Songwriter, Impresario. He was born in Madras in India, where his father was serving with the British Army, but, soon after his birth, they returned to Tonypandy, in South Wales. His mother, Lorna, taught her only child to play the harmonica and, at the age of fifteen, he began playing in the local clubs. Two years later, he was called up for National Service, in which he served in Germany and Malaya. On his return, he formed a band called the Viscounts, who reached No. 21 in the U.K. charts with a cover of Barry Mann's "Who Put the Bomp." At about this time, Mills married a lady named Jo Waring, and wrote several hit songs, notably "I'll Never Get Over You" for Johnny Kidd and the Pirates, and "I'm the Lonely One" for Cliff Richard. His best-known composition, however, was "It's Not Unusual", which he co-wrote with Les Reed and which, with Jimmy Page on guitar, was the first hit for Tom Jones, reaching No. 1 in the U.K. and No. 10 in the U.S. He is, however, best remembered as being the founder of MAM Records (the initials stood for Management Agency and Music) and for being the manager of Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck and Gilbert O'Sullivan. Indeed, it was he who thought of the stage names for all three singers, who had begun life as Thomas Jones Woodward, Arnold George Dorsey, and Raymond Edward O'Sullivan. Mills died of stomach cancer at an early age, but his son, also named Gordon, has followed him into the music business, as a producer, songwriter, and session musician.
Songwriter, Impresario. He was born in Madras in India, where his father was serving with the British Army, but, soon after his birth, they returned to Tonypandy, in South Wales. His mother, Lorna, taught her only child to play the harmonica and, at the age of fifteen, he began playing in the local clubs. Two years later, he was called up for National Service, in which he served in Germany and Malaya. On his return, he formed a band called the Viscounts, who reached No. 21 in the U.K. charts with a cover of Barry Mann's "Who Put the Bomp." At about this time, Mills married a lady named Jo Waring, and wrote several hit songs, notably "I'll Never Get Over You" for Johnny Kidd and the Pirates, and "I'm the Lonely One" for Cliff Richard. His best-known composition, however, was "It's Not Unusual", which he co-wrote with Les Reed and which, with Jimmy Page on guitar, was the first hit for Tom Jones, reaching No. 1 in the U.K. and No. 10 in the U.S. He is, however, best remembered as being the founder of MAM Records (the initials stood for Management Agency and Music) and for being the manager of Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck and Gilbert O'Sullivan. Indeed, it was he who thought of the stage names for all three singers, who had begun life as Thomas Jones Woodward, Arnold George Dorsey, and Raymond Edward O'Sullivan. Mills died of stomach cancer at an early age, but his son, also named Gordon, has followed him into the music business, as a producer, songwriter, and session musician.
Bio by: Iain MacFarlaine
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