Lucky Millinder was an American swing and rhythm and blues bandleader born in
1910 in Anniston, Alabama. Born Lucius Venable, he was raised in Chicago and
began his career as a dancer and master of ceremonies. In 1934, he became the
leader of the Mills Blue Rhythm Band. By 1940, he established his own orchestra,
which included the pianist Bill Doggett and drummer Panama Francis. The ensemble
achieved national recognition with the song "When the Lights Go On Again (All
Over the World)", which reached Number 1 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1942. In
1944, Millinder recruited the sin...