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Terry McMillan

 
Artist: Terry McMillan
Terry McMillan

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Worked With:

Dennis Wilson, Curtis Young, Glenn Worf, Brent Rowan, Steve Nathan, Brent Mason, Paul Leim, Sonny Garrish, Paul Franklin, Eddie Bayers, Steve Gibson
  • Born: October 12, 1953, Lexington, NC
  • Active: '90s
  • Genres: Country
  • Instrument: Harmonica, Session Musician, Drums
  • Representative Albums: "I've Got a Feeling," "Somebody's Comin'"
  • Representative Songs: "Amazing Grace," "This Train," "I'll Fly Away"

Biography

Harmonica player Terry McMillan was a noted session musician with a distinctive bluesy style; he was also a talented drummer. He began his professional career in 1973 with a touring band. They disbanded in Nashville, and he got a job in Eddy Raven's band at the King of the Road. A year and a half later, Jimmy Dean introduced him to Chet Atkins, who hired him to play harmonica. McMillan was still inexperienced and couldn't play melodies, but Atkins saw great potential and helped him switch from the blues he had been playing to the Nashville style. McMillan later moved on to work for Jeannie C. Riley and Jerry Reed. He stopped touring in 1976 after getting married and began doing session work throughout the rest of the '70s for such performers as Steve Young and Mickey Newbury. In the early '80s, McMillan signed as a solo act with RCA Victor. Though a charismatic and highly energetic live performer, his solo recordings went nowhere and he went back to studio work, where his talent as a drummer was discovered. Over his long career as a session man, McMillan played for major artists from Elvis Presley to Neil Young. In addition to recording gigs, he also appeared as a sideman in many television specials. In 1992, a house fire nearly claimed the lives of McMillan's wife and children, which caused him to reflect on his life and priorities and become a devout Christian. The following year he released his first solo album, I've Got a Feeling, an inspirational record featuring backing by Nashville's Christchurch Choir. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Music Guide
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Wikipedia: Terry McMillan (musician)
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Terry McMillan
Birth name Terry Lee McMillan
Born October 12, 1953(1953-10-12)
Origin USA
Died February 2, 2007 (aged 53)
Genres Country
Occupations Musician
Instruments Harmonica
drums
percussion
Years active 1973-2007
Labels RCA
Associated acts Eddy Raven

Terry Lee McMillan (October 12, 1953 – February 2, 2007) was an American country musician who played harmonica and percussion. In 1973, he became a member of Eddy Raven's band in Nashville, and worked with Raven until 1975. He then started working with Chet Atkins playing harmonica with his touring show. Later, he toured with Jerry Reed and Jeannie C. Riley before becoming a very in-demand session musician. In the 1970s, he appeared on many albums including the recordings of Mickey Newbury and Gary Stewart.

He was a solo artist for RCA Records in the early 1980s, but returned to being a session musician, appearing live with, and on numerous albums for, artists including Ray Charles, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Reba McEntire, Randy Travis, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Kenny Chesney, Emmylou Harris, Neil Young, Waylon Jennings, J. J. Cale, Trisha Yearwood, Amy Grant and many others. In 1993 he played at President Bill Clinton's inaugural ball, giving a solo harmonica performance of "Amazing Grace". He recorded an album for Step One Records in 1993, with Nashville's Christ Church Choir. McMillan became one of country music's most popular session musicians on harmonica and percussion.[1] [2]

After his family's house was destroyed in a 1992 house fire, McMillan became a devout Christian and focused extensively on inspirational music. In 1993, he released his first album, I've Got a Feeling, on Step One Records. He also released an album for Giant Records, Somebody's Comin', in 1997. In the years that followed, he became a frequent guest on Christian television programs. He died at the age of 53 and is buried in Smoky Mountain Memory Gardens in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

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