The Mills Brothers
Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Grandfather, William H. Mills, a local Jubilee Singer, had a barber shop here, 1871-1931. Father, John H., went to Ohio. Four sons, born there, formed first vocal group to overcome racial barriers, gaining a mass audience. Father was its bass, 1936-56; group endured, 1925-81.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
The story of the Mills Brothers begins in Bellefonte, where grandfather William H. Mills, a Jubilee Singer, ran a barbershop from 1871 to 1931. His son John moved to Ohio, where four grandsons were born and formed a vocal quartet that broke through racial barriers to win a mass national audience. With John singing bass from 1936, the group performed across an astonishing half-century, from 1925 to 1981.
Why it matters
As one of the first Black vocal groups to reach a broad mainstream audience, the Mills Brothers helped open American popular music across the color line long before the civil rights era.
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Related people
- · William H. Mills
- · John H. Mills
Themes & tags
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