Singer. He was a member of the Mills Brothers, an African- American singing group. Originally playing the ukulele, he became the guitar player of the group. As the bass singer, he would imitate the tuba. Originally the close-knit brothers would perform in front of their father's barbershop after school singing while his brother Harry played the kazoo. While singing four-part harmonies, the group was first named as Four Boys and a Kazoo. At their debut at the Mays Opera house in 1924, Harry forgot his kazoo and improvised a trumpet sound with his mouth and hands. Eventually, they became the first African-American group to have a major broadcast sponsor, Columbia Records. Their debut record, "Tiger Rag" and "Nobody's Sweetheart," which was recorded in October of 1931, became the first million record sellers for a vocal group. The Mills Brothers continued to score major hits over the next three years. Starting in 1932, the group appeared in five films. The Mills Brothers became the first African-American artists to give a command performance before British royalty in 1934, with their mother sitting in the royal box with King George V and Queen Mary. He died of tuberculosis and his father successfully replaced him in the group.
Singer. He was a member of the Mills Brothers, an African- American singing group. Originally playing the ukulele, he became the guitar player of the group. As the bass singer, he would imitate the tuba. Originally the close-knit brothers would perform in front of their father's barbershop after school singing while his brother Harry played the kazoo. While singing four-part harmonies, the group was first named as Four Boys and a Kazoo. At their debut at the Mays Opera house in 1924, Harry forgot his kazoo and improvised a trumpet sound with his mouth and hands. Eventually, they became the first African-American group to have a major broadcast sponsor, Columbia Records. Their debut record, "Tiger Rag" and "Nobody's Sweetheart," which was recorded in October of 1931, became the first million record sellers for a vocal group. The Mills Brothers continued to score major hits over the next three years. Starting in 1932, the group appeared in five films. The Mills Brothers became the first African-American artists to give a command performance before British royalty in 1934, with their mother sitting in the royal box with King George V and Queen Mary. He died of tuberculosis and his father successfully replaced him in the group.
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