Terry McMillan (musician)

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Terry McMillan
Birth nameTerry Lee McMillan
Born(1953-10-12)October 12, 1953
Lexington, North Carolina, U.S.
DiedFebruary 2, 2007(2007-02-02) (aged 53)
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)
Years active1973–2007
LabelsRCA, Step One, Giant

Terry Lee McMillan (October 12, 1953 – February 2, 2007) was an American country music singer, harmonica player, and percussionist. In 1973, he became a member of Eddy Raven's band in Nashville, and worked with Raven until 1974. McMillan 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, McMillan appeared on many albums, including the recordings of Mickey Newbury and Gary Stewart. He was also featured many times on Trinity Broadcasting in the 1990s.

Career[edit]

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, Willie Nelson, Don Williams, Garth Brooks, George Jones, Hank Williams Jr., Merle Haggard, Reba McEntire, Randy Travis, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Roy Orbison, Kenny Chesney, Emmylou Harris, Neil Young, Waylon Jennings, Brooks & Dunn, J. J. Cale, Trisha Yearwood, Amy Grant, Gaither Homecoming and many others. In 1993, he played at President Bill Clinton's inaugural ball, with David Pack’s (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 of congestive heart failure and pneumonia on February 2, 2007, and is buried in Smoky Mountain Memory Gardens in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

Title Details
I've Got a Feeling
Somebody's Comin'

Singles[edit]

Year Single US Country Album
1981 "All I Really Want to Do" — singles only
1982 "Love is a Full Time Thing" 85
1993 "I've Got a Feeling" — I've Got a Feeling
1997 "Somebody's Comin'" — Somebody's Comin'

Collaborations[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 274. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  2. ^ Christ Church Choir Archived 2007-03-14 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Harmonica Wizard Terry McMillan Dead at 53 Feb. 4, 2007
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