Terry McMillan (musician)
| Terry McMillan | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Terry Lee McMillan |
| Born | October 12, 1953 |
| Origin | Lexington, North Carolina, USA |
| Died | February 2, 2007 (aged 53) |
| Genres | Country Blues Gospel |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments |
Harmonica drums percussion |
| Years active | 1973–2007 |
| Labels | RCA, Step One, Giant |
| Associated acts | Eddy Raven Garth Brooks Amy Grant Larry Carlton |
Terry Lee McMillan (October 12, 1953 in Lexington, North Carolina – 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 1974. 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.
Career
Chet Atkins signed Terry as a solo artist for RCA Records in the early 1980s, charting at number 85 on Hot Country Songs with "Love Is a Full Time Thing".[1] He 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, with David Packs (Ambrosia) All Star Band, 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 and in demand musicians on harmonica and percussion of all time.[2][3]
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 under suspicious circumstances and is buried in Smoky Mountain Memory Gardens in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Discography
Albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| I've Got a Feeling |
|
| Somebody's Comin' |
|
Singles
| Year | Single | US Country | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | "Love is a Full Time Thing" | 85 | single only |
| 1993 | "I've Got a Feeling" | — | I've Got a Feeling |
| 1997 | "Somebody's Comin'" | — | Somebody's Comin' |
Notes
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 274. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
- ↑ Christ Church Choir
- ↑ Harmonica Wizard Terry McMillan Dead at 53 Feb. 4, 2007