HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Lucky Millinder

Born Lucius Venables on 8 August 1910 in Anniston, Alabama, bandleader, Lucky Millinder, was raised in Chicago. He played no instrument but is an important bridge from swing jazz to rock and roll via rhythm and blues. He began his career as a bandleader in 1931, touring for RKO Pictures. He is first found on record in 1934 from a session on December 4, 1933, with the Mills' Blue Rhythm Band, replacing Baron Lee as director: 'Drop Me Off in Harlem', 'Reaching for the Cotton Moon' and 'Love Is the Thing'. Originally the Coconut Grove Orchestra based in Harlem (not to be confused with the Cocoanut Grove Orchestra of Gus Arnheim which played the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles), that became the Mills' Blue Rhythm Band upon Irving Mills assuming management in 1931. Millinder took over from 1934 into 1937, then formed his own orchestra to record 'Ride, Red, Ride' and 'Jazz Martini' for the film, 'Readin', 'Ritin' and Rhythm' in latter 1938. 'Ride, Red, Ride' was one of Millinder's top compositions, written with Mills while leading the latter's band. Other of Millinder's top collaborations or compositions were 'Apollo Jump' in 1943, 'Sweet Slumber' in 1944, 'Shorty's Got to Go' in 1946, 'How Long Must I Wait for You' recorded by Louis Jordan in 1948, 'Little Girl Don't Cry' recorded by himself as well as Bull Moose Jackson in 1949, and 'Ram-Bunk-Shush' of 1952 which Bill Doggett issued to great success in 1957.

'Drop Me Off In Harlem' Lucky Millinder directing the Mills Blue Rhythm Band

4 Dec 1933 in NYC Matrix 78827-1 or 78827-2 Meritt 1 or Jazz Archives 157882

Vocal: Adelaide Hall

Music: Duke Ellington Lyrics: Nick Kenny

Winning a contract with Decca in 1941, Millinder that year began recording en force with his band. Sister Rosetta Tharpe was the first vocalist in his employ and they would together advance into R&B. 'Trouble In Mind' was among their first titles from their initial session together. Millinder and Tharpe placed 'I Want a Tall Skinny Papa' at the #17 tier on Billboard in August of 1942. Millinder and His Orchestra landed nine Top Ten titles on Billboard from 1942 to 1951, eight on the R&B charts, one in Country:

   When the Lights Go On Again (All Over the World)   #1 Dec 1942   Vocal by Trevor Beacon
   Apollo Jump   #1 1943
   Sweet Slumber   #1 Jan 1944   Vocal by Trevor Beacon
   Hurry, Hurry   #4 in Country 1945   Vocal by Wynonie Harris
   Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well   #1 June 1945   Vocal by Wynonie Harris
   Shorty's Got to Go   #4 1946
   D'Natural Blues   #4 1949
   I'll Never Be Free   #8   1951
   I'm Waiting Just For You   #2 July 1951

'Trouble in Mind' Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra

27 June 1941 in NYC Matrix 69437-A Decca 4041

Trumpet: William Scott / Archie Johnson / Nelson Bryant

Trombone: George Stevenson / Donald Cole / Eli Robinson

Alto sax: George James / Billy Bowen

Tenor sax: Buster Bailey (clarinet) / Stafford Simon

Baritone sax: Ernest Purce Piano: Bill Doggett Guitar: Trevor Bacon

Bass: Abe Bolar Drums: Panama Francis Arrangement: Will Hudson

Vocal: Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Composition: Richard Jones

'Big Fat Mama' Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra

5 Sep 1941 in NYC Matrix 69706-A Decca 4041

Vocal: Trevor Bacon

Composition: Lucky Millinder / Stafford Simon

'Apollo Jump' Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra

5 Sep 1941 in NYC Matrix 69708-A Decca 18529

Composition: Lucky Millinder / P. Robinson / Ernest Purce

'Shout Sister Shout' Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra

Soundie film recorded Sep 1941

Trumpet: Archie Johnson / William Scott / Nelson Bryant

Trombone: Floyd Brady / George Stevenson / Edward Morant

Reeds: George James / Ernest Pruce / Stafford Simon / Ted Barnett

Piano: Bill Doggett Guitar: Trevor Bacon

Bass: Abe Bolar Drums: Panama Francis

Vocal: Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Composition: Alexander Hill / James Tim Brymn / Clarence Williams

