Dot Records was an American record label and company that was active between 1950 and 1977. It was founded by Randy Wood. In Gallatin, Tennessee, Wood had earlier started a mail order record shop, known for its radio ads on WLAC in Nashville and its R&B (later black gospel) air personality Bill "Hoss" Allen. The label was known to hire artists to record remakes of their previous hits.

History[link]

The early years[link]

The original headquarters of Dot Records were in Gallatin, Tennessee, in fact many of the older recording were recorded in radio station WHIN, which Wood owned at the time. WHIN was a daytime only radio station so recording sessions were held at night when the station was off the air.^[1] In 1956, the company moved to Hollywood, California.

In its early years, the label specialized in artists from around Tennessee. Then it branched out to include musicians and singers from across the United States. It recorded a variety of country music, rhythm & blues, polkas & waltzes, gospel music, rockabilly, pop music, and early rock & roll. After the move to Hollywood, Dot Records bought up many recordings by small local independent labels and issued them nationally.

Paramount ownership[link]

In 1957, Wood sold ownership of the label to Paramount Pictures, but he remained the president of the company for another decade. Dot Records then began to release soundtrack albums, including Elmer Bernstein's score for The Ten Commandments (1956),^[2] a 2-LP set that played longer than the usual record album.

In 1958, Dot Records started a subsidiary label, Hamilton Records, for rockabilly and rhythm & blues. They distributed Jeff Barry's Steed Records and also distributed the only record from Carnival Records. In addition, Dot Records created two other subsidiary labels: Crystalette and Acta. In 1967, Dot Records picked up distribution of Bob Crewe's DynoVoice label from Bell Records. In 1967, Randy Wood left to co-found the Ranwood Records label with Lawrence Welk.

Pat Boone recorded his most popular songs for the label. Both Boone's albums and singles were very successful. Dot recordings were distributed in the United Kingdom on the London label.

Eddie Fisher recorded some of his later albums for the label. Eddie Fisher Today was the most popular and included popular standards of the day, but he did not have a substantial hit single in his time with them.

Later years[link]

In 1968, two years after Paramount was purchased by Gulf and Western, the Dot Records label was rebranded as a country music label under the umbrella of Famous Music Group. This included the Paramount, Stax (until 1970) and Blue Thumb labels, along with distribution of Sire Records (now owned by Warner Music Group) and Melanie Safka's Neighborhood Records (which later moved to Arista Records). By 1968, Lawrence Welk had acquired his Dot catalog which was reissued on his Ranwood Records label.^[3]

In 1974, the label (along with the rest of the Famous Music Group) was bought by ABC Records (which ironically had tried to purchase Dot years before) and discontinued the label at the start of 1978.^[4] The ABC/Dot headquarters became the Nashville office of ABC Records, a division of the American Broadcasting Company, which coincidentally had been bought by Paramount's old theater chain in 1953 (which helped the network catch up to its rivals CBS and NBC), and had started a good relationship with Paramount's TV division (wherein Paramount produced a number of hit series on ABC).

ABC Records was sold to MCA Records in 1979. The Dot/Paramount catalog is now owned by Universal Music Group, with Geffen Records (which absorbed MCA Records, and was founded by David Geffen, who become a co-founder of Paramount's one-time sister studio DreamWorks) managing the pop/rock back catalog, and MCA Nashville Records managing the country back catalog.

Family members report that Randy Wood died in La Jolla, California on April 9, 2011 after a fall in his home at age 94.

Dot Records artists[link]

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

See also[link]

Music portal

• List of record labels
• Dot Records artists

References[link]

External links[link]

• The Dot Records Story
• Singles discography
• Velva Darnell Electronics
• Billy Vaughn & Dot recording stars (interviewed 2.22.1968)^[8] on the Pop Chronicles (audio).

Notes[link]

Robin Luke (born 20 March 1942, Los Angeles, California) is an American rockabilly singer who is best known for his 1958 song, "Susie Darlin". He has been enshrined in the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.^[1]

Biography[link]

Robin Luke was discovered by Hawaii entrepreneur Kimo Wilder McVay. Luke was living in Honolulu, Hawaii, attending Punahou School, in 1958 when he wrote and recorded a Billboard #5 hit, "Susie Darlin," a song named after his then five-year-old sister, Susie.^[2] The track also reached #23 in the UK Singles Chart.^[3] The record sold over one million copies, earning a gold disc.^[2] He continued to record, but was unable to repeat his Top 10 success. His first four singles were recorded for the small International label in Honolulu. After "Susie Darlin'" started getting local airplay, Dot Records bought his recording contract and the International master tapes.

