Ronald Norman Miller(October 5, 1932 – July 23, 2007)[1]was an American popularsongwriterandrecord producerwho wrote forMotownartists in the 1960s and 1970s and attained many Top 10 hits. Some of his songs, such as "For Once in My Life",have become pop standards.
Ron Miller | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ronald Norman Miller October 5, 1932 |
| Died | July 23, 2007(aged 74) Los Angeles,California,U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Songwriter, record producer |
| Spouse |
Aurora Riviera (separated) |
| Children | 6 |
| Relatives | Sandy Hackett(son-in-law) |
Ron Miller was described by his daughter Lisa as "a young, Jewish songwriter with a veryRodgers & Hammersteinmusical theater writing style "who" wrote of peace and hope for a better tomorrow during a time of war and the Civil Rights Movement. He didn't just write about it. He lived it. "[2]
Biography and career
editBorn as Ronald Norman Gould inChicago,Ron Miller was the only son of Sue and Harry Gould. Harry died when Miller and his sisters were still very young, and after his mother remarried Joe Miller, Miller adopted his stepfather's surname. Ron Miller served in theU.S. Marinesand then soldwashing machinesbefore he was discovered by Motown founderBerry Gordywhile playing in a bar.[3]
After his discovery by Gordy and Motown executiveMickey Stevensonin Chicago in the early 1960s,[2]Miller was invited to write songs for Gordy's new company, Motown. The night Miller's daughter Angel was born, Miller penned the lyrics to "For Once in My Life",to music by Orlando Murden." For Once in My Life "was first recorded at Motown byBarbara McNairbefore being redone in a more upbeat style byStevie Wonder.The number ended up being a huge and enduring hit. It is one of the most covered songs in pop history with more than 270 recorded versions. A rendition byTony Bennettand Wonder won aGrammy Awardin 2007.[3]
Miller collaborated with composer Bryan Wells on some other Stevie Wonder hit songs, such as "A Place in the Sun","Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday"and the holiday anthem"Someday at Christmas",which was later covered by many other artists, includingJustin Bieber.In 2015, Wonder did a duet version of "Someday at Christmas" withAndra Day;portions of this rendition appeared in a commercial for Apple TV.
Miller wrote and composed Stevie Wonder's 1970 hit single "Heaven Help Us All".A version of" Heaven Help Us All "byRay CharlesandGladys Knightlater won a Grammy Award for bestgospelperformance in 2005.
Miller also co-wroteDiana Ross' 1973 hit "Touch Me in the Morning"andCharlene's "I've Never Been To Me".
Miller created the title track forWalter Jackson's1977 album,I Want to Come Back As a Song.
Miller authored the lyrics to "Can't We Try", which was used onTeddy Pendergrass' 1978TPalbum and also featured on the soundtrack to the 1980 filmRoadie.
During the 1970s, Miller wrote lyrics for severalmusicals,includingCherryandDaddy Goodness.[3]With lyrics by Miller and compositions by Tom Baird,Cherrywas launched in 1970 as a musical version of William Inge'sBus Stopbut never made it to Broadway. "I've Never Been a Woman Before" fromCherrywas recorded by bothShirley Bassey(on her 1972 I Capricorn Album) andBarbra Streisand(on herThe Way We Werealbum).[3]
Adapted from the same-titled play by Richard Wright and Louis Sapin, theDaddy Goodnessmusical ran into severe trouble while still in tryouts on the road in Philadelphia and Washington D.C., where it closed without ever getting to Broadway, even though it had been scheduled to open on the Great White Way at the Winter Garden Theatre on October 25, 1979.[4]The song "Hungry" fromDaddy Goodnesswas recorded by bothFreda Payneand Charlene.
Miller once again collaborated with composerKen Hirsch,his partner for "I've Never Been to Me" andDaddy Goodness,on the musicalClothespins and Dreams[5][6],which premiered in 1990 at the California Music Theatre[7]in Pasadena, California, after snippets from the show had already been presented at a meeting of the National Alliance of Music Theaters in Century City in 1988.[5]
Miller authored the lyrics to "If I Could" as a tribute to his own children. Co-written with Hirsch and Marti Sharron, the ballad was recorded byCeline Dionfor her 2004Miraclealbum. The song has also been covered by many other artists, including Barbra Streisand, Ray Charles,Michael Bolton,Regina Belle,Nancy Wilsonand Miller's own daughter, Lisa Dawn Miller, on her CD,Fly Away.
