June Millington
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June Millington (born April 14, 1948) is a Filipina-American guitarist, songwriter, producer, educator, and actress. She was the co-founder and lead guitarist of the all-female rock band Fanny, which was active from 1970 to 1974. Millington has been called "a godmother of women's music", and the co-founder and artistic director of the Institute for the Musical Arts (IMA) in
Goshen, Massachusetts Goshen is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 960 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town has a rural atmosphere, with one general store ...
.


Early life

June Elizabeth Millington was born in
Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populated ...
, the
Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...
, on April 14, 1948, the eldest of the seven children of Filipina socialite "Yola" Yolanda Leonor Limjoco Millington (born February 10, 1922, in Lian, Batangas, the Philippines; died December 19, 2002, in
California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
, U.S.),''The Davis Enterprise'' (Davis, CA: February 6, 2003) and former
United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
Lt. Commander John "Jack" Howard Millington (born September 18, 1915, in
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; died June 24, 1980, in Bristol, Vermont). He had graduated from the
United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of the Navy. The Naval Academy ...
in 1939, and was a son of Professor Howard G. Millington, a noted folklorist. June Millington's parents were married in Manila in May 1947, and divorced in California in March 1970. Millington is the older sister of bassist Jean Y. Millington Adamian (born May 25, 1949, in Manila), Richard J. Millington, Stephen H. Millington, James E. Millington, David S. Millington, and Sylvia F. G. Millington Lyons.


Philippines

Jack and Yola Millington and their children lived luxuriously with Yola's parents Angel Limjoco and Felisa Limjoco (née Lejano) in various Manila locations in until they moved to the United States in 1961, including at 56 R. Pascual Street,
San Juan San Juan, Spanish for Saint John, may refer to: Places Argentina * San Juan Province, Argentina * San Juan, Argentina, the capital of that province * San Juan, Salta, a village in Iruya, Salta Province * San Juan (Buenos Aires Underground), ...
(then part of
Rizal Rizal, officially the Province of Rizal ( fil, Lalawigan ng Rizal), is a province in the Philippines located in the Calabarzon region in Luzon. Its capital is the city of Antipolo. It is about east of Manila. The province is named after Jos ...
province); in the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in
Mandaluyong Mandaluyong, officially the City of Mandaluyong ( fil, Lungsod ng Mandaluyong), is a first class Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to ...
; near the old American School in Pasay; and on N. Domingo Street, San Juan;Eric S. Caruncho
"The Untold Saga of Fanny"
''Philippine Daily Inquirer'' (May 11, 2008).
and for several months just before they emigrated at the Howell Compound in
Quezon City Quezon City (, ; fil, Lungsod Quezon ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read in Filipino as Kyusi), is the List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populatio ...
. Additionally, during 1953, Millington and her family lived for a year in
Baguio Baguio ( , ), officially the City of Baguio ( ilo, Siudad ti Baguio; fil, Lungsod ng Baguio), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines. It is known as the "Summer Capital of the Philippines", ...
with her grandparents. At the age of eight, Millington began playing piano to entertain her family, and later listened to music on the radio and attempted to play along on
ukulele The ukulele ( ; from haw, ukulele , approximately ), also called Uke, is a member of the lute family of instruments of Portuguese origin and popularized in Hawaii. It generally employs four nylon strings. The tone and volume of the instrumen ...
. Her family encouraged her to sing and play ukulele at gatherings. Millington and her siblings attended The American School, then located in Donada Street in
Pasay Pasay, officially the City of Pasay ( fil, Lungsod ng Pasay; ), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 440,656 people. Due to its location jus ...
in Manila, where she later recalled: "the racism we encountered at the American School was crushing." By 1960 Millington transferred to the Assumption Convent school located in
Makati Makati ( ), officially the City of Makati ( fil, Lungsod ng Makati), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. Makati is the financial center of the Philippines; it has the highest concentration ...
,
Metro Manila Metropolitan Manila (often shortened as Metro Manila; fil, Kalakhang Maynila), officially the National Capital Region (NCR; fil, link=no, Pambansang Punong Rehiyon), is the capital region, seat of government and one of three List of metrop ...
. Early in 1961, when Millington was in the seventh grade, she heard a girl play the guitar, which jump-started her interest in the instrument.June Millington
My Space Profile
On her 13th birthday, Millington was given a small, hand-made, mother-of-pearl inlaid guitar by her mother.


