Kerry Mills


Kerry Mills '', publishing also as F.A. Mills, was an American ragtime composer and music publishing executive of popular music during the Tin Pan Alley era. His stylistically diverse music ranged from ragtime through cakewalk to marches. He was most prolific between 1895 and 1918.

Career

Mills trained as a violinist and was head of the Violin Department of the University of Michigan School of Music when he began composing. He moved to New York City in 1895 and started a music publishing firm, F. A. Mills Music Publisher, publishing his own work and that of others. The company went bankrupt in 1915 and was acquired by Maurice Richmond, who sold on many of the songs.

Selected works

  • "Impecunious Davis"
  • "In The City Of Sighs And Tears"
  • "Just For The Sake Of Society"
  • "Let's All Go Up To Maud's"
  • "The Longest Way 'Round Is The Sweetest Way Home"
  • "Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis"
  • 1895 : Rastus on Parade - Characteristic Two Step March for Piano
  • 1895 : Shandon Bells - Two Step March
  • 1896 : Happy Days in Dixie - Characteristic March
  • 1897 : At A Georgia Camp Meeting - A Characteristic March listen to:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLR2ZI0evgs
  • 1899 : Whistling Rufus - Characteristic Two Step March, Polka & Cakewalk
  • 1899 : Impecunious Davis - A Characteristic March
  • 1900 or before: Cake-Walk
  • 1900 : Kerry Mills Medley - Themes from Previous Cake Walk and Songs
  • 1902 : Harmony Moze - Characteristic Two Step
  • 1902 : A Brand Plucked from the Burning
  • 1902 : I Know She Waits for Me
  • 1903 : Valse Hèléne
  • 1903 : Petite Causerie - A Quiet Chat
  • 1903 : Valse Primrose - Les Primevères
  • 1903 : 'Leven Forty-Five From The Hotel - Two Step March
  • 1903 : Me and Me Banjo - Characteristic Piece
  • 1903 : Petite Causerie
  • 1903 : Valse Helene
  • 1903 : L'amour Aux Bois
  • 1903 : Valse Primrose
  • 1903 : Like A Star That Falls From Heaven
  • 1904 : We'll Be Together When the Clouds Roll By
  • 1906 : Old Heidelberg: - Characteristic Two Step March
  • 1906 : While The Old Mill Wheel Is Turning
  • 1907 : Red Wing" - An Indian Intermezzo. Mills adapted the melody from Schumann's "The Happy Farmer"
  • 1908 : Kerry Mills Barn Dance
  • 1908 : Sun Bird - Intermezzo
  • 1908 : Hallie
  • 1908 : Sweet Sixteens - March
  • 1908 : Any Old Port in a Storm
  • 1908 : If You Were Mine
  • 1909 : Comical Eyes
  • 1909 : Kerry Mills Rag Time Dance
  • 1909 : A Georgia Barn Dance
  • 1909 : The Scarf Dancer - A Novelty Two Step
  • 1909 : Lily of the Prairie - Two Step Intermezzo
  • 1909 : Sicilian Chimes - Reverie
  • 1909 : Kerry Mills Potpourri
  • 1909 : Don't Be an Old Maid, Molly
  • 1909 : Where Were You Last Night?
  • 1909 : "A Georgia Barn Dance"
  • 1910 : That Fascinating Ragtime Glide
  • 1910 : Valley Flower - Intermezzo
  • 1910 : Kerry Mills Palmetto Slide
  • 1910 : The Wyoming Prance - A Rag Time Two Step
  • 1910 : I've Lost My Nannie
  • 1911 : You've Got the Wrong Number, But You've Got the Right Girl
  • 1914 : Kerry Mills Turkey Trot
  • 1914 : Kerry Mills Fox Trot
  • 1918 : Snooky Hollow - Intermezzo
  • 1919 : Tokio - Fox Trot on Chorus from Geisha Girl