Bill Miller (pianist)
Encyclopedia
Bill Miller was an American jazz pianist, who accompanied Frank Sinatra
over fifty years, and for the last eight years of his life, accompanied Frank Sinatra, Jr.
.
Performing with Red Norvo
, Mildred Bailey
and Charlie Barnet
in the 1930s, Miller also performed with Tommy Dorsey
and Benny Goodman
.
First meeting Sinatra in 1941, they didn't work together until November 1951, when Miller was performing in the lounge of the Desert Inn
, in Las Vegas
. Sinatra was having difficulty holding on to pianists, and it was Jimmy Van Heusen who recommended Miller to Sinatra.
Miller's house was destroyed in a 1964 mudslide in Burbank, California
, which also claimed the life of his wife, Aimee. He was abruptly dismissed for no apparent reason by Sinatra in 1978, but was invited back in 1985.
Sinatra died in 1998, and Miller performed "One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)
" at his funeral. He retired for three years, and then came out of retirement to work for Sinatra's son, Frank Sinatra, Jr.
.
Bill Miller also played on the recreation of Silent Night, rerecorded after Sinatra's death with a full orchestra.
Miller died as he lived; on the road, touring with Sinatra, Jr.
with Robbie Williams
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
over fifty years, and for the last eight years of his life, accompanied Frank Sinatra, Jr.
Frank Sinatra, Jr.
Franklin Wayne Sinatra , professionally known as Frank Sinatra, Jr., is an American singer, songwriter and conductor....
.
Performing with Red Norvo
Red Norvo
Red Norvo was one of jazz's early vibraphonists, known as "Mr. Swing". He helped establish the xylophone, marimba and later the vibraphone as viable jazz instruments...
, Mildred Bailey
Mildred Bailey
Mildred Bailey was a popular and influential American jazz singer during the 1930s, known as "The Rockin' Chair Lady" and "Mrs. Swing"...
and Charlie Barnet
Charlie Barnet
Charles Daly Barnet was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader.His major recordings were "Skyliner", "Cherokee", "The Wrong Idea", "Scotch and Soda", "In a Mizz", and "Southland Shuffle".-Early life:...
in the 1930s, Miller also performed with Tommy Dorsey
Tommy Dorsey
Thomas Francis "Tommy" Dorsey, Jr. was an American jazz trombonist, trumpeter, composer, and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known as "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing", due to his smooth-toned trombone playing. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey...
and Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
.
First meeting Sinatra in 1941, they didn't work together until November 1951, when Miller was performing in the lounge of the Desert Inn
Desert Inn
The Desert Inn was a Paradise, Nevada, hotel/casino that operated from April 24, 1950, to August 28, 2000. Designed by noted New York architect Jac Lessman, it was the fifth resort to open on the Las Vegas Strip. The property included an 18-hole golf course. Locals nicknamed the resort "The D.I."...
, in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. Sinatra was having difficulty holding on to pianists, and it was Jimmy Van Heusen who recommended Miller to Sinatra.
Miller's house was destroyed in a 1964 mudslide in Burbank, California
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
, which also claimed the life of his wife, Aimee. He was abruptly dismissed for no apparent reason by Sinatra in 1978, but was invited back in 1985.
Sinatra died in 1998, and Miller performed "One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)
One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)
"One for My Baby " is a popular song written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the musical The Sky's the Limit and first performed in the film by Fred Astaire. It was popularized by the American singer Frank Sinatra...
" at his funeral. He retired for three years, and then came out of retirement to work for Sinatra's son, Frank Sinatra, Jr.
Frank Sinatra, Jr.
Franklin Wayne Sinatra , professionally known as Frank Sinatra, Jr., is an American singer, songwriter and conductor....
.
Bill Miller also played on the recreation of Silent Night, rerecorded after Sinatra's death with a full orchestra.
Miller died as he lived; on the road, touring with Sinatra, Jr.
Selected discography
with Frank SinatraFrank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
- Songs for Young LoversSongs for Young LoversSongs for Young Lovers is the fifth Studio Album by Frank Sinatra, his first released for Capitol Records. It was released as a 10" LP as a set of eight songs....
(1954) - In the Wee Small HoursIn the Wee Small HoursIn 2003, the album was ranked number 100 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. The album is also the first album reviewed in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die by Robert Dimery. In 2007, Time Magazine selected it as one of The All-TIME 100 Albums...
(1954) - Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the LonelyFrank Sinatra Sings for Only the LonelyFrank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely is a studio LP by the American singer Frank Sinatra...
(1958) - Sinatra & Sextet: Live in ParisSinatra & Sextet: Live in ParisSinatra & Sextet: Live in Paris is a live album by American singer Frank Sinatra, recorded in 1962 but not released until 1994. The album was released by Reprise Records....
(1962) - Cycles (1968)
- The Main Event – LiveThe Main Event – Live-Track listing:#Overture: "It Was a Very Good Year"/"All the Way"/"My Kind of Town" // – 3:12 #"The Lady Is a Tramp" – 3:02...
(1974) - Sinatra: VegasSinatra: VegasSinatra: Vegas is a 2006 box set of live performances by the American singer Frank Sinatra, recorded in Las Vegas.This box set covers some twenty years of Sinatra's performances in Las Vegas, both at the Sands Casino, and at Caesars Palace...
(2006)
with Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams
Robert Peter "Robbie" Williams is an English singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of the pop group Take That. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early- to mid-1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams...
- Swing When You're WinningSwing When You're WinningSwing When You're Winning is a swing cover album by English singer-songwriter Robbie Williams.-Background:After the success of his third studio album, Sing When You're Winning, Williams wanted to take another musical direction...
(2004)