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Millie Small (1947-2020)

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simonbkellyMay 8, 2020
 

 
A few days ago we lost another JAM contestant, Millicent Small.

Millie appeared on Episode 6, originally broadcast on Saturday, 27th January 1968 between 1.10 and 1.40 in the afternoon. The Radio Times synopsis for the episode reads:
"A panel game controlled (!) by NICHOLAS PARSONS in which MARJORIE PROOPS, DEREK NIMMO, CLEMENT FREUD, MILLIE try to talk for just a minute on this and that.
Devised by Ian Messiter.
Produced by David Hatch.
Pre-recorded at The Piccadilly, 201 Piccadilly, London, W1.
Nicholas Parsons is in 'Uproar in the House' at the Whitehall Theatre; Derek Nimmo in 'Charlie Girl' at the Adelphi Theatre, London."

Unfortunately, even though it had been pre-recorded, it was never repeated and wasn't included in the BBC Transcription Services selection of episodes sold to overseas broadcasters. No recording of it is currently known to exist, which is a real shame, as it also includes the only appearance on the show by agony aunt, Marjorie Proops.

Millie was discovered by Island Records boss, Chris Blackwell, who had formed the label specializing in ska music, while he was in Jamaica, in 1959. He brought Millie, aged just 15 at the time, over to London in early 1963. In February 1964, his label released her second single, a version of "My Boy Lollipop", which had been a minor hit in 1956 for 14-year old Barbie Gaye. Millie's version went on to become one of the biggest selling ska records of all time, selling over 7 million copies around the world.

Later that year she appeared in a television drama, "The Rise and Fall of Nellie Brown", broadcast live between 9.10 and 10.30pm on 28th December 1964. Thankfully, this was tele-recorded and preserved by the British Film Institute, who have since posted it online for free viewing:
https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-the-rise-and-fall-of-nellie-brown-1964-online

Millie is survived by her daughter, Jaelee, born in 1984.

Simon

 
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