The Mills Brothers

USA, 1928–1982

American vocal quartet from Ohio, recording from 1931. They imitated trumpet, trombone and bass with their voices, and their close-harmony style was a model for later doo-wop and rhythm and blues groups.

MusicRoots documents 0 artists who influenced The Mills Brothers and 3 artists The Mills Brothers influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Which artists did The Mills Brothers influence?

• The Ink Spots — The Ink Spots followed the close-harmony, instrument-imitating vocal style the Mills Brothers pioneered, refining it into the ballad sound that fed doo-wop.
• The Drifters — The Mills Brothers' close-harmony blend was part of the vocal-group heritage feeding the Drifters.
• The Platters — The Mills Brothers' polished harmony blend was the other pole of the vocal-group tradition Buck Ram steered the Platters toward.