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June Millington is the lesbian musician, songwriter, producer, and activist behind Fanny, one of the first all-female rock bands to sign with a major label. Growing up in post war Manila, June remembers distinctly the sense of trauma and silence in her communities. Tradition demanded that few words be spoken to community elders, and so June remembers sinking into introversion. From a young age, June took lessons in piano, but the instrument didn’t stick; instead, she opted to learn the ukulele when an older cousin handed her one. A tomboy at heart, June was dismayed when her mother stuffed her into dresses and feminine wear that she didn’t care for. From first to sixth grade, June went to an American school where she faced culture shock for the first time. Yet it was here that June witnessed a guitar being played for the first time and fell in love with it. For her thirteenth birthday, her mother gifted her a small guitar inlaid with pearls.
In the early 1960’s, June and her family moved to Sacramento, California where she was exposed for the first time to American pop and rock music. It was here where June first started making music. In junior high, June made her second song, “Miss Wallflower ‘62” with her sister Jean, and two girls they had befriended from school. Upon receiving positive feedback, the girls started to play at informal music events, and eventually formed June’s first official band, “The Svelts.” While her father was initially opposed to the idea of June starting a band, her mother brought them electric instruments.
From 1965 to 1969, “The Svelts” performed hundreds of gigs, overcoming the public disapproval of an all-female rock band and making their audience fall in love with them over and over again. In 1968, June and the band moved to LA where they signed with Reprise Records in 1969, officially becoming “Fanny.” The band played The Beat Club, The Tonight Shows, and international shows around the world. They played with artists such as Jeff Beck, The Staple Singers, and Dr. John. However, in the early 70s’, June left “Fanny” due to the stress and the seeming inability of the band to break through the misogyny of the music industry.
In 1975, after much needed rest and a reintroduction to the music world via the band LA All Stars, a band June formed with friends and former members of The Svelts, June continued the latter half of her music career as a solo artist and activist, mentoring younger LGBTQ+ musicians. In 1986, with her partner at the time Ann Hackler, she co-founded the Institute for the Musical Arts (IMA), a nonprofit that provides support and education for female musicians. In recent events such as the 2017 Women’s March in Washington, June has been spotted giving speeches and appearing as a figurehead for women’s and LGBTQ+ rights. Through it all, June Millington’s legacy remains one of resilience, artistry, and unwavering commitment to breaking barriers. From pioneering all-female rock bands to empowering young musicians, her journey is a testament to the power of music as a force for change.