Dr. Robin Luke holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration and Marketing from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. He is currently a professor and head of the Marketing Department at Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri.^[4]

Discography[link]

Singles[link]

• "Susie Darlin'" b/w "Living's Loving You" (International 206, 1957 & Dot 15781, 1958)
• "Hound Dog" b/w (International 206, 1958 & Dot 15781, 1958)
• "My Girl" b/w "Chicka Chicka Honey" (International 208, 1957 & Dot 15839,1958)
• "You Can't Stop Me From Dreaming" b/w ""Strollin' Blues" (International 210, 1957 & Dot 15899, 1959)
• "Five Minutes More" b/w "Won't You Please Me Mine?" (International 212, 1958 & Dot 15959, 1959)
• "Make Me A Dreamer" b/w "Walkin' In The Moonlight" (Dot 16001, 1959)
• "Bad Boy" b/w "School Bus Love Affair" (Dot 16040, 1960)
• "Everlovin'" b/w "Well Oh, Well Oh" (Dot 16096, 1960)
• "Part Of A Fool" b/w "Poor Little Rich Boy" (Dot 16229,1961)
• "My Pink Velvet Shoes" b/w(International 212, 1959 & Dot 15959, 1959)
• "Foggin' Up The Windows with my guy" b/w "Wound Time" (Dot 16366, 1962)

Albums[link]

• Susie Darlin' (Dot 1092, 1958)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Rockabillyhall.com
• Answers
• RCS.law.emory.edu

This article relies on references to primary sources or sources affiliated with the subject, rather than references from independent authors and third-party publications. Please add citations from reliable sources. (November 2007)

The Mills Brothers
Background information
Origin	Piqua, Ohio, United States
Genres	Jazz, Traditional Pop
Years active	1928–1982
Labels	Brunswick, Decca, Dot
Website	The Mills Brothers official site
Past members
John Mills Jr. Herbert Mills Harry Mills Donald Mills John Mills Sr.

The Mills Brothers, sometimes billed as The Four Mills Brothers, were an American jazz and pop vocal quartet of the 20th century who made more than 2,000 recordings that combined sold more than 50 million copies, and garnered at least three dozen gold records. The Mills Brothers were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998.

Early years[link]

The group was originally composed of four brothers born in Piqua, Ohio, 25 miles (40 km) north of Dayton: John Jr. (October 19, 1910^[1] - January 23, 1936) bass vocalist and guitarist, Herbert (April 2, 1912 - April 12, 1989) tenor, Harry (August 9, 1913 - June 28, 1982) baritone, and Donald (April 29, 1915 - November 13, 1999) lead tenor. Their parents were John Hutchinson (February 11, 1882 – December 8, 1967) and Eathel Mills. John Sr. owned a barber shop and founded a barbershop quartet, called the '"Four Kings of Harmony"'. John Hutchinson Mills senior was the son of William Hutchinson Mills and Cecilia Simms who lived in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.^[2]

As the boys grew older, they began singing in the choir of the Cyrene African Methodist Episcopal Church and in the Park Avenue Baptist Church in Piqua. After their lessons at the Spring Street Grammar School, they would gather in front of their father's barbershop on Public Square or at the corner of Greene and Main to sing and play the kazoo to passersby.

They entered an amateur contest at Piqua's Mays Opera House, but while on stage, Harry discovered he had lost his kazoo. He cupped his hands to his mouth and imitated a trumpet. The success of his imitation led to all the brothers taking on instruments to imitate and created their early signature sound. John Jr. accompanied the four-part harmony first with a ukulele and then a guitar. They practiced imitating orchestras they heard on the radio. John, as the bass, would imitate the tuba. Harry, a baritone, imitated the trumpet, Herbert became the second trumpet and Donald the trombone. They entertained on the Midwest theater circuit, at house parties, tent shows, music halls and supper clubs throughout the area and became well known for their close harmonies, mastery of scat singing, and their ability to imitate musical instruments with their voices.