United States

Three weeks later, in May 1961, the Millington family left the Philippines for the United States on the SS ''President Cleveland''. While on board ship, Millington switched from playing the ukulele to
acoustic guitar An acoustic guitar is a musical instrument in the string family. When a string is plucked its vibration is transmitted from the bridge, resonating throughout the top of the guitar. It is also transmitted to the side and back of the instrument, ...
. On June 22, 1961, the Millington family arrived in the U.S., and then settled in
Sacramento, California ) , image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sacramento Highlighted.svg , mapsize = 250x200px , map_caption = Location within Sacramento C ...
. Millington recalled: "We always felt like "other", never quite fitting in, both in Manila and Sacramento. Being both biracial and bicultural was a really really tough slot in the '50s into the '60s, our formative teenage years."June Millington, in John Seetoo
"GGH Exclusive Interview - June Millington: Part 1"
''GuitarGearHeads'' (December 31, 2010).
In an attempt to become more popular and make friends, in 1962, Millington and her sister Jean wrote their first song "Angel in White", followed by "Miss Wallflower '62", which they sang with two other girls on their ukuleles at their junior high school variety show. Millington recalled that afterwards, "Kids started coming up to us and telling us they liked it. So it dawned on us this was a way to make friends." In 1962, Millington and her sister Jean began to sing folk songs together as an acoustic duo at hootenannies and similar events, including the songs of
Peter, Paul and Mary Peter, Paul and Mary was an American folk group formed in New York City in 1961 during the American folk music revival phenomenon. The trio consisted of tenor Peter Yarrow, baritone Paul Stookey, and contralto Mary Travers. The group's reper ...
and other artists featured on the television program '' Hootenanny''. Later in 1962, Millington and her sister Jean enrolled in the class of 1966 at C. K. McClatchy High School. During 1963, Millington was a member of a
YWCA The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) is a nonprofit organization with a focus on empowerment, leadership, and rights of women, young women, and girls in more than 100 countries. The World office is currently based in Geneva, Sw ...
conference group of senior high school students chosen to visit the California State Legislature. While students at McClatchy, the Millington sisters formed a band with Zenaida "Zenny" Prodon (born June 1949) (Class of 1965), an
American Field Service AFS Intercultural Programs (or AFS, originally the American Field Service) is an international youth exchange organization. It consists of over 50 independent, not-for-profit organizations, each with its own network of volunteers, professional ...
exchange student from Meycauayan Institute High School (now Meycauayan College) in
Meycauayan Meycauayan, officially the City of Meycauayan ( fil, Lungsod ng Meycauayan), is a 3rd class component city in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 225,673 people. It is one of the oldest t ...
,
Bulacan Bulacan, officially the Province of Bulacan ( tl, Lalawigan ng Bulacan), is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the city of Malolos. Bulacan was established on August 15, 1578, and part of the Me ...
, Philippines.


Musical career


1965–1968: The Svelts

With her mother's assistance, but against her father's wishes, in late 1964, Millington switched from acoustic guitar to electric guitar and bass after a girl from another school who played drums athy Terryasked if Millington and her sister Jean would like to start a band. Millington recalled in 2013:
We were like, "Yeah, okay!" My dad took me to a pawn shop and got me a Sears Roebuck guitar with a little matching amp. That was my first rig–a complete and total thrill. Jean and I flipped a coin to see who would play bass in the band. (laughs) I won, so I got to stay on guitar. We learned to play by listening to the radio and by hanging out with boys who were in bands. We were 15 or 16 at the time.
By early 1965, Millington and her sister Jean formed The Svelts, an all-female rock band, with June on
rhythm guitar In music performances, rhythm guitar is a technique and role that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with other instruments from the rhythm section (e.g., drum kit, bass guitar ...
, Jean on bass, Kathy Terry on drums, and Cathy Carter on guitar.Carla Meyer
"The Runaways? OK, but female rockers started with Fanny"
Knoxville.com (April 14, 2010 ).
According to Millington, the band's name, "came from a word my brother had just learned in school. To be svelte: thin, lithe. It sounded like what we wanted to be, kinda classy!" The Svelts rehearsed initially in Terry's living room in Sacramento.June Millington
"You Never Heard of Fanny?"
''Ms. blog'' (May 26, 2011).
Managed and promoted by Richard "Dick" Leventon (born January 4, 1938; died September 30, 1991), The Svelts performed at sock hops, air force bases, and
frat A fraternity (from Latin ''frater'': "brother"; whence, " brotherhood") or fraternal organization is an organization, society, club or fraternal order traditionally of men associated together for various religious or secular aims. Fraternity ...
parties and gradually built a following. In November 2012, Millington recalled:
Was it hard? Hell, yeah. Girls weren't supposed to go electric, so the resistance was incredible at first. Was it fun? You bet. By keeping our grades up at school, we began to lead successful double lives as Philippine-American girls by day, budding rockers at night, except we didn't do rock as much as we did
girl group A girl group is a music act featuring several female singers who generally harmonize together. The term "girl group" is also used in a narrower sense in the United States to denote the wave of American female pop music singing groups, many of wh ...
songs and
Motown Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...
, which meant "
He's So Fine "He's So Fine" is a song written by Ronnie Mack. It was recorded by The Chiffons who topped the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 for four weeks in the spring of 1963. One of the most instantly recognizable golden oldies with its ''doo-lang doo-lang doo-la ...
" and " Heatwave," with " The Night Before" and " You Really Got Me" thrown in. If people danced to it, we did it. They were all great songs to cut your teeth on and learn compositionally.
Later, Terry was replaced on drums by Filipino American Brie Berry (born August 9, 1949), who was a student at
Folsom High School Folsom High School is a public secondary school in the western United States, located in Folsom, California, a suburb east of Sacramento. Established in 1922, it is a part of the Folsom Cordova Unified School District. School history The firs ...
(class of 1967). Before their senior year, Millington and her sister Jean performed during the summer of 1965 as a duo. In September 1965, they copyrighted their song "Footloose and Fancy-Free". After graduation from high school in 1966, Millington enrolled at the
University of California, Davis The University of California, Davis (UC Davis, UCD, or Davis) is a public land-grant research university near Davis, California. Named a Public Ivy, it is the northernmost of the ten campuses of the University of California system. The inst ...
, where, hoping to become a surgeon, she majored in premedical studies with a minor in music.''Delta Democratic Times'' (Greenville, MS: August 11, 1971):20. However, after a year, Millington decided to suspend her studies to focus on her musical career. After a number of personnel changes, including five different drummers, the Millington sisters were joined in 1968 by lead guitarist Adrienne "Addie" Lee Clement (from the
Palo Alto Palo Alto (; Spanish for "tall stick") is a charter city in the northwestern corner of Santa Clara County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area, named after a coastal redwood tree known as El Palo Alto. The city was es ...
band California Girls), recent graduate of Cubberley High School; and drummer Alice Monroe de Buhr (born September 4, 1949, in
Mason City, Iowa Mason City is a city and the county seat of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 27,338 in the 2020 census, a decline from 29,172 in the 2000 census. The Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Cerro G ...
), who had moved to California at age 17, after the divorce of her parents, in search of fame and fortune. In this four-piece configuration, the Svelts gigged around the West in a renovated Greyhound bus, mainly playing cover songs. By early 1967, the Svelts (Millington, Wendy Haas, Brie Berry, and Jean Millington) had a band house in Los Altos, where they lived and rehearsed. In 1967, Millington enrolled at the
University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California) is a public land-grant research university in Berkeley, California. Established in 1868 as the University of California, it is the state's first land-grant un ...
, where she continued her premed studies for two quarters. However, after playing in clubs on the US West Coast and Nevada, Berry, who had married Michael Brandt, left the band because of pregnancy, and subsequently became the mother of Brandi Angela Brandt (born November 2, 1968, in
Santa Clara, California Santa Clara (; Spanish for " Saint Clare") is a city in Santa Clara County, California. The city's population was 127,647 at the 2020 census, making it the eighth-most populous city in the Bay Area. Located in the southern Bay Area, the cit ...
).


