George Millar (singer)

George Millar is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter, guitarist and co-founder and leader of the Irish folk group The Irish Rovers.

George Millar
GenresIrish folk
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, producer
InstrumentsGuitar, lambeg drum
Years activeEarly 1960s-present
LabelsRover Records
DPTV Media
Potato Records
Varèse Sarabande
Attic Records
Brunswick Records
MCA Records
Festival Records
Coral Records
CBS Records
Universal Records
Epic Records
Decca Records
Websiteirishroversmusic.com

Biography

Millar is the brother of Will Millar and Sandra Beech. As children, Will and Sandra performed as "The Millar Kids" (George sometimes joined them on spoons) in Ireland before the family emigrated to Canada. While in his teens, he met Jimmy Ferguson at an Irish function in Toronto in 1963. They began playing as The Irish Rovers and were soon joined by George's cousin Joe Millar who also emigrated to Canada. After touring around Ontario playing in cafes, clubs and hotels, George, Jim and Joe left Toronto for Calgary where they joined brother Will Millar who was performing on Just 4 Fun, a children's TV show. With the addition of Will, The Irish Rovers became four and played at The Depression Coffee House in Calgary.[1] Later, they headed to California and were joined by Wilcil McDowell.

Millar sings lead vocal on most of their recordings, including the original 1967 recording of "The Black Velvet Band". He is also lead on "Lord of the Dance", "No More Bread and Butter", "The Lass With The Bonny Brown Hair", "Home To Bantry Bay", and the ballad which we wrote after the death of his wife Betsy, "And The Sun It Still Rises".

Millar has performed on television throughout the 1970s and 1980s on three international Irish Rovers television series and more recently on three Irish Rovers television specials in the last few years.

As of 2020, Millar is still touring with the Irish Rovers.

Compositions

Millar's compositions include "No More Bread and Butter" which appeared in the film, Dudley Do-Right, the title track from their album/cd, "Gracehill Fair", as well as "Bells Over Belfast", "The Girls of Derry", "The Boys of Belfast", "Rambling Boys of Pleasure", "And The Sun It Still Rises". His more recent songs include "The Titanic", "The Dublin Pub Crawl", and "Whores and Hounds".

He has also written several children's songs for The Irish Rovers album Songs for the Wee Folk, as well as "The Rovers Farewell" and "Her Wonderful Ass" on the album The Irish Rovers, 50 Years.

Music producer

Millar has produced all of The Irish Rovers albums since 1993 for Rover Records. He has also produced albums for his brother and sister.

Awards and recognition

References
  1. 'The Irish Rovers', Canadian Music Magazine, 1979
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