One-Hit Wonder: Millie Small

She was the youngest of seven brother and five sisters, moved from Jamaica to England to make her dreams come true at 16 -- Millie Small, according to spectropop.com.

Millie Small was 12 when she won a talent contest in Kingston, Jamaica, and at 13 made her first record. In three years, she was a recording artist but unknown elsewhere.

In 1963, record producer and distributor Chris Blackwell, trying to promote Ska - (Blue Beat) a dance from his native country, in London returns to Jamaica, discovers Small, who is 16, becomes her legal guardian and manager and without press brought her to London. She went to school for speech training and to study dance. Small also was introduced to many new foods and new clothes.

Small signed with a label and her first single did not do well. In 1964, her second single -- "My Boy Lollipop" -- topped the charts at No. 2 in the UK and U.S. while selling more than a half-million records. Small made appearances on radio, TV shows and concert halls. She did make mention her dreams were to sing jazz.

Next stop was the United States. It was a much bigger welcome. Murray the K, top DJ in New York, presented her with a huge lollipop. The crowd was held back by more than 30 policemen. Small made many more appearances for radio, TV and press.

Small returned to Jamaica to a welcome reserved for royalty, including a police escort and greeting by the governor of Jamaica. She then made her way back to the New York World's Fair for Millie Small Day on Aug. 12. She then traveled to Ireland and to England only to return to the U.S.

From the website npg.org, Small did some acting for TV movies and specials. She now keeps a low profile in London.