The Irish Rovers are a band of Irishmen that formed in Canada and gained fame playing folk clubs in America with a hit about a mythical creature, the unicorn. Call them the ultimate crossover band, or just call them lucky.
In a phone interview with George Millar from Vancouver on St. Patrick’s Day, he said the band never thought they would still be together this long.
“I had just turned 17, the other boys had jobs, we just said let’s give it a year,” he said. “That year, we didn’t do much, so we said let’s give it another year.
We’re still saying that. We did it for the fun, to see how far we could take it.”
With his curly red hair and red beard, Millar was the founding member of the Irish Rovers, along with the late Jimmy Ferguson.
The two 16-year-old Irish immigrants met in Toronto in 1963 and quickly formed a musical bond based on the traditional music of their homeland.
They named themselves after the first tune they played together, the traditional “The Irish Rover.”
They were soon joined by George’s cousin, Joe Millar, and later by George’s brother, Will.
As the legend of the Irish Rovers goes, the group of young Irishman found their way to San Francisco at the height of the folk music revival and quickly became a popular act at the infamous Purple Onion folk club.
New Year’s Eve 1965
Their first performance there was New Year’s Eve 1965, an auspicious beginning to the new year and a new life.
Their Purple Onion gig lasted 22 weeks and helped them get a foothold in the burgeoning folk music scene.
The group was successful enough to gain the attention of Decca Records, who signed the band and produced “The First of the Irish Rovers,” recorded live in 1966.
But it was their second album, titled simply “The Unicorn,” that cemented their place in musical history.
The ballad of the hapless unicorn who missed boarding Noah’s Ark was penned by children’s writer Shel Silverstein and was a runaway hit for the Rovers, reaching No. 7 on the U.S. charts.
Around this time, Wilcil McDowell, an old friend from Ireland, joined the band.
While some consider them to be Irish music “lite” with songs that cater to the masses and steer clear of the political strife that plagued Ireland, they have maintained a steady and devoted fan base for more than 40 years.
Music icons
With their Irish knit sweaters, jaunty caps and cheerful tunes, the Irish Rovers became icons of Irish music, long before “Riverdance,” The Chieftains or Enya reached U.S. and Canadian audiences.
Their long list of popular tunes include “Black Velvet Band,” “The Orange and Green” and “Whiskey on a Sunday.”
Although their fan base remained loyal and they continued to record, tour and perform on TV, the band didn’t have another big hit until 1980, when they recorded “Wasn’t That a Party,” by country/folk singer-songwriter Tom Paxton.
Although it was more country than Irish, it was a hit on pop radio and has become an anthem of good cheer.
The band has released more than 30 albums over four decades, with most of the last 15 years dedicated mostly to compilations of songs from past albums.
This year they released a new recording called “Gracehill Fair,” named after a place in Northern Ireland.
George Millar, who has written many of the groups’ songs over the years, said the album contains 15 songs written to sound like old Irish tunes.
The band has changed a few members over the years, but unlike many groups who have been performing for decades, there is still enough “original blood” to consider them the “real” Irish Rovers.
Will Millar left to pursue a solo career in 1995, and Jimmy Ferguson died in 1997. Joe Millar recently retired and was replaced by his son, Ian.
Current lineup
The band now consists of George Millar, Ian Millar, ÂMcDowell, John Reynolds, Sean O’Driscoll and Fred Graham.
While George Millar and John Reynolds live on Vancouver Island, the rest of the band lives far apart.
McDowell and Reynolds live in Ireland, Ian Millar lives in Florida and Graham lives in Montreal.
George Millar said they are “semi-retired now,” with just one two-month touring stint in February and March, summer festivals and a Christmas concert series.
‘You’re blessed’
“There’s no reason to retire,” Miller said. “If people still want to come out to see us, we’ll keep performing.
“You’re blessed if you have a job you love and can get paid for it.”
A large number of their local fans will no doubt be in attendance Sunday, as they perform at 3 p.m. at the Port Angeles High School auditorium in a benefit for the Port Angeles High chamber orchestra.
The orchestra is raising money to go to Ireland in the spring of 2011, where it has been invited to perform.
There are 20 students planning to go, and they need to raise $1,500 each.
Tickets for the concert are $17 to $37, plus handling fees, available by phone at 360-457-9770, online at www.nwperformingarts.com and at the door.
