DeJuan Mills, an American drummer with a master's degree in jazz studies from the University of North Texas and a bachelor's degree in music with a focus on jazz and commercial music from Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Florida, was born in Merrillville, Indiana, but grew up in Hayward, California, and Jacksonville, Florida. DeJuan Mills has a wide range of musical experience, including gospel, r&b, pop, funk, jazz, Latin, and many more genres. Milton Biggham, Franky Beverly & Maze, Baby Face Evans, Keith Sweat, Marvin Sapp, George Clinton, William Murphy, Jonathan Nelson, Patti LaBelle, Ledisi, Pieces of a Dream, Tasha Page Lockhart, Bell Biv and DeVoe, and Jaheim were among the artists DeJuan Mills has opened for.
When he was three years old, he started drumming on his mother's pots and pans. DeJuan Mills' love for the drums grew as he played for his father's church in Oakland, California, throughout the years. DeJuan Mills continued to play for his father's church but also started playing for his high school in Hayward, California, where he performed for the marching band, the wind ensemble, and the jazz band. DeJuan Mills received the Louie Armstrong Jazz Award and the Most Inspirational Musician award for his musical talent. DeJuan Mills has worked as a teacher in Jacksonville, Florida, at Music Time, First Coast High School, Inglewood High School, and Jacksonville School of Music. He has also taught at the Yamaha School of Music in Plano, Texas.
DeJuan Mills has degrees in jazz, but he credits numerous drummers for shaping his sound and artistic approach. These drummers include Calvin Rodgers, George "Spanky" McCurdy, Brian Blade, Elvin Jones, Dennis Chambers, Max Roach, and Louie Bellson.