I just received word from my friend Tom Hemby that Terry McMillan passed away.
 | | Terry McMillan, a versatile musician who recorded with many of Nashville's greatest stars, died Friday in Sevierville, Tenn. He was 53 and had recently been hospitalized with pneumonia.
Mr. McMillan was mentored by Country Music Hall of Famer Chet Atkins, who hired him for his road band in 1975 and who encouraged him to develop a harmonica style that would be adaptable to blues, country and rock music.
In addition to his harmonica work, Mr. McMillan was a talented percussionist. His skills on those seemingly dissimilar instruments allowed him to become an in-demand studio instrumentalist. Like fellow harmonica ace Charlie McCoy, Mr. McMillan could switch tones, tempos and instruments as a song warranted.
George Jones, Merle Haggard, Reba McEntire, Randy Travis, Johnny Cash, Chet Atkins, Roy Orbison, Kenny Chesney, Emmylou Harris, J.J. Cale, Neil Young, Mark Knopfler, Waylon Jennings, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood were some of the artists who chose to work with Mr. McMillan.
He contributed to classic albums including Haggard's That's The Way Love Goes and Travis' Storms of Life. |
Rest in Peace Terry ... we'll miss you.