Rise to stardom[link]

In 1928, after playing May's Opera House in Piqua between Rin Tin Tin features, the brothers accompanied the Harold Greenameyer Band to Cincinnati for an audition with radio station WLW. The band was not hired, but the Mills brothers were. With the help of Seger Ellis, WLW Cincinnati DJ and a music legend of the '20s, they quickly became local radio stars and got their major break when Duke Ellington and his Orchestra played a date in Cincinnati. When the youngsters sang for Duke, he called Tommy Rockwell at Okeh Records, who signed them and brought the group to New York.

In September 1930, Ralph Wonders urged broadcasting executive William S. Paley, at CBS Radio in New York, to turn on his office speaker and listen to an audition of four young men. For the audition they were "The Mills Brothers," but they had been known by many other names. They were billed as "The Steamboat Four" when they sang for Sohio. They had been called the "Four Boys and a Guitar" on their Sunday shows. When Paley heard their performance, he immediately went downstairs and put them on the air. The next day, the Mills Brothers signed a three-year contract and became the first African-Americans to have a network show on radio.

Their first recording for Brunswick Records, a cover of the Original Dixieland Jass Band standard "Tiger Rag" became a nationwide best-seller and a no. 1 hit on the charts in a version with lyrics by Harry DaCosta. Other hits followed -- "Goodbye Blues," their theme song, "Nobody's Sweetheart," "Ole Rockin' Chair," "Lazy River," "How'm I Doin'," and others. They remained on Brunswick until late 1934, when they signed with Decca, where they stayed well into the 1950s. On all of their Brunswick records, as well as the early Decca's, the label stated:

No musical instruments or mechanical devices used on this recording other than one guitar

They were a hit on CBS in 1930-1931, particularly when they co-starred on the widely popular The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour hosted by Rudy Vallee. They had their own popular radio series in 1932-1933, one of the earliest built around a black act, billed as the "Four Boys and a Guitar." Before their show announcers commonly explained to listeners that the only instrument was a guitar, as the vocal effects made many listeners think they were hearing a muted trumpet, saxophone, and string bass.

The Mills Brothers were sponsored by some of the largest advertisers in early radio; Standard Oil, Procter & Gamble, Crisco, and Crosley Radio. They began appearing in films. Their first, The Big Broadcast (Paramount Pictures, 1932) was an all-star radio revue that included Bing Crosby, Cab Calloway, and the Boswell Sisters. They also made three "bouncing ball" cartoon shorts for the Fleischer Brothers. In 1934, the Brothers starred with Crosby for Woodbury Soap, and recorded their classics "Lazy Bones," "Sweet Sue," "Lulu's Back in Town," "Bye-Bye Blackbird," "Sleepy Head," and "Shoe Shine Boy." Their film appearances included Twenty Million Sweethearts (Warner Brothers, 1934) and Broadway Gondolier, (Warner Brothers, 1935).

In 1934, The Mills Brothers became the first African-Americans to give a command performance before British royalty. They performed at the Regal Theatre for a special audience: King George V, Queen Mary, and their mother. While performing in England, John Jr. became ill. It took him months to recover from battling pneumonia. Before he was completely well, the brothers returned to England. John Jr. once again became sick and died in the beginning of 1936.

The remaining brothers considered breaking up, but their mother told them John Jr. would want them to continue. They followed her suggestion and their father, John Sr. replaced John Jr. as the baritone and tuba. At this time, Norman Brown joined the Brothers as their guitar player.

War years[link]

Through 1939 the group enjoyed remarkable success in Europe. Herbert recalls,

We left England for the last time just three days before war was declared on Germany and the only boat we could get was to Australia. We were overseas from then on except for two months in 1940 and then we went back to South America. We didn't get back until 1941. In the meantime the Ink Spots were coming up, and people had sort of forgotten us.

In the period between John Jr.'s death and their return to the States, they re-recorded "Lazy River." It was followed by "Someday You'll Want Me to Want You," "Swing Is the Thing," "Long About Midnight," "Organ Grinder's Swing," and "The Song is Ended." They honored Duke Ellington with a swing version of his "Caravan," and then produced a series of classic recordings; "South of the Border," which they performed in a tour of South America, along with "Ain't Misbehavin'," "It Don’t Mean a Thing," "Jeepers Creepers," "Three Little Fishies," and "Basin Street Blues."

