Lucky Millinder

Lucky Millinder (born August 8, 1900 in Anniston , Alabama , † September 28, 1966 in New York City ), actually Lucius Venable Millinder , was an American R&B and swing bandleader and singer.

Life

Born in Alabama and raised in Chicago , Millinder worked as a dancer, singer, and band leader in the late 1920s. He could neither read notes nor play an instrument, yet he was successful with his music.

Mills Blue Rhythm Band - Yes! Yes!

In June 1930 he toured Europe with a band, to which the singer Freddy Taylor belonged, with performances in Monte Carlo and Paris, in October 1933 he only returned to New York. On his return he became head of the Mills Blue Rhythm Band in late 1933 , where he stayed until 1938. On December 4, 1933, Millinder made his first recordings with the Mills Blue Rhythm Band, namely Drop Me Off In Harlem and Love Is The Thing . In January 1936, the Mills Blue Rhythm Band released the single Broken Dreams of You / Yes! Yes! under his direction, followed in July 1937 The Image of You / Lucky Swing . As early as December 1934, Millinder also composed pieces for the Mills Blue Rhythm Band, such as the hit Ride Red Ride or St. Louis Wiggle Rhythm (May 1936).

In 1938 he took over the band from Bill Doggett because he was temporarily insolvent and his band members could no longer pay. Later, however, Doggett recovered financially and delivered great hits.

Lucky Millinder - Who Threw The Whiskey In the Well

In September 1940 Millinder put together his own band; among them were Buster Bailey (clarinet), Bill Doggett (piano), drummer "Panama" Francis ; later also Sir Charles Thompson (piano) and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (saxophone) as well as the trumpeter Frank Humphries played . Sister Rosetta Tharpe , Wynonie Harris or "Big" John Greer were used as singers . His first hit was with Big Fat Mama (with Trevor Bacon as singer); his early hit parade When The Lights Go On Again / That's All went straight to number 1 on the Rhythm & Blues hit parade . Also Apollo Jump and Sweet Slumber (# 6 R & B chart ) came up to the top position. From 1944 he recruited Wynonie Harris as a singer, who became Millinder's biggest hit Who Threw The Wiskey in the Well ? contributed the singing. Millinder's band was now one of the Decca label's most successful interpreters, with four consecutive top placements in the charts.

At King Records he had already appeared as a composer with Henry Glover on Love Me Tonight for Bull Moose Jackson , recorded on January 5, 1949, and other recordings. The official move to King Records was completed in July 1950. Here he also helped out with other bands, such as Bull Moose Jackson's Big Fat Mamas Are Back In Style Again (King 4412), which was created on May 4, 1951. King Records brought out seven singles, however, until Bongo Boogie / I'm Waiting Just for You Millinder was finally able to hit the R&B charts again with a second place. At BMI , a total of 49 compositions are registered for Millinder, three of which received a BMI award.

In 1952 he broke up his band. In later years he made his way as a salesman and disc jockey . Millinder recruited talented staff for his orchestra, many of whom would later make careers as individual performers. He was an excellent organizer, developed a hearing for complicated sounds, and understood the depths of the music business.

Discography (singles, date of recording in brackets)

Chart positions Explanation of the data

Singles

Truckin '   R&B 11 1935 (4 weeks) Barrel house   R&B 11 1936 (2 weeks) The Image of You   R&B 18th 1937 (1 week) Big Fat Mama   R&B 23 1941 (1 week) Shout, Sister, Shout!   R&B 21st 1942 (1 week) I want a tall, skinny mom   R&B 13 1942 (1 week) When the Light Go On Again (All Over the World)   R&B 12 1942 (4 weeks)   R&B 20th 1943 (1 week) Are you ready?   R&B 20th 1942 (1 week) Sweet slumber   R&B 12 1944 (2 weeks) Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well?   R&B 7th 1945 (10 weeks) I'm waiting just for you   R&B 19th 1951 (8 weeks)

• Big Fat Mama / Trouble in Mind (Decca 4041), October 1941
• Ride, Red, Ride / Hey Huss! (Decca 4146) January 1942
• Trouble In Mind / Ride, Red Ride (Decca 18353), June 27, 1941
• I Want A Tall Skinny Papa / Shout, Sister Shout (Decca 18496), February 18, 1942 / September 5, 1941
• When The Lights go on again / That's All (Decca 18496), July 29, 1942 / November 6, 1941
• Savoy / Rock Me (Decca 18353), February 18, 1942 / September 5, 1941
• Are you ready? / Apollo Jump (Decca 18529), July 29, 1942 / September 5, 1941
• Don't Cry Baby / Sweet Slumber (Decca 18569), October 19, 1943
• Hurry, Hurry / I Can't See For Lookin ' (Decca 18609), May 25, 1944
• Who Threw The Wiskey In The Well / Shipyard Social Function (Decca 18674), May 25, 1944 / October 19, 1943
• Darlin ' / All The Time (Decca 18779), May 25, 1944 / June 22, 1945
• There's Good Blues Tonight / Chitlin Time (Decca 18835), February 26, 1946
• Shorty's Got To Go / Some Day (Decca 18867), February 26, 1946 / June 22, 1945
• D'Natural Blues / Girl Don't Cry (Victor 20-3351), January 3, 1949
• Moanin 'The Blues / How Would You Know? (Victor 20-3430), February 25, 1949
• I Ain't Got Nothin 'To Lose / Tomorrow (Victor 20-3495), January 3, 1949
• I'll Never Be Free / Journey's End (RCA Victor 47-3128), January 1951
• My Little Baby / Let It Roll Again (King 4379), July 1950
• Clap Your Hands / Who Said Shorty Wasn't Coming Back (King 4398), October 1950
• Silent George / Oh, Babe (King 4418), October 18, 1950
• Teardrops from My Eyes / Please Open Your Heart (King 4419), October 18, 1950
• The Jumpin 'Jack / Mister Trumpet Man (King 4436), March 1951
• Chew Tobacco Rag / Georgia Rose (King 4449), February 28, 1951
• Bongo Boogie / I'm Waiting Just For You (King 4453), May 1951
• The Grape Vine / No One Else Could Be (King 4476), June 29, 1951 / July 1, 1951
• It's Been A Long Long Time / The Right Kind Of Lovin ' (King 4496), June 29, 1951

Web links

• Biography at AllMusic (English)
• Biography in the Bigband Library

Individual evidence

1. ↑ BMI entry for Millinder  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
2. ↑ Lawrence McClellan: The Later Swing Era 1942 To 1955 . 2004, p. 68
3. ↑ All plates 78er. Individual references for US Billboard Black: Gerhard Klußmeier : Jazz in the Charts. Another view on jazz history. Liner notes and booklet for the 100 CD edition. Membrane International, ISBN 978-3-86735-062-4 .