Eddie Miller

by Scott YanowEddie Miller had a beautiful tone on his tenor, similar to Bud Freeman, although his style was much less angular. Miller was a solidly swinging player who fit easily into Dixieland and swing settings. He worked professionally in New Orleans at the age of 16 and in 1930 made his recording debut with Julie Wintz. He was well-featured with Ben Pollacks Orchestra (1930-1934) and when Bob Crosby took over the ensemble, Miller became one of its main stars. In addition to his many solos with Crosbys Orchestra and the Bobcats, Miller was a superior clarinetist who took a famous solo on South Rampart Street Parade. Of the songs he wrote, the haunting Slow Mood caught on and became a standard. When Crosby broke up the band in 1942, Miller put together a short-lived orchestra of his own before being drafted. He was discharged from the military early due to illness and settled in Los Angeles in 1945, becoming a studio musician and appearing on many soundtracks for 20th Century Fox. Miller participated in nearly all of the Bob Crosby reunions and was on many jazz dates in the 1950s. During 1967-1976, he worked in New Orleans with Pete Fountain and he was active at jazz parties and festivals into the mid-80s. Eddie Miller recorded as a leader for Capitol, Jump, Decca, Tops, Southland, Coral, Blue Angel Jazz Club, 77, Famous Door, and Magna Graphic Jazz.