During this era, there was also a brief time when the group performed with a non‑family singer. Gene Smith served as a stand-in for one year when Harry was drafted into the Army. Although Smith's solo singing did not particularly resemble the group's usual sound, he was able to harmonize well until the fourth brother's return. Smith is very noticeable in a number of the Mills Brothers' film appearances.

Returning to the States, the Brothers were anxious for a hit and recorded "I'll be Around" in 1943. Donald Mills chose "Paper Doll" as the B-side of the record. "I'll Be Around" became a popular hit, then a disk jockey turned the record over. "Paper Doll," recorded in fifteen minutes, sold six million copies and became the group's biggest hit.

Post-war years[link]

The rise of rock and roll in the early fifties did little to decrease the Mills Brothers popularity. "Glow Worm" jumped to number one on the pop charts in 1952. The track also peaked at #10 in the UK Singles Chart in January 1953.^[3] "Opus One," an updated version to the Tommy Dorsey hit, was soon on the charts as well, followed by "You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You," "The Jones Boy," "Yellow Bird," "Standing on the Corner," and "If I Had My Way."

In 1957, John Sr., who was 68, stopped touring with the group. As a trio, the Mills Brothers were frequent guests on The Jack Benny Show, The Perry Como Show, The Tonight Show, The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom, The Dean Martin Show and The Hollywood Palace. A move from Decca to Dot Records brought a moderate 1958 hit, a cover of the Silhouettes' "Get a Job" that made explicit the considerable influence on doo-wop that the early Mills Brothers records had exerted. The Mills Brothers also charted "Yellow Bird" two years prior to Arthur Lyman's Top Ten hit remake.

"Cab Driver," recorded in 1968, was their last great hit. (#23 pop, #3 easy listening) It was written by songwriter C. Carson Parks, who also penned "Somethin' Stupid," a hit the previous year for Frank Sinatra and his daughter Nancy.

Later years[link]

The Mills Brothers' fiftieth anniversary in show business was celebrated in 1976 with a tribute at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, hosted by Bing Crosby. At the time, Harry was now almost blind because of diabetes.

As a trio, Herbert, Harry and Donald continued performing on the oldies circuit until Harry's death in 1982. Herbert and Donald continued until Herbert's death in 1989. Then, Donald began performing with the third generation of the family – his son, John III. In 1998 the Recording Academy recognized the Mills family's contributions to popular music when it presented Donald, as the sole surviving member, with a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement.

After Donald's death of pneumonia on November 13, 1999, John III began touring under the name "The Mills Brothers" with Elmer Hopper, who had previously sung lead with Paul Robi's Platters.

Influence[link]

In the late 1960s, Dean Martin, asked his producer Greg Garrison to book the Mills Brothers on The Dean Martin Show, explaining that Harry Mills was his greatest musical influence.^[4] The Bee Gees have also cited the Mills Brothers as an early influence.

Discography[link]

Film appearances[link]

^[5][6][7]

References[link]

External links[link]

• The Mills Brothers official site
• 'The Mills Brothers' Vocal Group Hall of Fame Page
• The Mills Brothers Ohio Historical Marker
• The Mills Brothers at IMDB

Mz. Bratt
Mz. Bratt at the 2010 MOBO Awards
Background information
Birth name	Cleopatra Elizabeth Humphrey
Born	(1988-11-04) November 4, 1988 (age 23) Bow, Greater London, England
Origin	Hainault, Greater London, England
Genres	Grime, Electronic, UK funky
Occupations	Rapper, MC
Years active	2007–present
Labels	Atlantic Records/A-List Music
Associated acts	A-List, Wiley, Skepta, Chipmunk, Tinie Tempah, Ed Sheeran, Shola Ama, Sadie Ama, Dot Rotten, Griminal, Gracious K, Wizzy Wow, Roses Garbour, Bruza, Terrah Danjah, Jo Ci Elare
Website	brattonline.com

Cleopatra Humphrey (born November 4, 1988), better known by her stage name Mz. Bratt, is an English Grime recording artist.^[1]

History[link]

Humphrey was born in Bow, London. Later, she moved to Hainault and started producing her music. Her talent impressed the urban producer Terror Danjah who took her under their wing after hearing her at local MC battles and seeing her Myspace profile. Mz. Bratt was selected to be part of the T4 entertainment show the Musicool, in which she was the lead female, at one point reducing guest judge Jamelia to tears with her exceptional talent and vocal ability. Following this, Mz. Bratt embarked on a US and European tour with The Count & Sinden, which included shows at the Glastonbury Festival and at Bestival.

