The Mills Brothers

The Ohio-born Mills Brothers were a vocal quartet with roots going back to early jazz and barbershop harmony, but their innovative style, which initially utilized vocal approximations of instrumental sounds, was one of the key influences on '50s doo-wop. Harry, Donald, Herbert, and John Mills started performing in the '20s, accompanied only by a guitar, as they used their voices to imitate saxophone, trumpet, bass, et al. Their intricate harmonies and unique approach scored them hit after hit in the '30s and '40s, as well as roles in numerous movie musicals. In the '50s, they switched to a more conventional band-backed format and the huge hits ("Glow Worm," "Opus One," "Smack Dab in the Middle") continued. Various versions of the group continued performing into the '80s, until Donald became the only surviving member (he died in 1999).