Mills' Blue Rhythm Band

Aliases: Baron Lee and His Blue Rhythm Boys
Blue Rhythm Boys [US]
Duke Wilson and His Ten Black Berries
Earl Jackson and His Musical Champions
King Carter and His Royal Orchestra
Mills Blue Rhythm Band
Years active: 1930 - 1938
Country: United States
Comments: A big band so named when Irving Mills became its manager in 1931. He used it as an adjunct to the Ellington band with both being based out of New York's Cotton Club. Mill's band and smaller units of it recorded under different names for a host of different labels.
Members: Joe Garland Saxophone
Charlie Holmes Saxophone
Henry Allen Trumpet
Harry "Sweets" Edison Trumpet
Edgar Hayes Piano
J. C. Higginbotham Trombone
Tab Smith Saxophone
O'Neil Spencer Drums
Buster Bailey Clarinet
Related: Irving Mills

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Originals

	Title	Performer	Release date	Covered by
i	Barrel House	Mills Blue Rhythm Band under the Direction of Lucky Millinder	1936	(79 artists)
	I'm Left with the Blues in My Heart	King Carter and His Royal Orchestra (Mills' Blue Rhythm Band)	1931	(27 artists)
i	Moanin'	Blue Rhythm Boys [US]	August 1931	Bob Connors' New Yankee Rhythm Kings
	Out of a Dream	Mills' Blue Rhythm Band	November 1934	The Ravens
	Ride, Red, Ride	Mills Blue Rhythm Band under the direction of Lucky Millinder	1935	(6 artists)
	Sentimental Gentleman from Georgia	Baron Lee and His Blue Rhythm Band – Vocal Chorus by Billy Banks	1932	(35 artists)
	Sidewalks of Cuba PRF	Mills Blue Rhythm Band under the direction of Lucky Millinder		(12 artists) Originally by Lew Stone and His Band REC

Covers by Mills' Blue Rhythm Band

	Title	Performer	Release date	Originally by
i	Big John's Special	Mills Blue Rhythm Band under the direction of Lucky Millinder	1936	Unverified
	Dinah Lou	Mills Blue Rhythm Band under the direction of Lucky Millinder, Vocal Refrain by Chuck Richards (Chuck Richards, Lucky Millinder, Mills' Blue Rhythm Band)	1935	Unverified
	Drop Me Off in Harlem	Adelaide Hall with the Mills Blue Rhythym Band	1976	Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra
	Heebie Jeebies	Mills' Blue Rhythm Band	1931	Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five
	Minnie the Moocher	Mills' Blue Rhythm Band - Vocal Refrain by Chick Bullock and Chorus	1931	Ernest Rogers, Cab Calloway and His Orchestra
	Minnie, the Moocher (The Ho De Ho Song)	King Carter and His Royal Orchestra (Mills' Blue Rhythm Band)	1931	Ernest Rogers, Cab Calloway and His Orchestra
	Old Yazoo	Baron Lee and His Blue Rhythm Boys – Vocal by Billy Banks	1932	Cab Calloway and His Orchestra
i	Once or Twice	Duke Wilson and His Ten Black Berries (Mills' Blue Rhythm Band)	1932	Junie C. Cobb and His Grains of Corn
	Reefer Man	Baron Lee and His Blue Rhythm Boys – Vocal by Billy Banks	1932	Cab Calloway & His Orch.
i	Showboat Shuffle	Mills Blue Rhythm Band under the direction of Lucky Millinder	November 1936	Duke Ellington and His Orchestra
	The Peanut Vendor	Earl Jackson and His Musical Champions (Mills' Blue Rhythm Band)	1931	Rita Montaner, (unknown)
i	There's Rhythm in Harlem	Mills Blue Rhythm Band	July 1935	Barbecue Joe and His Hot Dogs (Wingy Manone) Covered by (346 artists)
	You Gave Me Everything but Love	Baron Lee and His Blue Rhythm Band – Vocal Chorus by Billy Banks	1932	Leo Reisman and His Orchestra

Releases

Albums

	Title	Performer	Release date	Label
	Big Bands!	Mills Blue Rhythm Band - Louie Bellson	1972	Onyx Records [US1]

Singles

Title	Performer	Release date	Label
Balloonacy	Mills Blue Rhythm Band under the Direction of Lucky Millinder	1936	Columbia [US]
Harlem Heat	Mills Blue Rhythm Band	July 1935	Columbia [US]
I'm Left with the Blues in My Heart	King Carter and His Royal Orchestra (Mills' Blue Rhythm Band)	1931	Columbia [US]
I'm Left with the Blues in My Heart – Moanin'	Chick Webb and His Orchestra – Blue Rhythm Boys	August 1931	Brunswick
Let's Have a Jubilee	Mills' Blue Rhythm Band	November 1934	Columbia [US]
Mary's Idea	Duke Wilson and His Ten Black Berries (Mills' Blue Rhythm Band)	1932	Perfect [US1]
Minnie the Moocher	Mills' Blue Rhythm Band	1931	Victor
Reefer Man	Baron Lee and His Blue Rhythm Boys – Vocal by Billy Banks	1932	Perfect [US1]
Ride, Red, Ride	Mills Blue Rhythm Band under the direction of Lucky Millinder	1935	Columbia [US]
Sentimental Gentleman from Georgia	Baron Lee and His Blue Rhythm Band – Vocal Chorus by Billy Banks	1932	Melotone
The Moon Is Grinning at Me	Mills Blue Rhythm Band under the direction of Lucky Millinder	November 1936	Columbia [US]
The Peanut Vendor (El Manisero)	Earl Jackson and His Musical Champions (Mills' Blue Rhythm Band)	1931	Melotone
You Gave Me Everything but Love	Baron Lee and His Blue Rhythm Band – Vocal Chorus by Billy Banks	1932	Melotone