Big Miller
| Clarence Horatius Miller | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Big Miller |
| Born |
December 18, 1922 Sioux City, Iowa, United States |
| Died | June 9, 1992 (aged 69) Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Genres | Blues, Jump blues |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Trombone |
| Years active | 1949–1992 |
| Labels | Columbia |
Clarence Horatius "Big" Miller (December 18, 1922 – June 9, 1992) was an American jazz and blues singer and bassist, chiefly associated with the Kansas City blues style.
Miller was born in Sioux City and grew up in Topeka, Kansas. His mother was descended from black slaves and his father was a preacher of mixed black and Sioux origin. He studied the trombone and bass in high school. Miller was 6 feet 3 1/2 inches tall and weighed more than 250 pounds. He acquired the nickname "Big" while playing football as a teenager.
His proximity to Kansas City influenced his style. By 1949, "Big" began singing with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra. His first full-time professional job was with the Jay McShann Orchestra where he became a featured performer. It was during this time that his vocal talents began to be recognized. He won fame as a "blues shouter", a musician whose vocal force was powerful enough that it could be heard in an auditorium with a big band behind it even without using a microphone. He also occasionally performed on trombone.
In 1954, after five years with Jay McShann, Miller joined the Fletcher Henderson Reunion Orchestra. He became a popular performer in renowned jazz venues such as Birdland in New York, the Cotton Club in Chicago, and Detroit's Flame Showbar. It was with the Henderson Orchestra that "Big" did his first recording and it was in this period that his career really began to take off. He recorded for Savoy Records early in his career, including with The Five Pennies as backing musicians. His jazz activities also included work with Count Basie and Duke Ellington.
As a vocalist, Miller first rose to national prominence at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival where he appeared with a group led by trombonist Bob Brookmeyer. This led to a New York session with Brookmeyer's ensemble that was released on a well-reviewed LP, The Kansas City Sound, which has since been re-released on CD. After performing with John Hendricks's revue, The Evolution of the Blues, Miller signed with Columbia Records and released several full-length albums, including Big Miller Sings, Twists, Shouts and Preaches (1962).
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