11 Facts About Mrs Mills

Gladys Mills, known as Mrs Mills, was an English pianist who was active in the 1960s and 1970s, and who released many records.

Mrs Mills's repertoire included many sing-along and party tunes made popular in the music hall, generally in a stride piano technique, often in a tack piano style.

Mrs Mills's uncle Henry was a harpist and her mother was the main influence in developing her musical ability.

Mrs Mills married Gilbert Mills, who worked for London Transport, in February 1947 and they settled in Loughton, Essex, where she lived for most of her life.

Mrs Mills was spotted by a talent scout while playing piano with a semi-professional band called The Astorians, at a dance at the Woodford Golf Club in Essex.

Mrs Mills toured the UK throughout the 1960s, making several appearances on TV and radio.

Mrs Mills was a successful recording artist overseas in territories with large numbers of economic migrants from the UK, such as Australia, Canada and Hong Kong.

Mrs Mills's agent was Eric Easton, who later went on to manage The Dave Clark Five and The Rolling Stones, and then signed a recording contract with Parlophone.

Mrs Mills's oeuvre consisted of British and international standards, plus cover versions of contemporary hits.

Mrs Mills appeared on two episodes of The Morecambe and Wise Show in 1971 and 1974, where she performed a medley of favourites with the studio orchestra.

The name "The Mrs Mills Piano" was given to a vintage 1905 Steinway Vertegrand upright piano, frequently used by her at Abbey Road Studios in London, where she recorded.