Music career[link]

Mz. Bratt's first single, "Who Do You Think You Are?", was released on All Around the World Productions on 27 July 2009, and received plays on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1Xtra. The second single, "I Like You", followed in November, and was also played by Radio 1Xtra.

In February 2010, Mz. Bratt joined a new collective group formed by Wiley called A-List.^[2]

She released her third single, "Selecta", in mid-2010, under A-List Music Ltd, produced by Redlight. She is expected to release her first album at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida, in February 2012 alongside the likes of Usher and Nicole Sherzinger.

Mz. Bratt has also appeared on remixes and records with other artists including Wiley, Taio Cruz, Sadie Ama, Dionne Bromfield and Jazmine Sullivan. A remix of Tinchy Stryder's "Game Over" was promoted online in November 2010 under the name "Female Takeover Remix", with the female MCs Ruff Diamondz, Envy, Lioness, Cherri V, Baby Blue, Adot, Lady Leshurr, RoXXXan and Mz. Bratt.

Mz. Bratt and Wiley also appeared in Fugative's song "Go Hard".

She recently^[when?] took part in the MOBO tour and supported Roll Deep on their tour. She is currently^[when?] supporting Bruno Mars on the UK leg of his tour.

Mz. Bratt supported Example (Musician) on his winter 2011 tour. Other support came from Fenech-Soler.

2012 and Upcoming Album[link]

Mz. Bratt started 2012 positively, dropping the official video for her upcoming single "Falling Down", on the 16 April 2012 on YouTube.^[4] The single is officially released on iTunes on the 6 May 2012.^[5] Bratt has confirmed that she is recording songs for her first studio album, but wont release the album until there's a demand for it and people want the album, and not just put it out for the sake of it.^[6] She has so far recorded about 50 tracks, but she only wants 5 tracks to be used on her album.^[7] She has also confirmed that she wants features on her songs, but only after she has recorded all of her songs.^[8] Mz Bratt has also stated in various interviews that she would love to work with Chris Martin from Coldplay,^[9] Labrinth^[10][11] and Wretch 32^[12] on her new album. The album is expected to be released towards the end of 2012, or early 2013.^[13]

Personal life[link]

Mz. Bratt's father was MC Scallywag from the early 1990s acid house sound system, Spiral Tribe.

Discography[link]

Mixtapes[link]

• 2007: Give It To Em, Vol. 1
• 2009: Give It To Em, Vol. 2
• 2011: Elements

Singles[link]

As featured artist[link]

Soundtrack appearances[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Mz. Bratt on Twitter

John Rivas is the creator of Bonzzo the comic strip.

Early years[link]

Rivas, born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, describes "Bonzzo" as a young likable adult facing life with a child's mentality. Rivas designed some special "Bonzzo" strips commemorating NASA's achievements, including "Beyond the Moon", a calendar of the year 2000 honoring Hispanic heritage.^[1]

NASA Bonzzo Award[link]

NASA also instated the Bonzzo Award, a pint-size Bonzzo statue that will be given annually to the individual who makes the biggest contribution to NASA's Hispanic program. On October 12, 2000, Charles H. Scales, the director of Equal Opportunity at NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center, was the first recipient of this award: the statue was signed by Marshall Center Director Art Stephenson, Puerto Rican Gov. Pedro Rosello and John Rivas.^[2]

NASA celebrated last year's "Hispanic Heritage Month" at the Kennedy Space Center with an exhibit of "Bonzzo" comic strips. A life-sized Bonzzo figure marched in the 2004 Puerto Rican Day Parade celebrated in New York City.^[2]

Later years[link]

There are no syndicates in the U.S. or Puerto Rico however, Bonzzoo used to appear daily in two of the four leading newspapers in Puerto Rico, El Mundo and El Vocero. While U.S. syndication is one of Rivas's immediate goals, he also hopes to create a "Bonzzo" theme park, "Bonzzolandia".^[1]

References[link]

See also[link]

Puerto Rico portal

• List of famous Puerto Ricans

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