1968–1969: Wild Honey

While Millington attended classes, Clement and de Buhr toured as the Svelts, but later decided to rename the band Wild Honey, and gigged briefly in the Midwest before returning to California. In 1968, Clement and de Buhr invited Millington and her sister Jean to join Wild Honey. Consequently, Millington decided to terminate her university studies to become a full-time musician. Wild Honey played
folk song Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has ...
s,
Motown Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...
covers, and some of their own songs, and played with
Creedence Clearwater Revival Creedence Clearwater Revival, also referred to as Creedence and CCR, was an American rock band formed in El Cerrito, California. The band initially consisted of lead vocalist, lead guitarist, and primary songwriter John Fogerty; his brother, ...
, the Youngbloods, and the Turtles at fairs and private parties, and auditioned at the
Fillmore West The Fillmore West was a historic rock and roll music venue in San Francisco, California, US which became famous under the direction of concert promoter Bill Graham from 1968 to 1971. Named after The Fillmore at the intersection of Fillmore Str ...
with
the Doors The Doors were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1965, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, and drummer John Densmore. They were among the most controversial and influential rock acts ...
. Hoping to secure a recording contract, in April 1969, Wild Honey relocated from Sacramento to Los Angeles to "either sign with a label or go back to school." However, frustrated by "playing all nasty inappropriate little gigs, suffering all the demeaning little scams", and by a lack of success or respect in the male-dominated rock scene, Wild Honey decided to disband after one final
open mic An open mic or open mike (shortened from "open microphone") is a live show at a venue such as a coffeehouse, nightclub, comedy club, strip club, or pub, usually taking place at night, in which audience members may perform on stage whether t ...
appearance at Doug Weston's Troubadour Club in
West Hollywood West Hollywood is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Incorporated in 1984, it is home to the Sunset Strip. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, its population was 35,757. It is considered one of the most prominent gay villages ...
in 1969. They were spotted at this gig by the secretary of producer Richard Perry, who had been searching for an all-female rock band to mentor. Perry convinced Warner Bros. to sign the band to their
Reprise Records Reprise Records is an American record label founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operates through Warner Records, one of its flagship labels. Artists currently signed to Reprise Records include Enya, Michael ...
subsidiary. After Addie Clement left the band, Millington became the lead guitarist, taking a year to learn to play lead guitar. While searching for a fourth member for the band, Wild Honey recorded in various studios with an assortment of women, including former Svelts drummer Brie Berry Brandt.


