George Millar (singer) facts for kids

George Millar (born April 14, 1947) is a musician and songwriter from Northern Ireland. He is famous for starting and leading the Irish folk band The Irish Rovers. The group formed in Toronto, Canada, in 1963. They named their band after the classic song "The Irish Rover".

The Irish Rovers helped make Irish music very popular in North America. They had their own international TV show and many hit songs. Some of their most famous songs include "The Unicorn", "Drunken Sailor", and "Wasn't That a Party".

George and The Irish Rovers were once asked by Canada's Prime Minister, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, to become Canadian citizens. This was so they could officially represent Canada around the world. They performed for Canada at five World Expos. In 2018, a museum in Dublin, Ireland, honored the band as one of Ireland's greatest exports.

Early Life and The Irish Rovers

George Millar grew up in a musical family. His brother Will and sister Sandra performed as "The Millar Kids" in Ireland. George sometimes joined in by playing the spoons. After his family moved to Canada, George's musical journey continued.

Forming the Band

In 1963, George met Jimmy Ferguson at an Irish event in Toronto. They started playing music together and called themselves The Irish Rovers. Soon, George's cousin, Joe Millar, joined them. The group played in cafes and clubs around Ontario.

Later, they moved to Calgary and teamed up with George's brother, Will. With four members, the band started to become well-known. They then moved to California, where musician Wilcil McDowell joined them, completing the group.

A Famous Voice

George is the lead singer on many of the band's most famous songs. You can hear his voice on their first recording of "The Black Velvet Band" from 1967. He also sings the lead on "Lord of the Dance" and "Home To Bantry Bay".

He wrote a touching song called "And The Sun It Still Rises" after his wife, Betsy, passed away. Through the 1970s and 1980s, George and the band appeared on three of their own international TV shows.

A Talented Songwriter

George Millar has written many songs for The Irish Rovers. His songs often tell stories about Ireland and its people.

Hit Songs and Compositions

George wrote "No More Bread and Butter," which was featured in the movie Dudley Do-Right. He also wrote songs like "Gracehill Fair," "Bells Over Belfast," and "The Girls of Derry."

In 2012, George wrote a song called "The Titanic." The song and its music video brought attention to the shipyard in Belfast where the famous ship was built. This helped give credit back to the workers of Northern Ireland.

More recently, he wrote songs like "The Dublin Pub Crawl" and "... and Hounds." In 2020, the band released the album "Saints And Sinners," which featured George's songs "The Banshee's Cry" and "Band Without A Country."

During the early 2020s, George wrote a new album called "No End In Sight." A song from this album, "Hey Boys Sing Us A Song," became very popular during their 2023 tour. It was even nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award.

George continues to tour and lead The Irish Rovers.

Awards and Honors

As a key member of The Irish Rovers, George Millar has received many awards and honors for his music.

• 1968: Won "Folk Group of the Year" at the RPM Awards (now the JUNO Award).
• 1968: Nominated for a GRAMMY Award for "Folk Performance of the Year.”
• 1971: Won an ACTRA Award for Best Variety Performance.
• 1979: Won the PROCAN Harold Moon Award for their TV program.
• 1981: Nominated for a JUNO Award for "Single of the Year" with "Wasn’t That A Party.”
• 1982: As a producer, George won a Juno Award for Best Children's Album for Inch By Inch.
• 2010: Won a Vancouver Island Music Award for "Song of the Year" for "Gracehill Fair."
• 2023: Nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award for "Single of the Year" with "Hey Boys Sing Us A Song.”