AARON MILLS

Aaron Mills, known as “Electric Man,” made a significant impact on the funk group Cameo during his tenure with the band. His exceptional bass playing caught the attention of Cameo’s founder Larry Blackmon when the two shared a bill – Mills performing with New Central Connection Unlimited (N.C.C.U.) and Blackmon with Cameo. Impressed by Mills’ performance, Blackmon invited him to join Cameo as their bassist. Mills’ integration into the band was swift; he rehearsed for just four hours before playing his first gig with Cameo in Cleveland the very next day.

Mills’ energetic basslines became instrumental in establishing Cameo’s early sound, with the rhythm section of Mills on bass and Blackmon on drums becoming one of the band’s trademarks. His contributions were pivotal during Cameo’s rise to stardom, particularly on their breakthrough album “Word Up!” released in 1986. The title track became a major hit, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, while the follow-up single “Candy” topped the R&B charts in 1987. Mills’ dynamic performances and innovative bass work helped propel Cameo to platinum status and opened doors for collaborations with music legends like Miles Davis and Stevie Ray Vaughan.