biography
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Mills Brothers, the
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| Vocal group and brothers, all born in Ohio, USA: John, Jr (1910–36), born in Bellefontaine, OH; Herbert (1912–89) born in Piqua, OH; Harry (1913–82) born in Piqua, OH; Donald (1915–99) born in Piqua, OH. Famous for their smooth harmonies and for imitating instruments with their voices, during the 1930s–1950s they appeared in films and had many hit songs, including ‘Paper Doll’ (1943). Although not especially innovative, the Mills Brothers were among the early African-American musical groups that enjoyed a following among mainstream white Americans. Not generally known is that when John Jr died in 1936, his father, John Sr (1882–1967, born in Bellefonte, PA), stepped in until the mid-1950s. Thereafter the surviving brothers performed as a trio into the 1970s. |
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