Irving Mills

Irving Mills did a great deal to help jazz, making himself a great deal of money in the process. He is most famous for his work as manager for <a href="spotify:artist:4F7Q5NV6h5TSwCainz8S5A">Duke Ellington</a> during 1926-1939, helping <a href="spotify:artist:4F7Q5NV6h5TSwCainz8S5A">Ellington</a> gain his job at the Cotton Club, in addition to securing numerous recording sessions and important engagements. He also wrote the lyrics to some of <a href="spotify:artist:4F7Q5NV6h5TSwCainz8S5A">Ellington</a>'s songs, including "It Don't Mean a Thing if It Ain't Got That Swing," "Mood Indigo," and "Sophisticated Lady." He had earlier worked with his brother, Jack, in establishing a music publishing business that became Mills Music, Inc. Mills also promoted <a href="spotify:artist:03cwCzIWQ8BRmXjGPDAL04">Cab Calloway</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5dlCVmfRbWVGOJYHzGyk32">Benny Carter</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2ovJLSejirvJybNers2YG6">Fletcher Henderson</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5z49AOW1q5dtslkcj6wGsW">Jimmie Lunceford</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:4xgDy82aqLHAG2Is3ELRWv">Don Redman</a>, and appeared as a singer on many sessions (including some with <a href="spotify:artist:4F7Q5NV6h5TSwCainz8S5A">Ellington</a>). He put together all-star recording groups under the names of the Whoopee Makers and Irving Mills' Hotsy Totsy Gang (1928-1930) and in 1931 became the manager for an orchestra, which he renamed <a href="spotify:artist:140K78ooLk7HfhlWiTc9dM">the Mills Blue Rhythm Band</a>. After breaking with <a href="spotify:artist:4F7Q5NV6h5TSwCainz8S5A">Ellington</a> in 1939, Irving Mills maintained a lower profile, but stayed active in management and music publishing into the 1960s. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi

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