Biography
The Irish Rovers are a veteran Irish-Canadian folk group formed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 1963, taking their name from the traditional song “The Irish Rover.”[5] The core of the band came from Northern Ireland: teenage singer-guitarist George Millar and 23‑year‑old Jimmy (Jim) Ferguson first met at an Irish event in Toronto after emigrating from Ulster, bonding over the songs of home and singing together until dawn.[1][3][7] Soon they were joined by George’s cousin Joe Millar, and in 1964 George and Ferguson travelled west to Calgary, Alberta, to link up with George’s older brother Will Millar, who was already working as a musician and children’s TV host there.[1][2][3] With Will as frontman and their new manager Les Weinstein pushing them to rehearse seriously, they honed their convivial, sing‑along stagecraft at Calgary’s Depression Coffee House before driving south to the burgeoning California folk scene.[1][2][3]
A breakdown en route outside Dinucci’s Restaurant in Valley Ford, California, led to a lucky break: the owners, Irish immigrants Jerry Murphy and Peter Moran, were impressed and helped bring agent Jan Brainerd to see them, which in turn secured an audition at San Francisco’s famed Purple Onion.[1][2][3] The group’s lively mix of traditional ballads, pub songs, and comic material earned them an unprecedented 22‑week run of sold‑out shows at the club, and Brainerd later arranged their first recording deal with Decca Records in 1966.[1][2] Their debut album, The First of the Irish Rovers, recorded live at The Icehouse in Pasadena, introduced North American audiences to their fresh, harmony‑rich take on Irish folk.[1] International success followed with their whimsical Shel Silverstein–penned hit “The Unicorn,” which became a multi‑million‑selling single and beloved children’s favorite, and later with drinking song staples such as “Wasn’t That a Party.”[1][2][5] Over the decades they recorded more than 50 albums, hosted television series, and continuously toured, while lineup changes brought in musicians such as longtime accordionist Wilcil McDowell, percussionist Fred Graham, and guitarist Ian Millar.[1][4][5]
Musically, The Irish Rovers are known for a buoyant, pub‑band style that blends traditional Irish and Scottish repertoire with contemporary ballads and novelty songs, robust group harmonies, and a strong storytelling ethos.[1][4][5] Their arrangements typically feature acoustic guitar, accordion, banjo, fiddle, and bodhrán, framed by humorous introductions and audience sing‑alongs that helped popularize Irish folk music across North America during the 1960s folk revival and beyond.[1][2][4] Often described as “international ambassadors of Irish music,” they helped open mainstream stages, television, and recording markets to Celtic acts that followed, and remain active into their sixth decade, with founding member George Millar still leading the group on tour.[1][2][4][5]
Fun Facts
- Their name, The Irish Rovers, was taken directly from the traditional song “The Irish Rover,” underscoring their roots in classic Irish repertoire.[5]
- The band’s car famously broke down outside Dinucci’s Restaurant in tiny Valley Ford, California; that mishap led to the gig that ultimately connected them with agent Jan Brainerd and the life‑changing audition at The Purple Onion.[1][2][3]
- Their whimsical hit “The Unicorn”—written by Shel Silverstein—became such a phenomenon that the band reportedly jumped out of their tour van and danced in the street the first time they heard it on the radio.[1]
- When they auditioned Irish drinking song “Whiskey You’re the Devil” on Will Millar’s Calgary children’s TV show Just 4 Fun, kids loved it but parents flooded the station with complaints, and the performance helped cost Will his television job.[2]
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Traditional Irish folk music and pub song tradition - Primary stylistic and cultural influence drawn from the songs they learned growing up in Northern Ireland and later performed for expatriate Irish audiences in Canada and the US. (Traditional repertoire such as the namesake song “The Irish Rover,” along with assorted ballads and drinking songs that formed the backbone of their early sets.) [Formative years in Northern Ireland and early 1960s after emigration to Canada.[1][2][4][7]]
- North American 1960s folk‑club circuit (e.g., The Purple Onion, The Icehouse) - The professional folk‑club environment shaped their stagecraft, repertoire choices, and recording opportunities, encouraging tighter arrangements and extended residencies. (Performances at The Purple Onion in San Francisco and The Icehouse in Pasadena, where their debut album The First of the Irish Rovers was recorded live.) [Mid‑1960s, particularly around their 22‑week Purple Onion residency and 1966 debut recording.[1][2]]
Key Collaborators