1970–1973: Fanny

Later in 1969, the band was renamed Fanny to denote a female spirit, although it was a deliberate
double entendre A double entendre (plural double entendres) is a figure of speech or a particular way of wording that is devised to have a double meaning, of which one is typically obvious, whereas the other often conveys a message that would be too socially ...
. Before recording their first album, In January 1970 keyboardist Nicole "Nickey" Barclay,
was added to the Fanny lineup. Millington was the lead guitarist in Fanny with her sister Jean on bass, de Buhr on drums, and Barclay on keyboards. The band lived in a Spanish style house they christened "Fanny Hill" on Marmont Lane overlooking the
Sunset Strip The Sunset Strip is the stretch of Sunset Boulevard that passes through the city of West Hollywood, California. It extends from West Hollywood's eastern border with the city of Los Angeles near Marmont Lane to its western border with Beverl ...
in
West Hollywood West Hollywood is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Incorporated in 1984, it is home to the Sunset Strip. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, its population was 35,757. It is considered one of the most prominent gay villages ...
. However, in March 1970, Barclay left Fanny to be a member of
Joe Cocker John Robert "Joe" Cocker (20 May 1944 – 22 December 2014) was an English singer known for his gritty, bluesy voice and dynamic stage performances that featured expressive body movements. Most of his best known singles were recordings of son ...
's hastily organized Mad Dogs & Englishmen seven-week tour of the U.S., but rejoined Fanny reluctantly after that tour concluded in May 1970. Their first big gig as Fanny was at the
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium Santa Monica Civic Auditorium is a multi-purpose convention center at 1855 Main Street in Santa Monica, California, owned by the City of Santa Monica. It was built in 1958 and designed by Welton Becket and as a concert venue, it has a seating cap ...
with
the Kinks The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, north London, in 1963 by brothers Ray and Dave Davies. They are regarded as one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s. The band emerged during the height of British rhyt ...
and Procol Harum. Fanny was the first all-female rock band to release an album on a major label. They eventually released five albums and achieved two top-40 singles on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. The band has long been considered pioneers and are highly respected by later all-women rock groups like The Go-Go's and The Runaways. In 1999 Fanny fan
David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...
said that Fanny was "extraordinary... they're as important as anybody else who's ever been, ever; it just wasn't their time." Millington and the other members of Fanny also worked as
session musician Session musicians, studio musicians, or backing musicians are musicians hired to perform in recording sessions or live performances. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a recording artist on a ...
s, most notably in June 1971 on
Barbra Streisand Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand (; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success in multiple fields of entertainment, and is among the few performers awar ...
's album '' Barbra Joan Streisand'' that was produced by Perry. They appeared on national TV programs, including ''
The Tonight Show ''The Tonight Show'' is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. The show has been hosted by six comedians: Steve Allen (1954–1957), Jack Paar (1957–1962), Johnny Carson (1962–1992), Jay Leno (1992–2009 and 201 ...
'' with
Johnny Carson John William Carson (October 23, 1925 – January 23, 2005) was an American television host, comedian, writer and producer. He is best known as the host of '' The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson'' (1962–1992). Carson received six P ...
, '' The Midnight Special'', '' Don Kirshner Presents'', and the '' Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour''. Additionally, they appeared on '' The Kenny Rogers Show'' in Canada, the BBC's '' Old Grey Whistle Test'', and Germany's '' Beat-Club''. Because of tensions within the band, including frequent disagreements with Barclay over their conflicting musical preferences, and soon after having a nervous breakdown "because of the pressures of touring, recording, coping with success, maintaining success, and maintaining a certain image in the boy-defined rock world", Millington left Fanny after their fourth album '' Mothers Pride'' was released in February 1973. Millington was replaced as lead guitarist by Patti Quatro (born Patricia Helen Quatrocchio on March 10, 1948, in
Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at t ...
, Michigan), sister of Suzi Quatro, and former member of all-female bands The Pleasure Seekers and
Cradle Cradle may refer to: * Cradle (bed) * Bassinet, a small bed, often on rockers, in which babies and small children sleep Mechanical devices * Cradle (circus act), or aerial cradle or casting cradle used in an aerial circus act * Cradling (paintin ...
in March 1974. Thirty years after her breakdown, Millington summarized: "Instead of carrying it all, I just fell apart." In 2008, Millington revealed in an interview:
I was just so intent on my mission to do music come hell or high water that I was missing a lot of the subtleties of life—which is why I'd left Hollywood. I had intuited that I was in trouble and I had to leave—which was very difficult. It was hard to leave that whole scene, it was hard to leave rock 'n' roll in that way, it was hard to leave the band that we had worked so hard to establish, it was hard to leave my sister. But I was falling apart.


1973–1975: Smiles

After she left Fanny in 1973, Millington moved to Peconic, New York, on
Long Island Long Island is a densely populated island in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of New York, part of the New York metropolitan area. With over 8 million people, Long Island is the most populous island in the United States and the 18 ...
, and soon after to her recently purchased farm on Mead Mountain,
Woodstock, New York Woodstock is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States, in the northern part of the county, northwest of Kingston, NY. It lies within the borders of the Catskill Park. The population was 5,884 at the 2010 census, down from 6,241 in 20 ...
, to focus on her songwriting and spiritual development. Soon after, Millington started a solo career in New York, where she eventually became the lover of musician Jacqueline "Jackie" Robbins (born circa 1950),Lindsy Van Gelder and Pamela Robin Brandt, ''The Girls Next Door: Into the Heart of Lesbian America'' (Simon & Schuster, 1996):58. who played bass guitar, cello, and bass. Millington and Robbins played together, but she also regularly played with other bands such as
Randall's Island Randalls Island (sometimes called Randall's Island) and Wards Island are conjoined islands, collectively called Randalls and Wards Islands, in New York County, New York City, Some time after the rail bridge was built, a long, 3 span, steel ar ...
and
Sha-Na-Na Sha Na Na was an American rock and roll doo-wop group. Formed in 1969, but performing a song-and-dance repertoire based on 1950s hit songs, it simultaneously revived and parodied the music and the New York street culture of the 1950s. After ...
. Millington recalled in November 2012:
I jammed with whomever whenever I could, as that was part of what I'd felt was missing from my life. Most people don't realize how many women players there were in New York at that time. There were a lot, funky too, and serious about playing; they'd be practicing all the time.
About 1973, Millington formed a band called Smiles in New York, which also included percussionist Padi Macheta. In 1975, Millington worked in
New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans
as a guest musician on the
Allen Toussaint Allen Richard Toussaint (; January 14, 1938 – November 10, 2015) was an American musician, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was an influential figure in New Orleans rhythm and blues from the 1950s to the end of the century, descri ...
-produced album ''Ain't No Stopping Us Now'' by the all-female
jazz fusion Jazz fusion (also known as fusion and progressive jazz) is a music genre that developed in the late 1960s when musicians combined jazz harmony and improvisation with rock music, funk, and rhythm and blues. Electric guitars, amplifiers, and ke ...
band
Isis Isis (; ''Ēse''; ; Meroitic: ''Wos'' 'a''or ''Wusa''; Phoenician: 𐤀𐤎, romanized: ʾs) was a major goddess in ancient Egyptian religion whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. Isis was first mentioned in the Old Kin ...
that had been founded by Ginger Bianco and Carol MacDonald, who had both been in pioneer all-female band
Goldie & the Gingerbreads Goldie & the Gingerbreads was an all-female American rock band from 1962 to 1967. They were the first all-female rock band signed to a major record label.Lucy O'Brien. ''She Bop II: The Definitive History of Women in Rock, Pop and Soul.'' Londo ...
.


Women's Music

After a period of rest and renewal, in 1975, Millington began a musical association with Cris Williamson through her friendship with Robbins. Through Williamson's influence, Millington became involved in the burgeoning Women's Music Movement (often code for Lesbian Music). In the winter of 1975 both Millington and Robbins traveled to Los Angeles to play on Williamson's ''The Changer and the Changed: A Record of the Times'',June Millington, in Mike Renville
"Guest Blog by June Millington, IMA update: Toshi Reagon, June Millington, and IMA"
(June 8, 2011).
which would become the definitive work of the genre. Millington headlined major Women's Music festivals for decades.


1975–1976: Fanny/ L.A. All-Stars

Due to the chart success of Fanny's song "Butter Boy", which became their biggest single, reaching number 29 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 on April 5, 1975,Chris Davies, ''British and American Hit Singles: 51 years of Transatlantic Hits, 1946–1997'' (BT Batsford, 1998):1965. the Millington sisters put together a new line-up of Fanny for a short tour, which also included former Svelts drummer Brie Howard, keyboardist Wendy Haas (born August 9, 1949) (formerly of pioneer all-female band The Freudian Slips of
Atherton, California Atherton () is an incorporated town in San Mateo County, California, United States. Its population was 7,188 as of 2020. Atherton is known for its wealth; in 1990 and 2019, Atherton was ranked as having the highest per capita income among U.S. ...
), and percussionist Padi Macheta. This incarnation of Fanny played none of the older Fanny songs. This group ultimately morphed into a new all-women band called the L.A. All-Stars, which, by 1976, had generated some interest from record labels (including Arista), but with the stipulation that the band tour as Fanny and play only old Fanny songs, which Millington opposed. In 1976, Millington and the members of the L.A. All-Stars provided backing vocals on
Lee Garrett Lee Garrett (born June 30, 1943, in Mississippi) is an American rhythm and blues singer-songwriter, most famous for co-writing the classic song "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours". He recorded a handful of solo singles during the 1960s, one of ...
's song "You're My Everything" that reached number 15 in the UK. In 1976, Millington was part of Cris Williamson's national tour, and toured with Williamson over the next three years, and helped produce seven albums for Williamson. Since then, Millington also produced records for
Tret Fure Tret Fure is an American singer-songwriter, prominent in the women's music and folk music scene. The musical career of Tret Fure has spanned five decades. Fure began her career at the age of 16, singing in coffeehouses and campuses in the Midw ...
,
Meg Christian Meg Christian (born 1946 in Lynchburg, Virginia) is an American folk singer associated with the women's music movement. Early life and career Christian was born in Tennessee in 1946 and raised in Lynchburg, Virginia. She has spoken about being ...
,Jack McDonough, "Underground Women Moving Up", ''Billboard'' (August 8, 1981):44. Holly Near,
Mary Watkins Mary D. Watkins (born 1939, Denver, Colorado) is an American composer and pianist in jazz and classical music. Watkins graduated from Howard University in 1972 and began performing in jazz ensembles in Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline ...
,
Bitch and Animal Bitch and Animal, a duo consisting of musicians Bitch and Animal Prufrock, were a queercore band that performed from 1995 to 2004. They became established while touring as an opening act for Ani DiFranco, and later launched their own highly succe ...
, John Simon, Diane Lincoln, Melanie DeMore, Jamie Anderson, Dorothy Dittrich,
Ferron Ferron (born Deborah Foisy on 1 June 1952) is a Canadian-born singer-songwriter and poet. In addition to gaining fame as one of Canada's most respected songwriters, Ferron, who is openly lesbian, became one of the earliest and most influential ...
, Ruth Huber, Linq, and Joel Zoss. Additionally, Millington was the
audio engineer An audio engineer (also known as a sound engineer or recording engineer) helps to produce a recording or a live performance, balancing and adjusting sound sources using equalization, dynamics processing and audio effects, mixing, reproduction ...
on records by DeMore, Williamson, Anderson, Dittrich,
Sharon Knight Sharon Knight is a San Francisco-based neopagan composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist known for writing, recording, and performing Celtic fusion music she calls ''Neofolk Romantique''.Interview in witches & pagans, Issue 26, April 2013, ...
, Alice Di Micele, Ferron, Fure, Near, Bitch & Animal, Linq, and Zoss.


1977: Millington

In 1977, June and Jean Millington reunited as a duo called Millington, and recorded ''Ladies on the Stage'' (1978) for
United Artists United Artists Corporation (UA), currently doing business as United Artists Digital Studios, is an American digital production company. Founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, the stu ...
. June Millington was also featured on the 1977 compilation album '' Lesbian Concentrate: A Lesbianthology of Songs and Poems'' ( Olivia Records LF 915) that was a response to the antigay
Save Our Children Save Our Children, Inc. was an American political coalition formed in 1977 in Miami, Florida, to overturn a recently legislated county ordinance that banned discrimination in areas of housing, employment, and public accommodation based on sexua ...
campaign of
Anita Bryant Anita Jane Bryant (born March 25, 1940) is an American singer known for anti-gay activism. She scored four "Top 40" hits in the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including " Paper Roses" which reached No. 5 on the charts. She was t ...
. In 1978, Millington and Robbins collaborated with Williamson on the album ''Live Dreams'', which was a live album of recorded performances, featuring Millington on drums and guitars and Robbins on bass and cello.


1980–1988: Fabulous Records

By August 1981, Millington had moved to the
Bay Area The San Francisco Bay Area, often referred to as simply the Bay Area, is a populous region surrounding the San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun Bay estuaries in Northern California. The Bay Area is defined by the Association of Bay Area Gov ...
, and had separated from Robbins, with Robbins briefly becoming the partner of Cris Williamson. In 1981 Millington started her own
record label A record label, or record company, is a brand or trademark of music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a publishing company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the pr ...
, Fabulous Records, a subsidiary of Olivia Records. Through most of the 1980s, Millington toured as a solo artist, promoting her albums released on Fabulous Records: ''Heartsong'' (1981), ''Running'' (1983), and ''One World, One Heart'' (1988). In early 1980, Millington started working on her debut solo album, ''Heartsong'', a soft-rock folk album, and toured to support the album. In 1981 Millington produced activist Holly Near's "Fire in the Rain" album for Redwood Records. After the collapse of a relationship, in 1982, Millington moved to
Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee i ...
, where she wrote the songs for her ''Running'' album. At that time, Millington was studying
Tibetan Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism (also referred to as Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Lamaism, Lamaistic Buddhism, Himalayan Buddhism, and Northern Buddhism) is the form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet and Bhutan, where it is the dominant religion. It is also in majo ...
. Millington recorded ''Running'' in
San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17t ...
at the
Wally Heider Studios Wally Heider Studios was a recording studio founded in San Francisco in 1969 by recording engineer and studio owner Wally Heider. Between 1969 and 1980, numerous notable artists recorded at the studios, including Creedence Clearwater Revival, Je ...
on Hyde Street, with her sister Jean playing on it. Earl Slick, Jean's then husband played on the title cut. In 1984, Millington moved briefly to Kurtistown, Hawaii, where her youngest brother David lived, and wrote songs for her album ''One World, One Heart'', which was released in 1988. In an effort to deepen her understanding of
Tibetan Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism (also referred to as Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Lamaism, Lamaistic Buddhism, Himalayan Buddhism, and Northern Buddhism) is the form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet and Bhutan, where it is the dominant religion. It is also in majo ...
, in the autumn of 1984 Millington started following the
Dalai Lama Dalai Lama (, ; ) is a title given by the Tibetan people to the foremost spiritual leader of the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" school of Tibetan Buddhism, the newest and most dominant of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The 14th and current D ...
around. During that same time period, Millington got together with her current partner, Ann F. Hackler, and moved to the
Amherst, Massachusetts Amherst () is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Connecticut River valley. As of the 2020 census, the population was 39,263, making it the highest populated municipality in Hampshire County (although the county seat ...
area, where Hackler was director of the Women's Center at
Hampshire College Hampshire College is a private liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts. It was opened in 1970 as an experiment in alternative education, in association with four other colleges in the Pioneer Valley: Amherst College, Smith College, Mo ...
. Millington recalled in November 2012:
I lived with her at the college for two years and learned a lot about institutional thinking.
Millington's 1993 solo release, ''Ticket to Wonderful'', synthesized a 30-year exploration of musical styles and sounds – which began with folk and rock and journeyed through funk, reggae, salsa, pop, and world beat.


1999–2006: The Slammin' Babes

By 1999, the Millingtons formed a six-person band, the Slammin' Babes, that released an album ''Melting Pot'' in August 2001. The Slammin' Babes continued to perform until mid-2006.


Later years

Millington has been highly regarded for her work on behalf of women musicians and the
LGBT ' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity. The LGBT term ...
community. Millington indicates that when she was 20 years old she knew she was a lesbian, and that while "everybody" associated with the band Fanny knew, at that time "you didn't talk about it", and it was not featured in the promotion of Fanny.June Millington, in Bill Bliss
"June Millington: still jammin’, still cool & always gay"
''Edge Boston'' (October 4, 2011).
Since 1984 Millington has been in a
domestic partnership A domestic partnership is a legal relationship, usually between couples, who live together and share a common domestic life, but are not married (to each other or to anyone else). People in domestic partnerships receive benefits that guarantee ...
with education activist Ann F. Hackler (born May 2, 1956), who had been the director of the Women's Center at
Hampshire College Hampshire College is a private liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts. It was opened in 1970 as an experiment in alternative education, in association with four other colleges in the Pioneer Valley: Amherst College, Smith College, Mo ...
in
Amherst, Massachusetts Amherst () is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Connecticut River valley. As of the 2020 census, the population was 39,263, making it the highest populated municipality in Hampshire County (although the county seat ...
. In 1986, Millington and Hackler founded the Institute for the Musical Arts (IMA) in Bodega, California. The IMA received its nonprofit status in 1987, and operated its studio and programs from the historic Old Creamery in Bodega until 2001, when a 25-acre permanent property was purchased in
Goshen, Massachusetts Goshen is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 960 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town has a rural atmosphere, with one general store ...
.Elizabeth Hinkle-Turner, ''Women Composers and Music Technology in the United States: Crossing the Line''(Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2006):213. The IMA's nonprofit mission is to support women and girls in music and music-related businesses. Rooted in the legacy of progressive equal rights movements, IMA's development is guided by the visions, needs, and concerns of women from a diversity of backgrounds. Its programs including a Rock 'n Roll Camp for Girls, and workshops on vocal and instrumental instruction, album production and recording techniques, lyric and music composition, and booking, promotion, and entertainment law. In 2002, Millington was featured in and was also the associate director of ''
Radical Harmonies ''Radical Harmonies'' is a 2002 American independent documentary film directed and executive produced by Dee Mosbacher that presents a history of women's music, which has been defined as music by women, for women, and about women. The film was ...
'', a documentary about the history of women's music directed by
Dee Mosbacher Diane "Dee" Mosbacher, MD, Ph.D., (born January 13, 1949 in Houston, Texas) is an American filmmaker, lesbian feminist activist, and practicing psychiatrist. In 1993, she founded Woman Vision, a nonprofit organization to promote equal treatmen ...
. Millington was co-composer (with Lee Madeloni) for the 2009 documentary ''The Heretics'', the inside story of a pivotal force in the "second wave" of the Women's Movement written and directed by Joan Braderman. In February 2013, Millington and fellow Fanny alumni Alice de Buhr and Jean Millington re-recorded two Fanny classic songs for a documentary entitled, ''Feminist: Stories from the Women's Liberation 1963–1970''. Millington is featured in the upcoming documentary ''She Rocks!'' about great women guitarists (including Orianthi,
Jennifer Batten Jennifer Batten (born November 29, 1957) is an American guitarist who has worked as a session musician and solo artist. From 1987 to 1997 she played on all three of Michael Jackson's world tours, and from 1999 to 2001 she toured and recorded wit ...
, Patti and Suzi Quatro, June and Jean Millington,
Vicki Peterson Victoria Anne Theresa Peterson Cowsill (born January 11, 1958) is an American rock musician and songwriter. She has been the lead guitarist for the Bangles since their foundation in 1981. After their first disbandment in 1989, she has returned ...
of The Bangles, Kaki King, Earl Slick,
Bibi McGill Bibi McGill (born Belinda McGill) is an American guitarist, yogi, producer and DJ best known as the lead guitarist and musical director of Beyoncé's backing band, the Suga Mamas, as well as for her work with P!nk, Paulina Rubio and Chilean rock ...
,
Jordin Sparks Jordin Sparks-Thomas (born December 22, 1989) is an American singer and actress. She rose to fame in 2007 after winning the sixth season of ''American Idol'' at age 17, becoming the youngest winner in the series' history. Her self-titled debu ...
, Tish Ciravolo, and Beth Marlis). Millington plays Jane Wong, bassist and singer in an all-female band in the 2015 independent feature film "SUGAR!", which was written by Leora Kalish and directed by Shari Berman. Starring Alice Ripley and Robert Clohessy, the film tells the story of the housewife of a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, who secretly forms an all-women rock band.Sugar, The Film
Official SUGAR! film website
Dec. 5, 2014.
Millington continues to produce music. ''Play Like a Girl'', Millington and her sister Jean's most recent album was released in August 2011 on Millington's label Fabulous Records. Millington explained its purpose:
When we started out in 1965, we 'played like a girl'. With this album, we're reclaiming that phrase and making it a statement of power and vision. It's a gift to still be rockin' out, while teaching the next generation how to find their own voices through music.
By February 2011, Millington was
artist-in-residence Artist-in-residence, or artist residencies, encompass a wide spectrum of artistic programs which involve a collaboration between artists and hosting organisations, institutions, or communities. They are programs which provide artists with space a ...
at the
University of Western Ontario The University of Western Ontario (UWO), also known as Western University or Western, is a public research university in London, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land, surrounded by residential neighbourhoods and the Thames R ...
in
London, Ontario London (pronounced ) is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada, along the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor. The city had a population of 422,324 according to the 2021 Canadian census. London is at the confluence of the Thames River, approximat ...
. Since 2011, Millington has been completing her autobiography, ''Land of a Thousand Bridges'', that is funded through
Kickstarter Kickstarter is an American public benefit corporation based in Brooklyn, New York, that maintains a global crowdfunding platform focused on creativity. The company's stated mission is to "help bring creative projects to life". As of July 2021, ...
, with all proceeds to support the work of the IMA .


Awards and recognition

In 1996 the
Audio Engineering Society The Audio Engineering Society (AES) is a professional body for engineers, scientists, other individuals with an interest or involvement in the professional audio industry. The membership largely comprises engineers developing devices or product ...
honored Millington with its Lifetime Achievement award, and also presented Millington the first AES Women in Audio 'Granny' award along with Suzanne Ciani. In 2000, the Bay Area Career Women gave her their LAVA award for being a "legend of women's music". In 2005, Millington received the Outmusic Heritage Award and in 2007 she, along with the other members of Fanny, received the ''
ROCKRGRL ''ROCKRGRL'' was the first national publication for female musicians in the United States. Created by Carla DeSantis, the magazine purely focused on women in music and highlighted the artistic diversity of women musicians, often overlooked in mai ...
'' Women of Valor Award from magazine founder
Carla DeSantis Black Carla DeSantis Black (born February 21, 1958) is a writer and advocate for women in music. Sometimes referred to as “The Gloria Steinem of Rock,” she is the founder of ''ROCKRGRL'' Magazine (1995-2005) and MEOW - Musicians for Equal Opportuni ...
,
Berklee College of Music Berklee College of Music is a private music college in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern American music, it also offers college-level cours ...
and ''ROCKRGRL'' magazine. In February 2016, there was a pop-up gallery multimedia retrospective of Millington's life and career called "Play Like a Girl". Hosted in an empty storefront in downtown
Northampton, Massachusetts The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of Northampton (including its outer villages, Florence and Leeds) was 29,571. Northampton is known as an a ...
, this gallery featured photographs, instruments, records, and other rock n' roll memorabilia from throughout Millington's life. This retrospective was inspired, in part, by the May 2015 publication of Millington's autobiography, ''Land of a Thousand Bridges: Island Girl in a Rock and Roll World''.


