IRVING MILLS AND HIS HOTSY TOTSY GANG

Biography

Irving Mills and His Hotsy Totsy Gang was a studio jazz ensemble formed in the late 1920s by Irving Mills, a prominent American music publisher, lyricist, and band manager. Mills, originally from Odessa, Ukraine, immigrated to the United States and became a key figure in the New York music scene, co-founding Mills Music with his brother Jack, which grew to be one of the largest independent music publishers worldwide[4]. Mills was not a musician himself, though he occasionally sang; instead, he was known for his business acumen and his ability to assemble top-tier jazz talent for recording sessions.

The Hotsy Totsy Gang was active primarily between 1928 and 1930, bringing together some of the era's finest white jazz musicians, including Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey, Joe Venuti, Eddie Lang, Arnold Brillhardt, Arthur Schutt, and Manny Klein[1][4]. The group was not a regular performing band but rather a 'recording-only' ensemble, with Mills acting as arranger, producer, and sometimes vocalist. Their recordings, which ranged from hot jazz to lively dance music, were noted for their energetic performances and innovative arrangements, often described as 'so hot that the music should be written on sheets of asbestos'[3][4].

Irving Mills' legacy extends beyond the Hotsy Totsy Gang; he managed and promoted major jazz acts such as Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, and the Mills Blue Rhythm Band, and was instrumental in the early commercial success of these artists. The Hotsy Totsy Gang's sessions are remembered for their star-studded lineups and their contribution to the development of big band and ragtime jazz, influencing both contemporaries and future generations of musicians[3][5].

Fun Facts

• Irving Mills sometimes used the pseudonyms Goody Goodwin and Joe Primrose for his songwriting and publishing activities[4].
• The Hotsy Totsy Gang was a 'recording-only' band, assembled by Mills for studio sessions rather than live performances[6].
• Mills opened the Hotsy Totsy Club in New York, named after his recording group[2].
• Some Hotsy Totsy Gang recordings featured future jazz legends like Bix Beiderbecke, Gene Krupa, and Hoagy Carmichael[5].

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Leo Feist - Mills worked for Feist's publishing company early in his career, learning the music business. (Publishing experience, 1918) [1918]

Key Collaborators

• Tommy Dorsey - Trombonist and band member in Hotsy Totsy Gang sessions. (Hotsy Totsy Gang recordings (1928-1930)) [1928-1930]
• Jimmy Dorsey - Clarinetist and saxophonist in Hotsy Totsy Gang. (Hotsy Totsy Gang recordings (1928-1930)) [1928-1930]
• Joe Venuti - Violinist featured in Hotsy Totsy Gang. (Hotsy Totsy Gang recordings (1928-1930)) [1928-1930]
• Eddie Lang - Guitarist in Hotsy Totsy Gang. (Hotsy Totsy Gang recordings (1928-1930)) [1928-1930]
• Hoagy Carmichael - Guest vocalist and pianist on select recordings. ("Harvey" and other tracks) [1929-1930]
• Gene Krupa - Drummer on select sessions. (Hotsy Totsy Gang recordings) [1929-1930]
• Jack Teagarden - Trombonist on select sessions. (Hotsy Totsy Gang recordings) [1929-1930]

Artists Influenced

• Duke Ellington - Mills managed Ellington and helped launch his commercial success. (Duke Ellington Orchestra (1926-1939)) [1926-1939]
• Cab Calloway - Mills managed Calloway and co-wrote 'Minnie the Moocher.' ("Minnie the Moocher") [1930s]
• Mills Blue Rhythm Band - Formed and managed by Mills as a Cotton Club relief band. (Various recordings) [1930s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Deep Harlem (Irving Mills & His Hotsy Totsy Gang Vol. 2: 1929-'31)
2. Crazy About My Gal (Irving Mills & His Hotsy Totsy Gang Vol. 2: 1929-'31)
3. March of the Hoodlums (Irving Mills & His Hotsy Totsy Gang Vol. 2: 1929-'31)
4. What Kinda Man Is You (Irving Mills & His Hotsy Totsy Gang Vol. 2: 1929-'31)
5. St. James Infirmary (Irving Mills & His Hotsy Totsy Gang Vol. 2: 1929-'31)
6. Strut, Miss Lizzie (Irving Mills & His Hotsy Totsy Gang Vol. 2: 1929-'31)
7. Barbaric (Irving Mills & His Hotsy Totsy Gang Vol. 2: 1929-'31)
8. Railroad Man (Irving Mills & His Hotsy Totsy Gang Vol. 2: 1929-'31)
9. At the Prom (Irving Mills & His Hotsy Totsy Gang Vol. 1: 1928-'29)
10. So Sweet (Irving Mills & His Hotsy Totsy Gang Vol. 2: 1929-'31)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia