WILL MILLAR & The Irish Rovers...In the Beginning

The Irish Rovers an Irish-Canadian pop/folk group was formed in Calgary in 1964 by Will Millar (singer, banjoist, tin whistler and guitarist). His brother George Millar (guitarist), and Jimmy Ferguson (singer) joined Will for a summer holiday and were invited on to Will's T.V show and the Irish Rovers were born. A cousin- Joe Millar joined them for a while and was replaced in 1967 by accordionist, Wilcil McDowell. Joe Millar returned in 1969, now playing bass guitar. All members were born in Northern Ireland between 1938 and 1947.

Under Will Millar's leadership the Irish Rovers began their career at the Depression in Calgary and appeared at other coffee houses throughout North America (notably the Purple Onion in San Francisco and the Ice House in Los Angeles, recording its first LP, The First of the Irish Rovers, Decca DL-74835, at the latter venue). They moved into concert halls and nightclubs on the success in 1968 of their recording of Shel Silverstein's children's song 'The Unicorn'. 'The Unicorn' eventually sold some 8 million copies world-wide and was followed by another hit, 'Whiskey on a Sunday'. The group subsequently toured Australia in 1969 (and again in 1974) and appeared at the Canadian pavilion at Expo 70 in Osaka, Japan.

The Irish Rovers starred 1971-5 on CBC Vancouver TV's 'The Irish Rovers,' one of the most popular variety shows of its day, and thereafter appeared in many CBC specials. Though it did not have as consistently high a profile in later years, it performed for audiences in many parts of the world and in 1979 received the PRO Canada's Wm. Harold Moon Award for international achievement. It had its second substantial hit, 'Wasn't That a Party?,' in 1980 and was seen in the CBC TV mini-series, 'The Irish Rovers' Comedy House,' in 1981. The group was known as just 'The Rovers' in this period.

Over the years the Irish Rovers have balanced their repertoire of traditional and novelty material with contemporary songs by Will Millar, Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, and others.

In 1966 Peter Goddard suggested that they 'whistle, hoot and sing their way through songs with the subtlety of a shillelagh' (Globe and Mail, 16 December) The album Hardstuff, issued in 1989, continued to reflect their versatility, with titles by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, Randy Bachman, and Tom Northcott, on one hand, and several tunes featuring Ireland's Fury Brothers as guest performers, on the other.

The group's discography also includes LPs 1968-71 for Decca (The Unicorn; All Hung Up; Tales to Warm Your Mind; The Life of a Rover; On the Shores of Americay) and 1972-82 for its own Potato label, released by Attic (The Irish Rovers - Live; Emigrate! Emigrate!; Irish Rovers in Australia; Tall Ships and Salty Dogs; The Rovers; No More Bread and Butter; It Was a Night Like This, Party Rovers). Compilations have been issued by Decca, MCA (Irish Rovers Greatest Hits), K-Tel, and Attic (Silver Anniversary).

..and Today...

The original Irish Rovers lasted for over 30 years until Will Millar parted company with the band to pursue other musical and creative interests.

Jimmy Ferguson died in 1999 and his robust stage presence can never be replaced. Will Millar's brother George, along with accordionist Wilcil McDowell still tour as the Irish Rovers with various musicians and singers to fill the ranks.

This page cannot end, however, without the inclusion of the photograph on the right. This was an episode of the Virginian, in which a group of Irish Bank Robbers blew into town. Somehow they managed to find the time to entertain everyone at the saloon before...or was it after?... robbing the bank.