Album discography


Singles discography


Fanny

* "Ladies' Choice" (June & Jean Millington)/ "New Day" (June & Jean Millington) (1970; Reprise Records 0901) * " Nowhere To Run" ( Holland-Dozier-Holland) / "One Step At a Time" ( Armstead, Ashford & Simpson) (1970; Reprise Records 0938) * "Changing Horses" (Barclay) / "Conversation With a Cop" (Barclay) (1971; Reprise Records 0963) * "Conversations With a Cop" (Barclay) / "Come and Hold Me" (June & Jean Millington) (1971; Reprise Records 963) * "Charity Ball" (De Buhr, June & Jean Millington) / "Place in the Country" (Barclay) (US: 1971; Reprise Records 1033) (UK: 1971; Reprise Records K 14109) US Charts #40 * " Ain't That Peculiar" (
Moore Moore may refer to: People * Moore (surname) ** List of people with surname Moore * Moore Crosthwaite (1907–1989), a British diplomat and ambassador * Moore Disney (1765–1846), a senior officer in the British Army * Moore Powell (died c. 1 ...
, Robinson, Tarplin,
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...
) / "Think About the Children" (Millington) (US: 1972; Reprise Records REP 1080) (UK: 1972; Reprise Records K 14165) (Germany: 1972: Reprise Records REP 14165) * "Young & Dumb" (
Ike Turner Izear Luster "Ike" Turner Jr. (November 5, 1931 – December 12, 2007) was an American musician, bandleader, songwriter, record producer, and talent scout. An early pioneer of 1950s rock and roll, he is best known for his work in the 1960s and ...
) / "Knock On My Door" (Barclay) (US: 1973; Reprise Records REP 1119) (UK: 1973 Reprise Records K14217) (Germany: 1972 Reprise Records REP 14 207) * " I Sold My Heart to the Junkman" ( Jimmie Thomas) (UK: 1973; Reprise Records) * "All Mine" (Jean & June Millington) / "I Need You Need Me" (Barclay) (1973 Reprise Records REP 1148) * "Last Night I Had a Dream" (
Randy Newman Randall Stuart Newman (born November 28, 1943) is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist known for his Southern-accented singing style, early Americana-influenced songs (often with mordant or satirical lyrics), and vari ...
) / "Beside Myself" (Barclay & Millington) (1973 Reprise Records REP 1162) * "Summer Song" (Millington) / "Borrowed Time" (Barclay) (UK: January 1973; Reprise Records K 14220)


Millington

* "Young and in Love" (Millington) (US: 1977; United Artists Records UAXW 1045) * "Ladies on the Stage" (Millington) / "Fantasy" (Millington) (US: 1978; United Artists Records) (UK; 1979; United Artists Records UP 36367)


Videography

* Associate director and interviewee, ''
Radical Harmonies ''Radical Harmonies'' is a 2002 American independent documentary film directed and executive produced by Dee Mosbacher that presents a history of women's music, which has been defined as music by women, for women, and about women. The film was ...
'' (Woman Vision 2002; Wolfe Video 2004); directed by
Dee Mosbacher Diane "Dee" Mosbacher, MD, Ph.D., (born January 13, 1949 in Houston, Texas) is an American filmmaker, lesbian feminist activist, and practicing psychiatrist. In 1993, she founded Woman Vision, a nonprofit organization to promote equal treatmen ...
). * ''She Rocks'' (October 2013)


Film

* ''SUGAR!'' (independent feature film, 2015) – Millington plays Jane Wong, bassist and singer in an all-female band called SUGAR!


References


Other references


"FTV 435 Fanny – the All-female Rock ‘n’ Roll Band 1971 radio interview
* JazzWax, http://www.JazzWax.com/2011/08/millingtons-play-like-a-girl.html
''Wall Street Journal'': "The Pioneer Women of Rock 'n' Roll."
*http://wfmu.org/playlists/shows/41571 *http://www.valleyadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=13953
"Olivia Records: Women Making Music Together"
article in ''Yoga Journal'', describing Millington's "spiritual journey" that is expressed on her Olivia Records album ''Heartsong''.
Interview with Millington in ''Backstage pass: interviews with women in music''
, with separate interviews with Millington and her partner Ann Hackler. Located at the Sophia Smith Collection, Women's History Archives, Smith College.


External links

* archived February 10, 2014 * *
The Institute for the Musical Arts

Fanny: Godmothers of Chick Rock
{{DEFAULTSORT:Millington, June 1948 births American women singers Filipino emigrants to the United States American musicians of Filipino descent American rock musicians Lesbian singers Lesbian songwriters American lesbian musicians American LGBT songwriters American LGBT singers Filipino lesbian musicians Filipino LGBT singers Filipino LGBT songwriters American LGBT people of Asian descent Living people Musicians from Manila American rock guitarists American women singer-songwriters Lead guitarists Women's music American Buddhists Filipino Buddhists LGBT Buddhists LGBT record producers 20th-century American guitarists 20th-century Buddhists 21st-century Buddhists American women record producers Fanny (band) members Converts to Buddhism 20th-century American women guitarists 20th-century LGBT people 21st-century LGBT people