Irving Mills
Irving Mills, born Isadore Minsky on January 16, 1894, in Odessa, Russian Empire (now Ukraine), was a prominent music publisher, musician, lyricist, and jazz promoter. He immigrated to the United States as a child and faced early hardships after the death of his father, Hyman Minsky, in 1905. Mills and his brother Jack worked various odd jobs to support their family. In 1919, the brothers founded Mills Music, Inc., which became a leading force in the music publishing industry.
Mills was instrumental in promoting jazz music and was known for his relentless drive to support black musicians and singers. He played a significant role in the careers of artists such as Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, and Benny Goodman. Mills was one of the first to record black and white musicians together and worked to book previously all-white auditoriums for black performers. He also provided a private Pullman car for the Ellington band to travel through the segregated southern states.
As a lyricist, Mills contributed to several of Ellington's famous tunes, including "Mood Indigo," "(In My) Solitude," and "Sophisticated Lady." He also co-wrote "It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)" with Ellington in 1929.
Irving Mills passed away on April 21, 1985, in Palm Springs, California, at the age of 91. His legacy in the world of jazz and music publishing remains significant, with the Mills Music catalog now managed by Sony Music Publishing.
App
