Robin Millar

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Robin Millar
Birth name Robin John Christian Millar
Born (1951-12-18) 18 December 1951
Origin Hyde Park Corner, Westminster, England
Genres Pop, R&B, Rock, Latin, Indie, Punk
Occupations Record producer, arranger, composer, Musician, DJ, Academic, Public Speakers
Instruments keyboards guitar bass percussion drums
Years active 1975–present
Associated acts Sade, Fine Young Cannibals, Big Country, Everything But The Girl, Randy Crawford, Patricia Kaas

Robin Millar CBE is a record producer and musician, known variously as ‘The Original Smooth Operator’, ‘The man behind Sade’, and ‘Golden Ears’ [Boy George]. Born in London to an Irish father and West Indian mother he has conquered blindness to become one of the world’s most successful ever record producers with over 150 gold, silver and platinum discs and 55 million record sales to his credit. His 1984 production of ‘Diamond Life’ the debut album by Sade was named one of the best ten albums of the last 30 years at the 2011 Brit Awards.

He has worked as a fundraiser for vulnerable people for 30 years and in March 2012 Millar underwent a 12 hour operation to install a bionic retina in his right eye to help research into future treatment for blindness.

He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2010 Birthday Honours.[1]

Early life

Millar was born with retinitis pigmentosa at St George’s Hospital, which is now The Lanesborough Hotel, Hyde Park Corner.[2] Despite poor vision he attended attended mainstream state school Enfield Grammar School from 1963–70 and then read law at Cambridge University from 1970-73.[2]

Musical career

After gaining his law degree,[3] Millar moved into the music industry initially as a guitarist and artist, putting out records with Atlantic and WEA and working with ex-Velvet Underground singer Nico. He found his niche as a record producer in the early 1980s when he started Power Plant Studios. Power Plant became the most fashionable haunt of the London 1980s music scene. After working with post punk band Weekend in 1982, his breakthrough came in 1984 with seven consecutive Top 10 albums; including Eden by Everything but the Girl, Working Nights by Working Week, and especially the multi-platinum selling Diamond Life by Sade.

Later he produced albums by Fine Young Cannibals (Fine Young Cannibals), Colin Hay (Looking for Jack), Big Country (The Seer), Patricia Kaas (Je te dis vous), Kane Gang, Bhundu Boys and Randy Crawford amongst others. Millar arranged the music for the film, And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen...[4] Millar's song "Rich and Poor", co-composed with Colin Vearncombe, was recorded by Randy Crawford on her 1989 album, Rich and Poor.[5] His 2003 solo album, Kiss and Tell was released by the Nujaz record label.[6]

Millar has worked as producer, arranger, musician, songwriter and mixer, with Sting, Eric Clapton, John Mayall, Chrissie Hynde, Alison Moyet, Brand New Heavies, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Willard White, Mick Hucknell, Elvis Costello, Peter Gabriel, Françoise Hardy, Catherine Deneuve and Malcolm McLaren. His productions have sold over 55 million copies worldwide and have been awarded 150 platinum, gold and silver awards.[citation needed] They have won every major music award including Grammy and Brit Awards.[citation needed]

He is also a champion for vulnerable people and was awarded the 2002 Windrush Award for this work. He has made campaigning records and produced fund-raising concerts as Patron for UNICEF, UNHCR, Oxfam, Nimibian Freedom Fighters, Chilean Solidarity and Oxfam. He is a long-time trustee of The Vietnamese Boat Peoples' Appeal.[citation needed]

Millar trained as a recording engineer, classical and jazz musician and arranger, and has trained dozens of top engineers and producers, including Jim Abbiss the producer of Arctic Monkeys and Adele. He also works as a mentor and inspirational guide to FTSE business leaders and people in the public eye, with famous clients from the world of business, music and politics.[citation needed]

In 2005, he produced MP4's EP album "House Music" which included a version of The Beatles', "Can't Buy Me Love".[7] In 2010 he produced the 12 track MP4 album "Cross Party".

Millar is a patron of The Music Producers Guild, which he helped found in 1987.

Millar is currently executive producer of a major worldwide series of concerts to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Edith Piaf, with shows planned for Carnegie Hall, New York, The Royal Albert Hall London and major venues in France, Germany, Russia, Europe and the Far East. He has been collaborating with Australian singer/songwriter Eran James whom he met through Elton John in 2010

Production credits

In addition to those listed above, Millar's work as a record producer includes credits on the following:-

References

  1. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 59446. p. 8. 12 June 2010.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Robin Millar". Evening Standard. 2004-06-10. Retrieved 2007-11-15. 
  3. ↑ "Your stories - Robin Millar". Creative and Cultural Skills. Archived from the original on 2007-07-30. Retrieved 2007-11-15. 
  4. ↑ Robin Millar at the Internet Movie Database
  5. ↑ Allmusic.com - album overview
  6. ↑ Allmusic.com - album overview
  7. ↑ Fife, Clova (2005-07-13). "Parliament to enter the download age: MP4 release Can't Buy Me Love through EMI Music". BPI. Retrieved 2007-11-15. 
  8. ↑ Allmusic.com - credits
  9. ↑ "Pola". 

External links

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