ArtistInfo

The Mills Blue Rhythm Band

Band, 1930-1938 US
Jazz
A.k.a. Baron Lee And The Blue Rhythm Band Earl Harlan And His Orchestra Earl Jackson And His Musical Champions

The Mills Blue Rhythm Band was an American big band of the 1930's. The band was formed in Harlem in 1930, with reedman Bingie Madison the first of its many leaders. It started life as the Coconut Grove Orchestra, changing to Mills Blue Rhythm Band when Irving Mills became its manager in 1931. At various times the same group was known as the "Blue Rhythm Band", "Blue Ribbon Band", "Blue Rhythm Boys", "The Blue Racketeers", "Earl Jackson's Musical Champions", "Earl Jackson and his Orchestra", "Duke Wilson and his Ten Blackberries", "King Carter's Royal Orchestra", "Mills Music Masters", "Harlem Hot Shots" and uncredited playing behind Louis Armstrong.

Members

	Lucky Thompson ts 1924-2005 US
	Henry Hicks tb 1904-1950 US
	Edgar Hayes p 1904-1979 US
	Benny James bj, g 1905-1934 US
	Ed Anderson tr, cor *1910 US
	Ted McCord cl, ts, as *1907 US
	Harry White tb US
	Castor McCord cl, ts 1907-1963 US
	Wardell Jones tr *1905 US
	Hayes Alvis b 1907-1972 US
	Shelton Hemphill tr 1906-1959 US
	O'Neil Spencer dr *1909 US
	Bingie Madison ts, cl 1902-1978 US
	Charlie Holmes as *1910 US
	Willie Lynch dr US
	Baron Lee
	Gene Mikell cl, as, bs