Editing Wynonie Harris (section)

==With Lucky Millinder==
During the [[1942–44 musicians' strike]], Harris was unable to pursue a recording career, relying instead on personal appearances. Performing almost continuously, in late 1943 he appeared at the [[Rhumboogie Café|Rhumboogie Club]] in Chicago. He was spotted by [[Lucky Millinder]], who asked him to join his band on tour. Harris joined on March 24, 1944, when the band was in the middle of a week-long residency at the Regal in Chicago.

They moved on to New York City, where on April 7 Harris took the stage with Millinder's band for his debut at the [[Apollo Theatre]], in [[Harlem]]. It was during this performance that Harris first publicly performed "[[Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well]]" (a song recorded two years earlier by [[Doc Wheeler]]'s Sunset Orchestra).

After the band's stint at the Apollo, they moved on to their regular residency at the Savoy Ballroom, also in Harlem. Here, [[Preston Love]], Harris's childhood friend, joined Millinder's band, replacing the alto saxophonist [[Tab Smith]]. On May 26, 1944, Harris made his recording debut with Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra. Entering a recording studio for the first time, Harris sang on two of the five cuts recorded that day, "Hurry, Hurry" and "Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well", for [[Decca Records]]. The embargo on shellac during World War II had not yet been rescinded, and release of the record was delayed.

Harris's success and popularity grew as Millinder's band toured the country, but he and Millinder had a falling out over money, and in September 1945, while playing in [[San Antonio, Texas]], Harris quit the band. Three weeks later, upon hearing of Harris's separation from the band, a Houston promoter refused to allow Millinder's band to perform. Millinder called Harris and agreed to pay his asking price of one hundred dollars a night. The promoter reinstated the booking, but it was the final time Harris and Millinder worked together. [[Bull Moose Jackson]] replaced Harris as the vocalist in the band.

In April 1945, a year after the song was recorded, Decca released "Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well".<ref name="russell"/> It became the group's biggest hit, reaching [[List of number-one rhythm and blues hits (United States)|number one]] on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B]] chart on July 14 and staying there for [[R&B number-one hits of 1945 (USA)|eight weeks]]. The song remained on the charts for almost five months, also becoming popular with white audiences.<ref>"Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well" also reached number 7 on the U.S. [[Billboard Hot 100|pop chart]]</ref>

In California the success of the song opened doors for Harris. Since the contract with Decca was with Millinder, Harris was a free agent and could choose from the [[recording contract]]s with which he was presented.