Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The Mills Brothers, John, Herbert, Harry, and Donald, were four of the seven children of John and Eathel Mills of Piqua, Ohio. It was a musical family, as John Sr. sang light opera, and Eathel was a fine piano player.
John Sr. owned a business that helped his sons begin their singing career. What kind of business did Mr. Mills have?
2. The Mills Brothers made their first appearance as a group in 1925, when John, the oldest, was fourteen, and Donald, the youngest, was nine. Fascinated with the music they heard on the radio, they used a guitar and another instrument to imitate the sounds. What did they use?
3. After local broadcasting in Cincinnati, the Mills Brothers were heard by Duke Ellington, who was delighted by their all-vocal renditions of his "Creole Rhapsody" and "Black and Tan Fantasy." This led to a CBS radio show and their first recording, a monumental hit version of a song which is one of the most recorded jazz numbers of all time. What is it?
4. The Mills Brothers recorded with other giants of jazz, including Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Bing Crosby. Their second Number One hit came from a 1931 recording session with Crosby, and was of a popular song that had been introduced by Eddie Cantor in 1923. The lyrics contained the name of Crosby's then-wife. What is the name of the song?
5. Another of the Mills Brothers' huge hits was "Paper Doll." It was Number One on the Billboard singles charts for 12 weeks, and was the subject of a Soundie, sort of an early music video that was viewed in a coin-operated jukebox.
The film shows the men in a garden; three of them are happily canoodling with ladies, while Harry moons over a picture of a girl. He cuts the girl out of the picture, puts her down on the patio, and she begins to dance. Who is the famous young woman in the picture?
6. In 1933, John took ill with pneumonia, and the Mills Brothers were forced to cancel about four months' worth of engagements. He recovered, but his health was fragile and he passed away in 1936. What did the surviving brothers do?
7. In 1940, the Mills Brothers went through a change in style. Frustrated with competing with the Ink Spots, they moved away from their instrumental imitations and adopted a smooth harmony style. This technique resulted in yet another hit, this one two-sided. The B-side, which made it to Number Eight, was "Till Then." The A-side, which hit Number One on the Billboard Best Seller chart, was hugely popular in a parody version by Spike Jones and his City Slickers. What was it called?
8. The Mills Brothers' final Number One song is one of their best. Written in German in 1902, it was translated into English for a 1907 Broadway show, and adapted by the great Johnny Mercer for the Mills' recording. It's a very fast-paced lyric that they must have rehearsed many times. What is it called?
9. John Sr. retired in 1958, at age 76. The brothers decided to continue as a trio, and they had one last Top 40 hit. It's about a man who just can't commit to going to see his old love, but can't stop driving by her house. What is the name of the song?
10. Which of the following artists has cited the Mills Brothers as a performing influence?
Source: Author
BarbaraMcI
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor
agony before going online.
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