George Millar (singer)
Encyclopedia
George Millar, is a singer/songwriter and guitarist with the Irish-Canadian music group The Irish Rovers
.
George was born in Ballymena
, County Antrim
, ca. 1947, the brother of Will Millar
and Sandra Beech
. As children, they performed as "The Millar Kids" in Ireland, before the family emigrated to Canada. After emigrating, George met Jimmy Ferguson
at an Irish function in Toronto in 1963, and they began playing as The Irish Rovers in Toronto. The following year George's cousin Joe Millar came to Canada, and was recruited into the band. After touring around Ontario, they joined Will in Calgary, where he was doing a children's TV show. They played at The Depression Coffee House in Calgary, and later headed to California where they made a name for themselves at the Purple Onion in San Francisco. They were later joined by Wilcil McDowell
.
George's voice is heard on several of their recordings, including "The Black Velvet Band
", "Lord of the Dance
", "No More Bread and Butter" and "Drunken Sailor
". More recently, he is heard on "The Lass With The Bonny Brown Hair", "Home To Bantry Bay", "The Dublin Pub Crawl", as well as the ballad, "And The Sun It Still Rises".
His waterfront home in Nanoose, British Columbia
, Canada, where he’s lived for 20 years, is also a source of inspiration for his songwriting, while producer, Rick Salt’s studio in downtown Nanaimo is the place to record the results. The recordings are sent to Ireland, where some members of the band live, before returning to Nanaimo to lay down the last bits of vocals. The last 10 or so albums were recorded in Nanaimo, including their latest Gracehill Fair
, which includes some old Irish songs, new compositions and the usual jigs and reels.
George Millar's numerous compositions include the title track from their latest album/cd, "Gracehill Fair
", as well as "The Girls of Derry", "The Dublin Pub Crawl", "Bells Over Belfast", "And The Sun It Still Rises", "No More Bread and Butter" and "Rambling Boys of Pleasure".
The Irish Rovers
The Irish Rovers is a Canadian Irish folk group created in 1963 and named after the traditional song "The Irish Rover". The group is best known for their international television series, and renditions of traditional Irish drinking songs, as well as early hits, Shel Silverstein's "The Unicorn",...
.
George was born in Ballymena
Ballymena
Ballymena is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and the seat of Ballymena Borough Council. Ballymena had a population of 28,717 people in the 2001 Census....
, County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, ca. 1947, the brother of Will Millar
Will Millar
Will Millar is an Irish-Canadian singer best known as a co-founding member of The Irish Rovers. Until his departure in 1995, he was the group's front man. He plays guitar, banjo, mandolin and tin whistle....
and Sandra Beech
Sandra Beech
Sandra Beech is a Canadian children's musician. She was a member of the family music group The Musical Millars after relocating to Canada in 1953...
. As children, they performed as "The Millar Kids" in Ireland, before the family emigrated to Canada. After emigrating, George met Jimmy Ferguson
Jimmy Ferguson
James Francis "Jimmy" Ferguson was a founding member of the Irish-Canadian folk group The Irish Rovers. He was the only member who did not play an instrument....
at an Irish function in Toronto in 1963, and they began playing as The Irish Rovers in Toronto. The following year George's cousin Joe Millar came to Canada, and was recruited into the band. After touring around Ontario, they joined Will in Calgary, where he was doing a children's TV show. They played at The Depression Coffee House in Calgary, and later headed to California where they made a name for themselves at the Purple Onion in San Francisco. They were later joined by Wilcil McDowell
Wilcil McDowell
Wilcil McDowell is a member of the Irish-Canadian music group The Irish Rovers. He plays an accordion or keyboard, and is the only member of the group who does not sing....
.
George's voice is heard on several of their recordings, including "The Black Velvet Band
The Black Velvet Band
"The Black Velvet Band" is a traditional English and Irish folk song describing transportation to Australia, a common punishment in 19th century Britain and Ireland. The song tells the story of a tradesman who meets a young woman who has stolen an item and passed it on to him...
", "Lord of the Dance
Lord of the Dance (hymn)
Lord of the Dance is a hymn with words written by English songwriter Sydney Carter in 1967. He adapted the tune from the American Shaker song "Simple Gifts"...
", "No More Bread and Butter" and "Drunken Sailor
Drunken Sailor
Drunken Sailor is a traditional sea shanty also known as What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor?It begins with the question, "What shall we do with a drunken sailor, early in the morning?" Each verse thereafter suggests a method of sobering—or castigating, or simply abusing—the sailor.The song...
". More recently, he is heard on "The Lass With The Bonny Brown Hair", "Home To Bantry Bay", "The Dublin Pub Crawl", as well as the ballad, "And The Sun It Still Rises".
Compositions
Millar is a prolific composer/songwriter. The Irish Rovers concert performances and album releases are full of his compositions. In the early days of the band he wrote many songs with his brother, Will Millar.His waterfront home in Nanoose, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada, where he’s lived for 20 years, is also a source of inspiration for his songwriting, while producer, Rick Salt’s studio in downtown Nanaimo is the place to record the results. The recordings are sent to Ireland, where some members of the band live, before returning to Nanaimo to lay down the last bits of vocals. The last 10 or so albums were recorded in Nanaimo, including their latest Gracehill Fair
Gracehill Fair
Gracehill Fair is the 2010 album release by The Irish Rovers, Rover Records. The album and title track are named after an annual fair in the County Antrim of Northern Ireland. It was recorded in Canada and Ireland, and mixed in Nanaimo, British Columbia, with cover and liner notes artwork by Celtic...
, which includes some old Irish songs, new compositions and the usual jigs and reels.
George Millar's numerous compositions include the title track from their latest album/cd, "Gracehill Fair
Gracehill Fair
Gracehill Fair is the 2010 album release by The Irish Rovers, Rover Records. The album and title track are named after an annual fair in the County Antrim of Northern Ireland. It was recorded in Canada and Ireland, and mixed in Nanaimo, British Columbia, with cover and liner notes artwork by Celtic...
", as well as "The Girls of Derry", "The Dublin Pub Crawl", "Bells Over Belfast", "And The Sun It Still Rises", "No More Bread and Butter" and "Rambling Boys of Pleasure".