Mark Cantor

'Are You Ready' Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra

29 July 1942 in NYC Matrix 71243-A Decca 18529

Trumpet: William Scott / Dizzy Gillespie / Nelson Bryant

Trombone: George Stevenson / Joe Britton

Alto sax: Tab Smith / Billy Bowen Tenor sax: Stafford Simon / Dave Young

Baritone sax: Ernest Purce Piano: Bill Doggett Guitar: Trevor Bacon

Bass: Nick Fenton Drums: Panama Francis

Vocal: Trevor Bacon

Composition: Lucky Millinder / Trevor Bacon / Henri Woode

'Mason Flyer' Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra

29 July 1942 in NYC Matrix 71244-A Decca 3406

Trumpet: William Scott / Dizzy Gillespie / Nelson Bryant

Trombone: George Stevenson / Joe Britton

Alto sax: Tab Smith / Billy Bowen Tenor sax: Stafford Simon / Dave Young

Baritone sax: Ernest Purce Piano: Bill Doggett Guitar: Trevor Bacon

Bass: Nick Fenton Drums: Panama Francis Arrangement: Tab Smith

Composition: Lucky Millinder

'Savoy' Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra

C Aug 1943 in NYC Matrix VP496 on 23 Nov 1943 V-Disc 176

Trumpet: Joe Guy / Frank "Fat Man" Humphries / Ludwig "Joe" Jordan / William Scott

Trombone: Joe Britton / George Stevenson

Alto sax: Billy Bowen / Tab Smith Tenor sax: Mike Hedley / Sam Taylor

Baritone sax: Ernest Purce Piano: Raymond Tunia

Bass: Nick Fenton Drums: Panama Francis Arrangement: Lucky Millinder

Vocals: Trevor Bacon / Lucky Millinder

Composition: Bill Doggett

Millinder hired Wynonie Harris in 1944, Harris to make his first records with Millinder's operation. He later hired young Ruth Brown in 1948 to understudy Annisteen Allen. She sang with him once at the Turner Arena in Washington DC before Millinder fired her within a month, citing unprofessional behavior when she brought drinks to members of the band [Goldberg / Spontaneous Lunacy].

'Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well?' Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra

25 May 1944 in NYC Matrix 72180-A Decca 18674

Trumpet: Freddie Webster / Ludwig "Joe" Jordan / Curtis Murphy / Leroy Elton Hill

Trombone: Gene Simon / Al Cobbs / Joe Britton

Alto sax: Preston Love / Bill Swindell Tenor sax: Elmer Williams / Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis

Baritone sax: Ernest Leavey Piano: Ellis Larkins Guitar: Lawrence Lucie

Bass: Al McKibbon Drums: Panama Francis

Vocal: Wynonie Harris

Composition: Eddie De Lange / Johnny Brooks

Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra

1946 Film

Vocals:

Lucky Millinder on 'Hello Bill'

Annisteen Allen on 'I Want a Man' Composition: Lucky Millinder / Sir Charles Thompson

Bull Moose Jackson on 'Big Fat Mama' Composition: Lucky Millinder / Stafford Simon

Trumpet: Harold “Money” Johnson

Tenor sax: Sam Taylor / Bull Moose Jackson

Mark Cantor

'We Slumber' Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra

Film: 'Boarding House Blues' Released Sep 1948

Vocal: Paul Breckenridge

'I Love You, Yes I Do' Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra

Film: 'Boarding House Blues' Released Sep 1948

Vocal: Bull Moose Jackson

Composition: Henry Glover / Sally Nix

'Silent George' Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra

18 Oct 1950 in NYC Matrix K5982-1 King 4418

Trumpet: Andrew "Fats" Ford / Frank Galbreath / Joe Wilder / Lammar Wright

Trombone: Henderson Chambers / Frank DiVito / Tyree Glenn

Alto sax: Rudy Powell / Curby Alexander Tenor sax: Big John Greer / John Hardee

Baritone sax: Pee Wee Moore Piano: Sonny Thompson Guitar: James Cannady

Bass: Carl Pruitt Drums: Jimmy Crawford

Vocal: Myra Johnson

Composition: Henry Glover / Sally Nix

'Chew Tobacco Rag' Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra

28 Feb 1951 in NYC Matrix K9033-2 King 4449

Trumpet: Andrew "Fats" Ford / Lammar Wright / Frank Galbreath / JLeon Merian

Trombone: Henderson Chambers / Al Cobbs / Fred Zito

Alto sax: Rudy Powell / Harold Minerve Tenor sax: Harold Clark / Harry Johnson

Baritone sax: Sid Brown Piano: Danny Small Guitar: James Cannady

Bass: Leon Spann Drums: Ed Shaughnessy

Vocal: John Carol

Composition: Billy Briggs

Millinder and his orchestra began to wane in popularity during the fifties. He took a job as a disc jockey in 1952 as he continued to tour and record until 1960. His last tracks are thought to have been for Warwick that year: 'Slide Mr. Trombone' and 'Big Fat Mama'.