Will Millar facts for kids

Will Millar (born in 1940) is a singer from Northern Ireland and Canada. He is best known as one of the people who started the famous band The Irish Rovers. He was the lead singer of the group until he left in 1995. Will Millar plays several instruments, including the guitar, banjo, mandolin, and tin whistle.

Will Millar's Early Life and Start in Music

Will Millar was born in Ballymena, a town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. When he was young, he and his sister Sandra Beech performed together as The Millar Kids.

In 1953, when Will was 14, his family moved to Canada. After moving, Will started a band called Kalypso Kews, which played Calypso music. They performed for two years at the Calypso Club in Toronto.

Later, Will Millar moved to Calgary, Alberta. There, he hosted a television show for children. He also formed a small group that played Irish folk music.

How The Irish Rovers Began

In the 1960s, Will invited his younger brother, George, who was 15 at the time, to join him in Calgary. His cousin Joe and friend Jimmy Ferguson also came to stay.

Will brought them onto his children's TV show. Soon, they started performing together at Calgary's first folk music club, called The Depression. This was the beginning of what would become The Irish Rovers.

The Irish Rovers: A Famous Folk Band

With help from Will's manager, Les Weinstein, the new group traveled to San Francisco. They performed at popular clubs like the Purple Onion in San Francisco and the Ice House in Pasadena. These clubs became their main places to play.

In 1968, the band recorded a song called "The Unicorn". This song was produced by Bud Dant of Decca Records. It quickly became a huge hit, reaching number one in Canada and number three on the Billboard pop chart in the U.S. "The Unicorn" became the most famous song for The Irish Rovers.

The Irish Rovers on Television

Between 1970 and 1973, Will Millar traveled often between Ireland and Canada. He managed an old Irish manor house and also hosted a TV show for the CBC.

Many famous musicians appeared on their CBC-TV show. Some of the guests included Johnny Cash, the Carter Family, Waylon Jennings, Pat Boone, and Roger Miller.

Will Millar's Life After The Irish Rovers

In 1995, after leading The Irish Rovers for 30 years, Will Millar decided to leave the band. He wanted to explore other creative interests.

He formed a new band called Some Mad Irishmen. They released two music albums and toured a lot with a stage show he created called "Ireland..where the song and dance began".

Will also built a recording studio with his friend John Ellis. There, he recorded a children's music album. He also appeared sometimes on The Red Green Show, playing a character named Jimmy McVeigh, who was a postman trying to fix a boat.

Will Millar's Solo Music and Books

Since leaving The Irish Rovers, Will Millar has released six solo music albums. Four of these were Celtic instrumental albums, meaning they mostly featured instruments without singing. These albums were titled The Lark in the Clear Aire, Celtic Seasons, Celtic Reverie, and Journey of the Celt. Two of these albums sold enough copies to be certified Gold in Canada.

Will Millar has also written two books. One is called Children of the Unicorn, and the other is Messing About in Boats. His book Messing About in Boats was so popular that it made it to the top ten non-fiction books list in The Globe and Mail newspaper.

Will Millar's Art and Current Life

Today, Will Millar also focuses on his love for art. His paintings are displayed in many art galleries across Canada and in Ireland. His yearly art shows have become quite popular.

In 2013, Will Millar and his wife Catherine lived near Quamichan Lake in North Cowichan on Vancouver Island.