Local History Department

THE MILLS BROTHERS

       The Mills Brothers are Piqua’s most famous export.  John Jr., Herbert, Harry, and Donald Mills grew up singing in barbershops and got their professional start with a local band, the Greenamyer Orchestra.  They soon moved on to perform for WLW in Cincinnati, and then on to New York.

       The Mill’s Brothers recorded their first record in 1927 and went on to produce over 1200 records.  Their biggest hits included; “Tiger Rag”, “Paper Doll”, “Cab Driver”, “Glow Worm” and “You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You”.

       In 1936 John Jr. died of pneumonia and his father John Sr. joined the group.

       They performed all over the world.

       In 1967, John Sr. died and the Mills Brothers continued singing as a trio until 1982 when Harry died and the group disbanded.  Herbert died in 1989 and Donald in 1999.

    The famous group was inducted into the Piqua Civic Hall of Fame in 2000.