Born in Anniston, Alabama and raised in Chicago, Millinder fronted his first band for an RKO theater tour using his first and middle names, Lucius Venable, in 1931. He soon changed his name to "Lucky" and did freelancing until 1934 when he took over the leadership of Mills Blue Rhythm Band whose regular slot at the Cotton Club brought him to wider attention. His professional relationship with Sister Rosetta Tharpe also began at that time. Tharpe's gospel vocals and rhythmic, energized guitar playing would set the stage for Millinder's later R&B recordings.
In 1940 he formed a new group, taking up a residency at the Savoy Ballroom and recording with Decca. Dizzy Gillespie can be heard on Millinder's first hit on the charts, "When the Lights Go On Again (All Over the World). Other hits like "Apollo Jump" and "Sweet Slumber" would follow. By the mid-40's the band was venturing into Rhythm and Blues. Millinder recruited singer Wynonie Harris and had the band's biggest hit in 1945 with "Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well". When Harris left for a solo career, Millinder had his own hit singing vocals on "Shorty's Got To Go." The band was extremely popular and toured and recorded often but without any big hits until 1951 with "I'm Just Waiting For You" with Annisteen Allen on vocals.
As the 50's wore on, Millinder's style of music began to fall out of favor. In 1954 he took over the leadership of the house band at the Apollo Theater then retired from performing a year later. He spent some time as a disc jockey, then in the music publishing business and then in public relations for a whiskey distillery before dying from liver disease at the age of 56.
No comments:
Post a Comment