Millie (born Millicent Dolly May Small, 6 October 1946, in Clarendon, Jamaica) — often known as “Little Millie Small” — is best known as the singer of the 1964 hit, “My Boy Lollipop”.

Millie was the daughter of a sugar plantation overseer. In her teens, she was part of a duo called “Roy and Millie” (with Roy Panton) and was recording for Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One record label. They had a minor local hit with “We’ll Meet.”

In late 1963 she was taken to London by Chris Blackwell to make her fourth recording, an Ernest Ranglin rearrangement of “My Boy Lollipop”, which had originally been recorded and released by white R&B singer Barbie Gaye in late 1956, becoming a minor hit in the New York area.

Released in March 1964, Small’s cover was a massive hit, reaching number two both in the UK Singles Chart and in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Including singles sales, album usage and compilation inclusions, the song has since sold more than seven million copies worldwide.

“Lollipop” turned Millie into an instant international star, performing with the Beatles on the Fab Four’s BBC-TV special. Then hosting her own TV special on Finnish National Television. She also performed on the British TV Show “Ready, Steady, Go” (These can be seen on YouTube.com), the ABC-TV Show “Shindig”, and had a starring role in a BBC-TV dramatic presentation.

“My Boy Lollipop” was doubly significant in British music. Millie was the first Jamaican artist to have a major hit in the U.K and the U.S. Her recording was the first major smash for Island Records (although it was actually released via Fontana Records because Blackwell did not want to overextend Island’s then-meager resources), and Millie was the first artist to have a hit that was recorded in the so-called “bluebeat” style. This was a “music genre” that had recently emerged from Jamaica, and came to be known as ska, is the direct ancestor of reggae.

There is a video of Millie’s live performance at the 1970 Wembley Reggae Festival on DailyMotion.com.

According to a 2006 article by the Jamaican Gleaner newspaper, Millie is planning a 2008 comeback with a new release, and has been writing songs and laying down some new tracks.

Discography

* “Don’t You Know” / “Until You’re Mine” - 1963
* “My Boy Lollipop” - 1964 - Combo Records
* “Sweet William” - 1964
* “I Love The Way You Love” / “Bring It On Home To Me” - 1964
* “I’ve Fallen In Love With A Snowman” / “What Am I Living For” - 1965
* “See You Later Alligator” / “Chilly Kisses” - 1965
* “My Street” / “It’s Too Late” - 1965
* “Bloodshot Eyes” / “Tongue Tied” - 1965
* “My Street” / “A Mixed Up Fickle Moody Self Centred, Spoiled Kind Of Boy” - 1966
* “Killer Joe” / “Carry Go Bring Come” - 1966
* “You Better Forget” / “I Am In Love” - 1967
* “Chicken Feed” / “Wings Of A Dove” - 1967
* “When I Dance With You” / “Hey Mr. Love” - 1968
* “Readin’ Writin’ Arithmetic” / “I Want You Never To Stop” - 1969
* “Time Will Tell” - 2004 - Trojan Records