Eight original photographs of The Mills Brothers

Various cities: Various studios and photographers, 1980. Eight vintage photographs of jazz vocal quartet The Mills Brothers, taken variously between the 1940s and 1980s. One with a mimeo snipe and the stamp of Raymond Booking Agency on the verso, and five with the stamps of Movie Still Archives on the verso.

One photograph shows the brothers in the 1943 comedy film "He's My Guy." Three of the remaining photographs appear to have been taken during the 1960s, and four during the 1980s. Two photographs bear the insignia of celebrity photographer James J. Kriegsmann on the bottom right corner, along with the logo of General Artists Corporation. (truncated)

The Mills Brothers, also known as the Four Mills Brothers and the Four Kings of Harmony, were a jazz and traditional pop vocal quartet composed of brothers John Jr., Herbert, Harry, and Don Mills. The brothers were born into a family of nine in Piqua, Ohio, originally singing at their family's Methodist Episcopal church, and eventually making their first major break with the assistance of Duke Ellington. The group became the first African Americans to have a network show on radio in 1930, after signing a contract with CBS Radio in New York. The brothers also became the first African Americans to give a command performance before British royalty, performing at the Regal Theatre for King George V and Queen Mary in 1934.

8 x 10 inches. Generally Near Fine. (Inventory #: 156744)