- Will Millar - Founding frontman, singer, and guitarist who led the band on stage, introduced them to manager Les Weinstein, and helped shape their comedic, storytelling performance style. (Early Decca recordings including The First of the Irish Rovers and the hit single “The Unicorn,” as well as subsequent albums and television appearances through the early 1990s.) [1963–early 1990s as core member and leader.[1][2][3][5]]
- Jimmy (Jim) Ferguson - Co‑founder and vocalist who formed the initial duo with George Millar in Toronto and provided key harmony and comic presence in the classic lineup. (Early club performances in Toronto and Calgary, The First of the Irish Rovers, “The Unicorn,” and later touring and recording with the classic Rovers lineup.) [1963 onward as original member for several decades.[1][2][3][5]]
- Joe Millar - Cousin to George and Will Millar; vocalist and instrumentalist whose return to the band shortly after “The Unicorn” helped complete the legendary classic lineup. (Key 1960s and 1970s recordings and tours with the group following the success of “The Unicorn.”) [Mid‑1960s onward after rejoining the band post‑hit single.[1][2][3]]
- Wilcil McDowell - Accordionist and longtime member whose playing is central to the band’s signature Celtic sound. (Numerous later albums and tours, including recordings released on Rover Records such as Celtic Collection and Another Round.) [Joined during the band’s classic era and remained a mainstay in later lineups.[4][5]]
- Fred Graham - Percussionist from Belfast who added rhythmic drive to the modern touring lineup. (Later‑period albums on Rover Records and extensive touring as part of the contemporary Rovers ensemble.) [2007–present as listed member.[4][6]]
- Ian Millar - Vocalist, guitarist, and bassist from Ballymena who joined a later generation of the band, continuing the Millar family presence. (Recent tours and Rover Records releases in the 2000s and 2010s.) [Joined in the 2000s as part of the modern lineup.[4][6]]
- Glen Campbell - American guitarist invited to play lead on their recording of “The Unicorn,” bringing Nashville‑calibre session work to their breakthrough hit. (Studio recording of “The Unicorn” during Decca sessions in Los Angeles.) [Late 1960s Decca recording sessions.[2]]
- Les Weinstein - Manager who professionalized the group, encouraged intensive rehearsal, and steered them from Calgary’s coffee‑house scene toward the US market. (Guided their transition from local Calgary act to touring band, including the move toward US bookings that led to The Purple Onion and Decca contract.) [Mid‑1960s during the band’s formative professional years.[1][2][3]]
- Jan Brainerd - American booking agent who became their long‑time US representative and secured both the Purple Onion engagement and the Decca recording deal. (Arranged the 22‑week Purple Onion residency and engineered their first Decca Records contract, under which “The Unicorn” was released.) [From the mid‑1960s through their early recording career.[1][2]]
Artists Influenced
- Subsequent Celtic and Irish folk bands in North America - The group’s mainstream success, TV presence, and long touring career helped establish a commercial space and audience demand for Irish folk and pub‑style acts across Canada and the US. (High‑profile hits such as “The Unicorn” and “Wasn’t That a Party,” as well as more than 50 albums and television series that normalized Irish‑accented folk in popular media.) [Late 1960s onward, particularly during the folk revival and later Celtic music booms.[1][2][4][5]]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Drunken Sailor | 2012-02-22 | Album |
| The Irish Rovers' gems | 1996-09-01 | Album |
| Songs for the Wee Folk | 2015-12-08 | Album |
| Hardstuff | 1989-02-01 | Album |
| The Irish Rovers 50 Years - Vol. 2 | 2014-03-01 | Album |
| Another Round | 2005-01-01 | Album |
| The Unicorn | 1973-01-01 | Album |
| 60 Years a~Roving | 2025-03-17 | Album |
| The Unicorn, the Continuing Story | 2017-11-03 | Album |
| 50th Anniversary Live on St Patrick's Day | 2016-04-18 | Album |
| 40 Years a-Rovin' | 2005-07-01 | Album |
| Still Rovin' | 2007-08-01 | Album |
| Celtic Collection, the Next Thirty Years | 1995-09-01 | Album |
| Live in Concert | 2003-09-01 | Album |
| Up Among the Heather, the Scottish Album | 2019-02-01 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Drunken Sailor (Drunken Sailor)
- I'll Tell Me Ma (Songs for the Wee Folk)
- The Dublin Pub Crawl (Drunken Sailor)
- Star of the County Down (The Irish Rovers' gems)
- Finnegan's Wake (Hardstuff)
- The Jolly Roving Tar (Another Round)
- The Unicorn (The Unicorn)
- Whiskey in the Jar (The Irish Rovers 50 Years - Vol. 2)
- No Nay Never (The Irish Rovers' gems)
- Donald Where's Your Trousers (The Irish Rovers' gems)
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
Irish Rovers has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 20, 2025 | 09:30 | Miss Fogarty's Christmas Cakefrom Songs of Christmas | Traditional Jazzw/ Big Pete |