Editing Lucky Millinder (section)

==Early career==
Millinder was born '''Lucius Venables'''<ref name="bare"/> in [[Anniston, Alabama]], United States.<ref name="LarkinJazz">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-580-8|page=283/4}}</ref> He took the surname Millinder as a child,<ref name="bare"/> and was raised in [[Chicago]].<ref name="LarkinJazz"/> In the 1920s, he worked in clubs, ballrooms, and theatres in Chicago as a master of ceremonies and dancer. He first fronted a band in 1931 for an [[RKO]] theater tour, and in 1932 took over the leadership of Doc Crawford's orchestra in [[Harlem]]. He also freelanced elsewhere.{{cn|date=January 2024}}

In 1933, he took a band to Europe, playing residencies in [[Monte Carlo]] and [[Paris]].<ref name="LarkinJazz"/> He returned to New York to take over the leadership of the [[Mills Blue Rhythm Band]] in 1934, which included [[Henry "Red" Allen]], [[Charlie Shavers]], [[Harry "Sweets" Edison]] and [[J. C. Higginbotham]], and which had a regular slot at [[Cotton Club (New York City)|The Cotton Club]].<ref name="LarkinJazz"/>