bichos Posted March 29, 2010 Report Posted March 29, 2010 ex-boyd raeburn drummer jackie mills had passed away march 22, 2010. here is more info from his family via the west coast jazz list: "Dear all: Your friend, JACKIE MILLS had passed away at midnight, March 22, 2010 at home. He was 88 years old. He had lived a long, great life. Although he had been struggling and trying to keep balance between his jobs and the family, he was still a loving, caring and dedicated father. He always loved his children and grandchildren and was proud of each one of them. And he was also a wonderful husband. Jackie had a tremendous and very successful career. As a drummer, he started playing "club" jobs when he was 15 and joined his first "Big Band" group at 17. He was able to play with Charlie Barnet, Harry James, Tommy Dorsey, Dizzie Gillespie and many others. He was fortunate enough to have been considered one of the "Top Ten" drummers during the era of the "Big Bands", Jazz and "Bebop". (You can click "Jackie Mills, Google, YouTube, Ask, Big Bands, Jazz Drums, Choreo......" to find out more.) Later on, he had got opportunities to work and be friends with such greats as: Fred Astaire, Marilyn Monroe, Gregory Peck, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Jack Cole......etc. Then he started to work in production at Columbia, MGM, Mainstream, Capital, Liberty Records and established his own recording business "Larrabee Sound Studio" as well. As we all know, Jack was born with great personality and a strong sense of humor. He had a big heart, always ready to help others. He also had a "big mouth" and liked to introduce new stuff, such as new restaurant, movie, travel spot, technology program for the computer......to people and often put some "exaggeration" on top of it. He was a warm, friendly and happy guy with a broad open mind and positive attitude and liked to read, learn, travel and do things. That's the reason so many people love him and will continue to remember him not only as a fantastic "Big Band" drummer and musician , but also as a caring father, devoted husband and a good person. That's the other reason that we are going to celebrate his life in a very happy way which he always hoped and wanted. We will announce the detail (the date, time and location......) about the funeral and the service, and we will keep all his friends informed ahead of time. Love, The Mills' Family " keep boppin´ marcel Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted March 29, 2010 Report Posted March 29, 2010 Two good 'uns in one day! Damn me! Mention should be made of Jimmy McGriff's classic "I got a woman", on which he played drums. Also Freddie Roach's "Soul book". RIP Jackie. MG Quote
Niko Posted March 29, 2010 Report Posted March 29, 2010 RIP and a mention of those Dodo Marmarosa/Lucky Thompson Quartets with Mills Quote
flat5 Posted March 29, 2010 Report Posted March 29, 2010 He played good drums on some jam session concerts that appeared on Crown Records in the early 1960s. I enjoyed those. Quote
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