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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZMILLINDER, Lucky(b Lucius Millinder, 8 August 1900, Anniston AL; d 28 September 1966, NYC) Bandleader. He did not play an instrument but was a popular frontman from '30 into the '50s; he toured Europe '33, took over the Mills Blue Rhythm Band '34 (see Irving Mills); his sidemen were among the best: Red Allen, Harry Edison, Buster Bailey, Tab Smith, John Kirby, J.C. Higginbotham etc; hits on Columbia '35-7 included 'Truckin'' (vocal by Allen), 'Ride, Red, Ride' (vocal by Millinder); in the '40s the band was the most popular in Harlem: among those passing through were the underrated Freddie Webster (b Morris Frederick Webster, 3 September 1917, Selma AL; d 1 April 1947) Dizzy Gillespie, Lucky Thompson, Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis, Bill Doggett, Panama Francis, vocalists Wynonie Harris, Bull Moose Jackson, Sister Rosetta Tharpe (who also played electric guitar). Hits '42-5 incl. 'I Want A Tall, Skinny Papa' with Tharpe, 'Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well' with Harris; compilation on Classics CD. The band was reduced in size and had R&B hits '49-51: 'D' Natural Blues', 'I'll Never Be Free' on RCA; 'I'm Waiting Just For You' '51 with vocal by Annisteen Allen on King. The story of the band is a history of the evolution of Swing Era big-band jazz into R&B 'jump bands', with influence on rock'n'roll; the later hits also deserve compiling. |