2005 -2022 AACM New York City Chapter, Inc
Laroy Roosevelt (Wallace ) McMillan, born 1941 in St. Louis, Missouri
From an early age McMillan had an interest in drums he started playing relatively
young age 8 or 9 years old playing congas and bongos which were his first
instruments. He took part in talent shows led by a popular master of ceremonies in his
home town, there he became strongly attracted to the latin jazz sounds of Mongo
Santamaria and Cal Tjader, influenced by these latin sounds he decided to take up the
flute and studied with a member of the St. Louis Symphony. After being discharged
from the Navy in 1967 where he had the opportunity to hone his musical skills he
returned to St . Louis but then decided to move to Chicago around the end of that year
or early 68. His first encounters with the AACM came in 1968 at the 63rd street
Beachhouse summer concert series that the AACM presented, he became a member
of the organization shortly thereafter. McMillan has performed with Muhal Richard
Abrams Sextet the first AACM group to play the Berlin Jazz festival in 1973, Adegoke
Colson/Iqua Colson´s group Unity Troupe , Douglas Ewart´s Inventions and he has
been a consistant mainstay in many latin groups in Chicago both as saxophonist and
percussionist.
aacm new york
aacm new york
Laroy Roosevelt (Wallace ) McMillan,
born 1941 in St. Louis, Missouri
From an early age McMillan had an
interest in drums he started playing
relatively young age 8 or 9 years old
playing congas and bongos which were
his first instruments. He took part in
talent shows led by a popular master of
ceremonies in his home town, there he
became strongly attracted to the latin
jazz sounds of Mongo Santamaria and
Cal Tjader, influenced by these latin
sounds he decided to take up the flute
and studied with a member of the St.
Louis Symphony. After being
discharged from the Navy in 1967
where he had the opportunity to hone
his musical skills he returned to St .
Louis but then decided to move to
Chicago around the end of that year or
early 68. His first encounters with the
AACM came in 1968 at the 63rd street
Beachhouse summer concert series
that the AACM presented, he became a
member of the organization shortly
thereafter. McMillan has performed
with Muhal Richard Abrams Sextet the
first AACM group to play the Berlin
Jazz festival in 1973, Adegoke
Colson/Iqua Colson´s group Unity
Troupe , Douglas Ewart´s Inventions
and he has been a consistant mainstay
in many latin groups in Chicago both as
saxophonist and percussionist.
2005 -2022 AACM New York City Chapter, Inc