THE MILLS BROTHERS - SWEET LUCY BROWN

SWEET LUCY BROWN

THE MILLS BROTHERS

SONGWRITERS: LEON RENE & OTIS RENE

COUNTRY: U.S.A.

ALBUM: SWEET GEORGIA BROWN

LABEL: RECORD CLASSICS

GENRE: JAZZ & SWING

YEAR: 1935

The Mills Brothers were an American a cappella vocal group of the 20th century in the jazz, swing and pop sector, which can look back on more than 50 years on stage.

The quartet originally consisted of four brothers from Piqua, Ohio:

John (born February 1, 1910, † January 24, 1936), (guitar and tuba)

Herbert (born April 2, 1912, † April 12, 1989), (tenor and saxophone)

Harry (born August 19, 1913, † June 28, 1982), (baritone and trumpet)

Donald (born April 29, 1915, † November 13, 1999), (tenor and saxophone)

The brothers came into contact with vocal music early on through their father John Mills sen., Who was the founder and member of a barbershop quartet called "Four Kings of Harmony". In addition, they received musical training in the church choirs of the Methodist and Baptist congregation in the city. The brothers formed their own quartet under the name "Four Boys and a Guitar" when they were young and had their first appearances in smaller theaters in Ohio during the 1920s. With radio appearances on the broadcaster WLW Radio in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1928, they became nationally known. They were allegedly discovered there by Duke Ellington, who is said to have obtained a record deal with Brunswick Records in New York in 1931.

In 1930 they first appeared in New York under the name "The Mills Brothers". In the first studio appointment on October 12, 1931, her versions of the title" Tiger Rag"/"Nobody's Sweetheart" for the first single emerged, which took first place in the pop hit parade for four weeks and helped the quartet to its first million seller in 1932. The hallmark of the group, which sang a cappella and was only accompanied by a guitar, were deceptively real imitations of bass, trumpet, trombone and saxophone. In 1931 she had her film debut in New York in the number film "The Big Broadcast", which was followed by a number of other film appearances. A tour of Great Britain and appearances at the London Palladium in 1934 made her famous in Europe. After the death of his eldest brother John in 1936, the father, John (born February 11, 1889, † December 8, 1967; he sang the bass), joined the group, which until then still worked as a hairdresser. From then on, the guitarist for the Mills Brothers was Norman Brown.

In 1943 the Mills Brothers had their biggest hit with" Paper Doll", which was sold six million times and took first place on the charts for 12 weeks. Other million sellers were You Always Hurt The One You Love, recorded on February 27, 1944, and "Glow Worm" , created on July 7, 1952, which was also their last number one hit. The group gradually changed their repertoire and recorded records with various bands. In 1957, John Mills withdrew from the group after a leg amputation. The group continued their work as a Terzett and changed their repertoire towards Schlager in the following years.

They had their last hit parade note in November 1968 with "The Ol 'Race Track". After the death of Harry Mills in 1982, the history of the Mills Brothers ended for a few years. Donald wanted to bring his son John into the group and continue as a trio. Herbert couldn't go on stage because of back problems, so Donald and John performed as a duo. In the mid-1990s, they released the CD Still There's You, which contained new songs and old Mills Brothers hits. The two had performances across the United States. Donald wanted to spend the millennium on stage, but died shortly before. John continues the tradition of the Mills Brothers with Elmer Hopper (former member of The Platters). Every year fans of the Mills Brothers from all over the world meet in Piqua.

The Mills Brothers recorded 2.490 recordings in the course of their careers, among others with jazz musicians such as Duke Ellington(1.931), Don Redman(1.931) Ella Fitzgerald(1937) and Louis Armstrong (1.937-1.940). They were the most successful vocal group in the history of popular American music.

If you meet a suntaned lady

Full of life and hidey hadey

Big brown eyes a little bit shady

That's Sweet Lucy Brown

Boys in town are dying to meet her

Millionaires line up to greet her

Ain't no gal in Georga sweeter than Sweet Lucy Brown

When she talks she sure sounds funny

Yowser, Miser

When she kisses it tastes like honey

I don't mean maybe, she's a pretty baby

Listen fellows I'm confession

Take a tip and stop your guessin

If it's love then take a lesson

From Sweet Lucy Brown

Oh Lucy

Oh Lucy Brown

Oh Lucy

Oh Lucy

Oh Lucy Brown

Oh Lucy

Oh Lucy

Oh Lucy Brown

Oh Lucy

Ain't no gal in Georga that's sweeter than Sweet Lucy Brown.