June Millington Walked So Ruby Ibarra Could Rock | Meet the Filipina Rock Legend Who Paved the Way
June 12, 2025
Written by Jennifer Redondo
By now you have most likely seen NPR’s Tiny Desk 2025 winner, Ruby Ibarra’s segment. When Ibarra introduced her band, she gave flowers to guitarist – the legend, June Millington. June Millington is a Filipina-American guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer, teacher, and actress. She is a rock and roll veteran of over 50 years. Millington co-founded Fanny, the groundbreaking first all-female rock band signed to a major label. For decades, Millington has been a trailblazer for women in music. She continues to empower young musicians through her work at the Institute for the Musical Arts, alongside her ongoing performance and recording career.
Who is June Millington?
1. She is 77 years old.
June Elizabeth Millington, born April 14, 1948, in Manila, Philippines, is the eldest of Yolanda and John Millington's seven children. Her mother, Yolanda Leonor Limjoco, was a Filipina socialite, and her father, John Howard Millington, was a former United States Navy Lieutenant Commander stationed in the Philippines following World War II.
2. She was raised in Manila, Philippines and Sacramento, California.
Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, June Millington immigrated to the United States in 1961 aboard the SS President Cleveland, settling with her family in Sacramento, California. This background shaped her identity as both bi-racial and bicultural. Upon arriving in the U.S., Millington and her sister Jean faced challenges adapting due to prevalent racism and societal norms.
3. She is deaf in one ear and plays multiple instruments.
Despite deafness in one ear, June Millington achieved great musical success.
She is a multi-instrumentalist who started playing piano at age eight, followed by the ukulele and guitar. By 1964, she shifted from acoustic to electric guitar and bass. June and Jean both provide vocals and initially learned music by ear, though June later learned to read music in college.
4. She had dreams to become a doctor.
Upon graduating from high school, Millington enrolled at the University of California, Davis in 1966 as a pre-med major with a music minor. However, after a year, she left to pursue her music career.
5. She is the “godmother of women’s music” and was a member of several music groups.
June Millington co-founded her first band, the Svelts, with Jean in 1969. Subsequently, Wild Honey before becoming the co-founder and lead guitarist for the all-female rock group Fanny. Her musical journey continued with her involvement in Smiles, L.A. All Stars, and The Slammin' Babes.
6. She immersed herself in spiritual pursuits.
While a member of Fanny, June Millington actively explored various philosophical and spiritual texts. Her reading encompassed a wide range of subjects, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Chinese Taoism, Japanese disciplines, Sufism, the teachings of Gurdjieff and Madame Blavatsky, the writings of Parmahansa Yogananda, Alan Watts, Carl Jung, and others (Source: San Diego Troubadour).
After her time with Fanny, Millington relocated to Long Island, New York, and subsequently acquired a farm on Mead Mountain in Woodstock, New York, to concentrate on songwriting and spiritual growth. In 1984, she started following the Dalai Lama.
7. She started her own independent record label.
June Millington founded Fabulous Records in 1981. Throughout the majority of the 1980s, she toured as a solo artist to promote albums such as Heartsong, Running, and One World, One Heart, all released through her independent label.
8. She is highly regarded for her staunch support of female musicians and the LGBTQ+ community.
Open about her sexuality since her early twenties, June Millington's musical career centered on and celebrated women. She collaborated with fellow feminist artists such as Holly Near and Cris Williamson. Her participation on Cris Williamson’s 1975 album, The Changer and the Changed, marked the beginning of her significant role in women's music. Subsequently, in the spring of 1976, Millington and Williamson embarked on a national tour together.
9. She is the co-founder and artistic director of the Institute for the Musical Arts.
In 1987, June Millington co-founded the Institute for the Musical Arts (IMA) in Goshen, Massachusetts, with her partner, Ann Hacker. IMA is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting women and girls in music and related industries. Guided by principles of equal rights and diverse female perspectives, IMA offers summer programs for girls and young women, concentrating on rock and roll performance and recording.
10. She’s been recognized with numerous accolades.
June Millington's significant impact has earned her numerous honors. These include the Audio Engineering Society's Lifetime Achievement Award (1996), the Bay Area Career Women's LAVA award (2000) recognizing her legendary status in women's music, the Outmusic Heritage Award (2005), and the Rockgrl Women of Valor Award from Berklee College of Music and Rockrgl magazine (2007), which she shared with her fellow Fanny band members.
June Millington remains a relevant and active musician. Her recent collaboration with Filipina-American rapper, Ruby Ibarra. You can see Millington rocking out in these videos: NPR Tiny Desk Music contest submission and NPR’s Music 2025 Tiny Desk Contest Winner: Ruby Ibarra.
To learn more about June Millington, head to her website, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Watch the documentary Fanny: The Right to Rock and read her autobiography titled Land of a Thousand Bridges: Island Girl in a Rock and Roll World that she published in 2015.
Written by Jennifer Redondo
Co-Founder and Co-Author of In Her Purpose
Representation in America’s favorite pastime sparks a unique kind of pride. It’s not just about fastballs and overpriced hotdogs; it’s about cultural visibility, shattering stereotypes, and proving that Filipinos belong on every stage, even the pitcher’s mound.
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