Joe Delaney remembers 1953: Mills Brothers at the Thunderbird

Friday, July 28, 2000 | 9:21 a.m.

The Mills Brothers, one of the premier singing groups for more than four decades, were sub-billed as "Four Boys and a Guitar." The fourth member was actually the father of the trio, who simulated a bass with his voice. Other brothers imitated trumpets and trombones with their voices. "Paper Doll" was their first of many million-selling records.

They also got their blend using just one microphone, with no monitors. Arren and Broderick, "Opera In The Ruff," never played here again. The Kathryn Duffy Dansations and "singing emcee" Barney Rawlings made it a "mini-musical" presentation. Al Jahns and his orchestra backed the show at the Thunderbird.

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