Will Millar (The Keeper)

Will Millar (pictured here with John Ellis) Still keeping us charmed with "The Keeper" after all these years, a conversation with the prominent Celtic voice of North America "The Celtic Connection".The Millar tradition began in County Antrim, in Ireland, where his grandmother Liza-Jane was a "Sheanachie" or village story teller. It was her tales that fired up Will's imagination.The top ten international hit "The Unicorn" catapulted Will Millar and "The Irish Rovers" on an extraordinary 30-year career, and during the heyday of their success Will always made sure there was a spot on the show for children, both on stage and television. His TV leprechauns delighted a generation of kids young and old, many of whom are now parents themselves and are rediscovering an old family friend. With three children of his own Will had a ready audience for his imagination. "I made up the most fantastical stories to put them to sleep and sometimes, they would continue over three or four nights... mermaids, goblins; it was just a storehouse of things I had in my head. I knew that my kids passed on these stories at school and I can see where they continued our family tradition".It was two weeks of magic and laughter here at Melodeon Studios when Will arrived with a couple of dozen children from the local school (his back up singers) in tow to record his latest CD. "The Keeper", and with familiar songs like "The Unicorn" you can only imagine how this recording session went. Will also included songs about our environment and the animals. Even the theme song "Sailing In The Bay" for the new proposed television show "Set Sail" was included in the session. "The messages in this album are about self esteem and things that children do for themselves, like looking after each other or the environment. There's no preachy stuff. You don't preach to kids", Will say's. The CD released on the Attic label will appeal to the child in all of us"."I think no matter what profession I would've been in, I'd have worked with children. It's no coincidence that virtually every success I've had in my career is a direct result of my work with children. I honestly do think sometimes that this was always meant to be my life's work.""The Keeper" was produced by Will Millar & John Ellis, the theme song "Sailing In The Bay", music by John Ellis lyrics by John Ellis & Will Millar.Article by: John EllisQuotations from Will Millar & "The Celtic Connection"Published by Melodeon Muse

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posted by Articles Of Great Interest at 10:47 AM

Johnny Cash Tribute "Hey Johnny".

It was Yorkville Avenue around 1968 when I first heard Peter McBurnie (ala Orbit Starr) sing his new song "Hey Johnny", a tribute song to Johnny Cash. I always looked forward to hearing new songs from Pete because it energized the whole street, you could feel the excitement whenever he made the scene.

We were all fans of Johnny Cash and this was a great way to pay tribute to one of our hero's. I started singing the song myself and have included it in my own repertoire on many occasions through the years and my audiences have always been very enthusiastic, but it was always the Country fans who were especially drawn to this Johnny tribute.

Now that there has been a renewed focus on Johnny Cash through the recently released film portraying his life's work, I thought it appropriate to publish this never before released tribute song for all Johnny's fans to hear. It was always Pete's dream to play this song for Johnny personally but it was never to be, Nashville can sometimes feel like a world away when you're an unknown from Small-town, it's too bad because I think Johnny would have liked it.

Time has a way of creeping along, sometimes without fanfare, but we did get one chance to record this Johnny Cash tribute in 1981, along with three other McBurnie originals. It was for our own enjoyment really, but there was also a feeling that we might be able to find the right place at the right time with it. Unfortunately we didn't know anybody in the right place and we certainly didn't have the right time, whatever that means. Still we have the recordings and you can listen to them all at the Music Borders website listed below...

In the meantime have a listen to "Hey Johnny"

Article by: John Ellis
Published by: Music Borders http://www.musicborders.com/

The Orton Yahoos "The Great Canadian Tragedy"

A song all about a pesky rabbit who found his way into a secret garden with a strange crop… The so called lyrics and song were originally written by Bruce Good from the famous Good Brothers. This particular version was recorded by the infamous “Orton Yahoos”; you might remember them from the early eighties with such titles as “Alberta Bound” & “Cocaine Bill”. More...

If you have any stories you want to share about this group it would be great to hear them, in the meantime take a listen to "The Rabbit".

Posted By: Music Borders
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