Mills, Verlye
Biographical History
Verlye Mills (1911-1983) was a classical and rhythmic harpist, known for her extraordinary talents of improvisation and arranging.
Veryle Mills was born December 16, 1911 in Kansas. At age twelve, Mills was a featured concerto soloist with the Chicago Symphony. By the mid-1930s she was a harpist for the Cleveland Orchestra as well as heading her own dance band Verlye Mills and Her Boyfriends.
In New York, Mills took on the radio, at one point appearing in four different radio programs, as well as being a highlighted soloist with radio and television orchestras including Show Boat and Hit Parade. In the 1950s, Mills moved to the Los Angeles area, where she became known as one of the top studio harpists of her day, playing for eleven years on the Carol Burnett Show.
Mills died October 2, 1983.
Citation:
American Harp Journal, Summer 1981: p. 42 (considered top studio harpist in LA; harpist for Cleveland Orchestra; headed her own dance band) p. 43 (appeared on four different radio programs and soloed with radio and television orchestras in New York like Show Boat; moved to Los Angeles; played eleven years on the Carol Burnett Show; concerto soloist at age twelve with Chicago Symphony)Variety, October 26, 1983: p. 404 (played for Hit Parade)