Joseph Denton"Jay"Miller(May 5, 1922 – March 23, 1996) was an American record producer and songwriter from Louisiana, whoseCajun,swamp blues,andswamp poprecordings influenced American popular culture.
J.D."Jay"Miller | |
|---|---|
 Miller with a gold record awarded to Kitty Wells | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Joseph Denton Miller |
| Born | May 5, 1922 Iota, Louisiana,U.S. |
| Died | March 23, 1996(aged 73) Lafayette, Louisiana,U.S. |
| Genres | Cajun,country,swamp blues,swamp pop |
| Occupation(s) | Record producer, songwriter, musician |
| Years active | 1940s–1990s |
| Labels | Fais Do Do Records, Feature Records |
Biography
editMiller was born inIota, Louisiana,on May 5, 1922,[1]and spent many childhood years inEl Campo, Texas.[2]He lived most of his life in Crowley, where in the late 1930s he played guitar with several Cajun bands, including the Four Aces, the Rice City Ramblers, and the Daylight Creepers. In 1946,[3]he began to record Cajun musicians, using a studio belonging to the record producer Cosimo Matassa, in New Orleans.[4][5]In 1946, his new label, Fais Do Do Records, recorded most notably the string band Happy, Doc, and the Boys (Happy FatsandOran "Doc" Guidry).[6]After a few records, in 1947, he changed the name of the label to Feature Records, which recorded Cajun musicians such asAmidie Breaux,Aldus Roger,Austin Peteand various other country musicians. Later, Miller would create and record for smaller labels for different genres of music: Rocko Records (originally Rocket), Zynn Records, Showtime Records, Reb Rebel Records, Kajun Records, Cajun Classics, Blues Unlimited, Swade,[7]Spot, Action, Kay, Ringo, Tribute, and French "Hits".[3]
In the 1950s he began to recordswamp popartists, including King Karl,Guitar Gable,Warren Storm,Rod Bernard,andJohnnie Allan,among others.[2][8]In 1952, Miller wrote the lyrics to "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels"(ananswer songto the recentHank Thompsonhit "The Wild Side of Life"). The song, as recorded byKitty Wells,became gold and stayed number 1 for several weeks.[9]
Around this time he also began to record swamp blues artists, such asLightnin' Slim,Lazy Lester,Lonesome SundownandSlim Harpo.Miller produced Harpo's "I'm a King Bee"and"Rainin' in My Heart",significant swamp blues recordings later covered, respectively, by theRolling Stonesand byNeil Young.From 1962 to 1965, Miller also recorded sides bySilas Hogan,until Miller argued with the new owners ofExcello Recordsand his input to that label dried up.[10]
Miller's recording studio attracted a handful of mainstream recording artists, includingPaul Simon,who used the studio to record "That Was Your Mother", a track from his acclaimed albumGraceland,andJohn Fogerty,who traveled to Crowley to record a cover of "My Toot Toot", by thezydecomusicianRockin' Sidney.[citation needed]
Miller's songwriting credits include "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels".[11]
Although he claimed to be asegregationist,Miller nonetheless used interracial studio bands during theJim Crowera, when black and white musicians inthe Southwere not permitted to mingle onstage or elsewhere in public.[citation needed]He professed to enjoy African-American blues music more than any other musical genre, and he wrote blues songs under the pseudonym "Jay West" (a name he used to disguise his race).[citation needed]Yet in the 1960s he also produced and released several racist recordings on his own Reb Rebel label, most notably those ofJohnny Rebel(the pseudonym of a local Cajun/country musician, Clifford "Pee Wee" Trahan).[citation needed]
Miller died in Crowley, on March 23, 1996, after complications followingquadruple bypasssurgery.[1][11]The Jay D. Miller Award, granted by the Louisiana Blues Hall of Fame, is named for him.[11]
| Fais-Do-Do | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Cajun,country,swamp blues,swamp pop |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Location | Iota,Louisiana, United States |
| Feature | |
|---|---|
 Feature logo | |
| Genre | Cajun,country,swamp blues,swamp pop |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Location | Iota,Louisiana, United States |
Recorded songs
editSongs by Miller, covered by other artists:
- "I Made A Big Mistake" – covered byIry LeJeune.
- "Diggy Liggy Lo"– covered byDoug Kershawand many others.[12]
- "I Hear You Knocking" – covered byDwight YoakamandThe Fabulous Thunderbirds.
- "I'm A Lover Not A Fighter" – covered byThe Kinks[13]
Compilation discography
edit- Acadian All Star Special: The Pioneering Cajun Recordings of J.D. Miller(BCD 17206-1/2/3 CK Bear Family Records, 2011)[5]
References
edit- ^abKingsbury, Paul; McCall, Michael; Rumble, John; Orr, Jay (2012).The Encyclopedia of Country Music(2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.ISBN978-0-19-539563-1.
- ^abBernard, Shane [K.]."J. D. Miller and Floyd Soileau: A Comparison of Two Small Town Recordmen of Acadiana".Louisianafolklife.org.RetrievedMay 19,2014.
- ^abTucker, Stephen R."Louisiana Folk and Regional Popular Music Traditions on Records and the Radio: An Historical Overview with Suggestions for Future Research".Louisianafolklife.org.RetrievedMay 16,2014.
- ^Bernard, Shane K. (1996).Swamp Pop: Cajun and Creole Rhythm and Blues.University Press of Mississippi. p.72.ISBN978-0-87805-896-9.
- ^abErlewine, Stephen Thomas."Acadian All Star Special: The Pioneering Cajun Recordings of J.D. Miller".AllMusic.RetrievedMay 16,2014.
- ^Miller, J. D. Interview by author, February 21, 1991. Crowley Louisiana. Tape recording. Acadian and Creole Folklore and Folklife Collection, University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
- ^Broven, John (1983).South to Louisiana: The Music of the Cajun Bayous.Pelican. pp.36–65.ISBN978-0-88289-608-3.
- ^Bernard, Shane K. (1996).Swamp Pop: Cajun and Creole Rhythm and Blues.University Press of Mississippi. p.59.ISBN978-0-87805-896-9.
- ^Davis, Bill; Pugh, Ronnie (1994). Liner notes forFrom the Vaults: Decca Country Classics 1934–1973.
- ^"Silas Hogan".AllMusic.RetrievedJanuary 19,2010.
- ^abcDoc Rock."The Dead Rock Stars Club 1996–1997".Thedeadrockstarsclub.RetrievedMarch 19,2014.
- ^"Doug Kershaw | Songs".AllMusic.January 24, 1936.RetrievedOctober 5,2015.
- ^"I'm a Lover Not a Fighter – The Kinks | Song Info".AllMusic.RetrievedOctober 5,2015.
Sources
edit- John Broven,South to Louisiana: The Music of the Cajun Bayous(Gretna, La.: Pelican, 1983).
