Frank Mills to perform Sunday at Southminster

He started playing piano at age three. And today, 73 years later, Frank Mills still enjoys entertaining Canadians, coast to coast.

Mills returns to Lethbridge on Sunday for a 7 p.m. concert at Southminster United Church. And he’s bringing music from his latest album, “The Frank Mills Story,” released just weeks ago. It includes 16 of his self-written songs along with a new work, “Lest We Forget” in tribute to Canadians who served and died 100 years ago in the First World War.

In person, as fans know, Mills shares his memories, his humour and wisdom as well as his love of music. It’s “like spending an evening in Frank’s living room,” they say.

Among the selections, of course, will be Mills’ international hit, “Music Box Dancer.”

One of the stories related to that tune involves a record sent by accident to a “pop” radio station in Ottawa, instead of to an “easy listening” station in the city. A music director at the pop station liked the tune, added it to his playlist — and quickly learned that listeners enjoyed it as well.

The album soon “went gold” in Canada, then was released in the U.S. as well.

Next, a TV news producer in Nashville began using the song as “sign off” music at the end of his newscast. Radio stations picked it up, and before long it reached No. 3 on the “Billboard Hot 100.”

Here in Canada, the Montreal-born musician has won Juno Awards, been named “Composer of the Year” as well as “International Artist of the Year.”

He’s continued to write, record and perform — for nearly 50 years now — as well as touring with other well-loved performers. In 2010 and again in 2012 he joined Cape Breton vocal and TV performer Rita MacNeil for two Christmas concert tours.

And Mills continues meeting longtime fans as well as the next generation of musicians and music fans who have discovered one of Canada’s most travelled performers. Tickets are available from the Ticket Centre at

or by phone at 403-3297328. Follow @DMabellHerald on Twitter