so.

They started performing in the late 20’s and we were still playing their records in the 50’s. Some of my favorites were, “Lazy Bones,” “Lulu’s Back in Town,” “Sweet Sue” and “Shoe Shine Boy.”
The rise of rock and roll in the early fifties didn’t diminish the popularity of the Mills Brothers.

Besides “Glow Worm” some of their other most popular songs were “Opus One,” “You’re Nobody ‘Till Somebody Loves You,” “Standing on the Corner,” “Yellow Bird” and another one of my favorites, “Paper Doll.”

In 1957, John Sr. stopped touring with the group, at the age of 75. That didn’t stop the group. They continued to record, having moved to Dot Records. They were frequent guests on TV shows. I remember watching them on The Perry Como Show, The Jack Benny show, and The Tonight Show.

They recorded “Cab Driver” in 1968, their last, great hit. I’ve got that CD too. Their harmony is mellow and perfect. I remember dancing to their music as a teen and we still dance to it today. I listen to it as I drive in my car. Their music is timeless.