Ron Miller died on July 23, 2007, ofcardiac arrestat Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center, after a long battle withemphysemaandcancer.
Personal life
editAfter an earlier union ended in divorce, Miller married Aurora Rivera, from whom he separated. Miller had six children: Angel, Lisa, Mark, Debbie, Julie and Gary. At the time of his death, Miller's companion was Janis Waller.[1]
In 2005, his daughter Lisa marriedSandy Hackett,son ofBuddy Hackett.
Miller had seven grandchildren.
Mr. Miller's cause of death was a heart attack after battling lung cancer and emphysema for an undisclosed length of time.
Selected list of Miller songs
edit- "A Place in the Sun"(Ron Miller, Bryan Wells) –Stevie Wonder,1966, US #9, UK #20
- "Someday at Christmas"(Ron Miller, Bryan Wells) - Stevie Wonder, 1966, #24 onBillboardChristmas singles chart
- "For Once in My Life"(Ron Miller, Orlando Murden) – Stevie Wonder, 1968, US #2, UK #3
- "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday"(Ron Miller, Bryan Wells) – Stevie Wonder, 1969, US #7, UK #2
- "Heaven Help Us All"(Ron Miller) – Stevie Wonder, 1970, US #9, UK #29
- "Touch Me in the Morning"(Ron Miller,Michael Masser) –Diana Ross,1973, US #1, UK #9
- "Don't Burn Down the Bridge" (Ron Miller) -Gladys Knight & the Pips,1973
- "I Want to Come Back As a Song" (Ron Miller) - Walter Jackson, 1977
- "Can't We Try" (Ron Miller, Ken Hirsch) -Teddy Pendergrass,1978. From the albumTP,US #14
- "I've Never Been to Me"(Ron Miller,Ken Hirsch) –Charlene,1982, US #3, UK #1, Canada #1, Australia #1
- "You Moved A Mountain" (Denzil Miller, Jr., Jermaine Jackson, Ron Miller) -Jermaine Jackson,1982. From the albumLet Me Tickle Your Fancy,US #46.[8]
- "Put Me On" (Kerry Brothers,Bertram Reid, Woodrow Cunningham, Norman Durham, Ron Miller,Alicia Keys) -Mario,2002. The albumMariopeaked at US #9.
- "If I Could" (Ron Miller, Ken Hirsch, Marti Sharron) –Celine Dion,2004. The albumMiraclepeaked at US #4.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ab"Ron Miller, 74; Wrote Many Hit Pop Songs For Motown Records".query.nytimes.RetrievedDecember 5,2018.
- ^ab"Lisa Dawn Miller-Hackett: 'For Once in My Life' honors my father, Ron Miller".Las Vegas Sun.RetrievedNovember 19,2018.
- ^abcd"Ron Miller".Telegraph. July 25, 2007.RetrievedNovember 25,2013.
- ^"'Daddy Goodness' Musical Closes in Washington ".RetrievedNovember 19,2018.
- ^abKLEIN, KAREN E. (August 8, 1990)."Keeping It Music to Their Ears: Stage: A pair of songwriters agree to let a Pasadena theater put on the world premiere of their musical in return for artistic control".Los Angeles Times.ISSN0458-3035.RetrievedNovember 29,2018.
- ^SHIRLEY, DON (August 13, 1990)."STAGE REVIEW: 'Clothespins' Has Hang-Ups".Los Angeles Times.ISSN0458-3035.RetrievedNovember 29,2018.
- ^SHIRLEY, DON (May 24, 1992)."California Music Theatre Creator Surveys the Wreckage of a Dream".Los Angeles Times.ISSN0458-3035.RetrievedNovember 29,2018.
- ^"Let me tickle your fancy".Jermaine Jackson Entertainment. Archived fromthe originalon September 30, 2011.RetrievedNovember 25,2013.