Mills Blue Rhythm Band
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Mills Blue Rhythm band was an American big band of the 1930s. Founded by drummer Willie Lynch in 1930 as the Blue Rhythm Band, it became first the Coconut Grove Orchestra and the Mills Blue Rhythm Band when Irving Mills became its manager in 1931.
Mills used the band as a backup band at The Cotton Club for when the Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway Orchestras were touring. Lynch left the band in 1931, and Baron Lee took over as leader. Edgar Hayes, Eddie Mallory and Dave Nelson all had stints as band leader until Lucky Millinder took over in 1934.
The band recorded frequently and had hit records, including "Truckin'" and "Ride, Red, Ride". Despite these hits and a lineup of talented soloists, the group never became one of the more popular bands of the day. This is generally attributed to the lack of a single identifable leader[1].
The band also recorded under the names of "Blue Rhythm Boys", "Mills Music Masters" and "Harlem Hot Shots"[2].
The group disbanded amid heavy competition in 1938. Millinder joined Bill Doggett's band before reforming it into his own orchestra in 1940[3]
[edit] Notable Members
- Henry "Red" Allen, trumpet
- Buster Bailey, clarinet
- Harry "Sweets" Edison, trumpet
- Joe Garland, tenor saxophone
- Edgar Hayes, piano
- J. C. Higginbotham, trombone
- Charlie Holmes, alto saxophone
- Billy Kyle, piano
- Tab Smith, alto saxophone
- O'Neil Spencer, drums
