Following a year’s worth of planning, creativity and artistry, a mural honoring a world-renown musical group who called Bellefontaine their home is set to be unveiled next week.
The Mills Brothers (John Jr, Herbert, Harry and Donald) were born in Piqua between 1910 and 1915, and began singing at their father’s barbershop, on street corners and in churches nearly 100 years ago.
Their family moved to Bellefontaine around 1928 and the brothers attended Hubbard School and Bellefontaine High School.
One year later, they signed a contract with CBS radio in New York in 1929, becoming first Black music group to have a national sponsorship.
To honor the Mills Brothers’ legacy and their groundbreaking work in the entertainment industry as they rose to the top of the charts during the early 20th century, LoCo Art with the combined efforts of Columbus artist Richard “Duarte” Brown and many talented Logan County student artist and teachers helped to create the six-panel mural. Their research culminated during the mural creation workshop this summer.
Friday, Aug. 5, the community is invited to join in the celebration at 6:30 p.m. at the mural site, 207 S. Main St., by Chillicothe Avenue, for the unveiling.
“It’s a very special way to remember and give thanks, as a grateful community, that these world-renowned entertainers, and one of the most successful singing groups of all times, once called Bellefontaine their home,” Mayor Ben Stahler said.
“Members of the Mills family will be present and several relatives are still living the Bellefontaine area.”
The unveiling coincides with the First Fridays Bellefontaine event, an Art & Wine Walk, from 5 to 9 p.m. in downtown Bellefontaine, presented by Six Hundred Downtown. The mural fits in with the art theme for the evening, as artists and food trucks will line the streets with interactive art opportunities for children and adults alike. (Ticketed opportunities are available for the Art & Wine Walk; the mural unveiling is free to the public).
LoCo Art co-director Jennifer Davis said the idea for the mural first began when a group of students in Melanie Antram Ingraham’s art class at Bellefontaine High School discussed people in the Logan County area deserving of recognition. Then in the fall of 2021, youths in grades 7-12 from each of the area schools met at the Logan County History Center to study the Mills Brothers exhibit.
“It featured oodles and oodles of their vinyl record covers,” Davis said in a previous Examiner story. “They had so much color and vibrancy and fun. We developed the imagery based on that.”
Longtime LoCo Art collaborator Brown worked with students this spring and at the summer workshop, applying a narrative style in the mural. He said imagery in the mural tells the story of the songs that made the Mills Brothers famous, like “Yellow Bird,” “Glow-Worm,” and a number of “Tiny Bubbles” that float across the piece with music notes.
In 1931, The Mills Brothers recorded their first hit record, “Tiger Rag.” During the years that followed, the city natives hosted concerts on every continent, including a performance for King George and Queen Mary at the Palladium in London in 1934.
Scores of other famous works have included: “Paper Doll,” “Cab Driver,” “Til’ Then,” “You Always Hurt the One You Love,” “Opus One,” and “Daddy’s Little Girl,” “Lazy River,” and many more.
In 1936, brother John Jr. died of pneumonia at the family home in Bellefontaine and was buried in the Bellefontaine Cemetery, and their father, John Sr. replaced his son as bass in the quartet continuing to sing with the group until his retirement in the 1950s, after which the brothers continued as a trio.
During 2000, Bellefontaine named the amphitheater at Southview Park after the famous singing group and the Logan County Historical Society erected a historical marker in their honor, which is now located at Brown Park.
Youths involved with the mural expressed their enthusiasm in playing a role in the lasting tribute. Last fall during the session at the Logan County History Center, West Liberty-Salem High School senior Andrea Caldwell (now a WL-S graduate) said she was immediately interested upon learning about this effort.
“I love jazz music, and the Mills Brothers are one of my favorites,” said the art and music enthusiast. “I think for people in my generation, they might not know who the Mills Brothers are, but a project like this will help us to share about them and their music with younger people.”