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Lucky Millinder was essentially a frontman, an occasional singer who conducted several impressive big bands. Millinder grew up in Chicago, worked as a dancer, and became a bandleader in 1931, using his original name of Lucius Venable, which he soon changed. He freelanced until 1934 when he took over leadership of <a href="spotify:artist:140K78ooLk7HfhlWiTc9dM">the Mills Blue Rhythm Band</a>, staying into 1938. In 1940, he formed his own orchestra, which worked at the Savoy Ballroom. Most notable among his sidemen was his star attraction, singer/guitarist <a href="spotify:artist:2dXf5lu5iilcaTQJZodce7">Sister Rosetta Tharpe</a>, pianist <a href="spotify:artist:6xGdsn4r7laoQDz0zbm1nY">Bill Doggett</a>, and, for a brief time in 1942, trumpeter <a href="spotify:artist:5RzjqfPS0Bu4bUMkyNNDpn">Dizzy Gillespie</a> and altoist <a href="spotify:artist:1hqaPKbm1GbNjY1PUiHO4b">Tab Smith</a>. Millinder fronted bands on record from 1940-1952 and on a last session in 1955; the later recordings tended to be more R&B-oriented, although still of interest from a jazz standpoint. A Classics CD has all of Millinder's 1940-1942 sessions. Lucky Millinder spent his later years as a liquor salesman and a disc jockey. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi
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