Mills Blue Rhythm Band Archives

If you are a Balboa dancer, then this tune is familiar to you. Maybe you don't be aware of the title or the artist but I'm sure you have heard it countless times on the dance floor.

It's «Swingin› In The Promised Land» by Edgar Hayes & His Orchestra.

Edgar Hayes

Edgar Junius Hayes (May 23, 1904 – June 28, 1979) was an African-American pianist, arranger and bandleader. He never became a major name but he worked steadily throughout his long career.

Hayes graduated with a music degree from Wilberforce University.

From 1931, he played and arranged for six years for the Mills Blue Rhythm Band, which was taken over by Lucky Millinder in the meantime.

During 1937-1941, Hayes led his own orchestra including sidemen such as Kenny Clarke among others. In the spring of1938, they toured through several countries of Europe and Asia.

An interesting fact is, that Hayes› band was the first to record Joe Garland's composition «In The Mood» on February 17, 1938 for Decca. This tune became a swing classic, when Glenn Miller recorded it more than a year later.

In the same session, Hayes recorded their most popular title «Stardust» which became a surprise hit.

He disbanded the orchestra and moved to California in 1942, where he formed a quartet called his «Stardusters» and played throughout the 1940s, then he performed mostly solo into the 1970s.

Swingin› In The Promised Land

Because of the tempo, it's also often used for Balboa competitions.

[easyazon-image align=»left» asin=»B001VJYIES» locale=»de» height=»160″ src=»https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512AjY3VsUL._SL160_.jpg» width=»160″]Title: [easyazon-link asin=»B001VJYIES» locale=»de»]Swingin› In The Promised Land[/easyazon-link]
Artist: Edgar Hayes & His Orchestra
Recorded: November 14, 1938
Album: [easyazon-link asin=»B001VK5MMO» locale=»de»]Complete Jazz Series 1937 – 1938[/easyazon-link]
Tempo: 233 bpm
Dance: Balboa

Click the link to download the song at
iTunes EU ･ ~~iTunes US~~ ･ [easyazon-link asin=»B001VJYIES» locale=»de»]Amazon DE[/easyazon-link] ･ ~~Amazon US~~ ･ [easyazon-link asin=»B001VDS0C0″ locale=»uk»]Amazon UK[/easyazon-link] ･ emusic

What do you think about this song? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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Every Monday, I post a new «Song of the Week«.
You can find the songs also on my Spotify playlist or on 8tracks.

It's time to write about the Mills Blue Rhythm Band.

The Harlem band was originally led by reedman Bingie Madison, later by drummer Willie Lynch.

They had a strong reputation and appeared under different names like the Blue Rhythm Band in 1930 or the Coconut Grove Orchestra.

When backing Louis Armstrong on some records, they even didn't have a name at all.

When Irving Mills, one of the leading booking agents in New York, became their manager in 1931, the group was renamed the Mills Blue Rhythm Band.

Baron Lee led the band after Lynch's departure in the same year until Lucky Millinder took over in 1934. Four years later, the group broke up and Millinder formed his own orchestra.

The big band recorded frequently during 1931-1937 and they did some really good recordings, but there is one problem, they never really could develop an individual style.

For this week I have chosen another Balboa tune, and why not having some rhythm in the title :-):

There's Rhythm in Harlem (by tenor saxophonist Joe Garland) which eventually emerged to In the Mood, a huge hit by Glenn Miller in 1939!

Title: There's Rhythm In Harlem
Artist: Mills Blue Rhythm Band
Recorded: 9.7.1935
Tempo: 210 bpm
Dance: Balboa

Click the link to download the song from: Amazon ･ iTunes

You can find the songs of the series also on my Spotify playlist. Official hashtag of the series: #djcsotw

Do you like the «Song of the Week» series? Share your thoughts below.

Mills Blue Rhythm Band

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #144: Swingin› In The Promised Land

Edgar Hayes

Swingin› In The Promised Land

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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #26: There’s Rhythm In Harlem

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