Millington, Jean and June

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Millington, Jean and June

American musicians who formed the group Fanny, the first all-female rock 'n' roll band to sign a contract with a major record label.

Millington, Jean (1949—).

Born Jean Yolanda Millington in the Philippines in 1949.

Millington, June (1950—).

Born June Elizabeth Millington in the Philippines in 1950.

Jean and June Millington were born in the Philippines but moved to California with their family in 1961, where they soon became involved in surf music and rock 'n' roll. After mastering the ukelele, the sisters graduated to guitar, and were quickly copying solos by the great guitarists of the time, including Jerry Garcia, Jimi Hendrix, and Eric Clapton. When their boyfriends formed a surf music band in the mid-1960s, the sisters formed an all-girl band so they could perform between their boyfriends' sets. Before long the Millingtons' group had surpassed that of their now exboyfriends, and, under the name the Svelts, they played at YMCAs, school dances, and other minor gigs.

By June's senior year of high school, the Svelts' manager had absconded to Hawaii with their earnings, and many in the group were planning leave the band to attend college. In 1968, during what was thought to be the band's last summer, the Svelts made several trips to Los Angeles to perform, and were "discovered" by Richard Perry, a producer at Warner Bros. who had also signed the pop singer Tiny Tim. Perry signed the Svelts to a recording contract, marking the first time that an all-female rock 'n' roll band was signed by a major label. The band changed their name to Fanny, and with Alice De-Buhr on drums, Nicole (Nickey) Barclay on keyboards, Jean Millington on bass, and June Millington on lead guitar (she had switched from rhythm guitar after their lead guitarist Addie Clement quit), the band released their first, self-titled album in 1970. Fanny was followed by Charity Ball (with an eponymous single that made it to #40 on the charts) in 1970, Fanny Hill in 1972, and Mothers Pride in 1973.

That same year, June Millington quit the band to make demo records and play background music for various bands. Fanny recorded one more album, Rock and Roll Survivors, before breaking up in 1975. Jean and June Millington have continued to perform together and recorded an album, Ladies on the Stage, which June co-produced. June Millington has been involved in the women's music movement since the late 1970s, and has produced albums by performers including Cris Williamson, Holly Near , and Mary Watkins .