Eddie Miller (songwriter)
Encyclopedia
Edward Monroe "Eddie" Miller (December 10, 1919
-April 11, 1977) was an American
songwriter
, in the country music
genre.
He was born in Camargo, Oklahoma
and worked as a locomotive engineer
before becoming a songwriter. Although he never went beyond high school, he taught songwriting at the University of Tennessee
.
His first published song, written in the mid-1930s, was "I Love You Honey." In 1946, he wrote what was to become his biggest hit, "Release Me
," though at first he could not get anyone to record it. Eventually he recorded it himself, and it was covered by several singers and became a big hit.
He was the founder of the Country and Western Music Academy
in Hollywood, as well as a co-founder of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (of which he served as the first president and also another term in the presidency).
He received Performance Awards from Broadcast Music, Inc. for "There She Goes" (1954), for "Thanks a Lot" (1964), and "Release Me" (1954, 1962, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, and 1973, as well as a Most Performed Song award in 1968 and a Pop & Country Performance Award in 1974).
His publisher, Four Star Publishing, gave him platinum records for "Release Me" and "There She Goes."
The Oklahoma Music Association awarded him the All Time Great Songwriter's Award.
He wrote a country opera, "The Legend of Johnny Brown," and a gospel opera, "It Was Jesus."
"Legend of Johnny Brown" was a concept project that may have been years ahead of its time. It was released on Tower Records
. This project featured Kay Adams as Mary Lou, Ray Sanders as Sheriff Tom, Alice Rene as Jezebel Jones and Jerry Naylor as Johnny Brown.
Eddie Miller pitched this project to Capital Records, with a demo version he had already recorded with Alice Rene performing all of the female vocals. Eddie Miller actually wanted Alice Rene for the Mary Lou character but, Capital Records went with Kay Adams. Eddie Miller pressed the label to use Alice Rene and secured her the part of Jezebel Jones. The irony is, that the only recorded version Kay Adams had to learn this music, were the original demos previously recorded by Alice Rene.
He died in Nashville, Tennessee
at age 57.
-April 11, 1977) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, in the country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
genre.
He was born in Camargo, Oklahoma
Camargo, Oklahoma
Camargo is a town in Dewey County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 178 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Camargo is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
and worked as a locomotive engineer
Locomotive engineer
A locomotive engineer may refer to:*Railroad engineer, a person who operates a locomotive, usually called an engine or train driver outside North America*Locomotive builder, a person who designs and builds locomotives...
before becoming a songwriter. Although he never went beyond high school, he taught songwriting at the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
.
His first published song, written in the mid-1930s, was "I Love You Honey." In 1946, he wrote what was to become his biggest hit, "Release Me
Release Me (1946 song)
"Release Me" is a popular song written by Eddie Miller, Robert Yount, and James Pebworth , published in 1946.Miller wrote the song in 1946 but could not get anyone to record it for years, so he recorded it himself in 1953. Shortly afterward it was covered by Jimmy Heap, and with even better success...
," though at first he could not get anyone to record it. Eventually he recorded it himself, and it was covered by several singers and became a big hit.
He was the founder of the Country and Western Music Academy
Academy of Country Music
The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Whereas the Country Music Association, founded in 1958, was based in Nashville, the Academy sought to promote country music in the western states. Among those involved in the...
in Hollywood, as well as a co-founder of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (of which he served as the first president and also another term in the presidency).
He received Performance Awards from Broadcast Music, Inc. for "There She Goes" (1954), for "Thanks a Lot" (1964), and "Release Me" (1954, 1962, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, and 1973, as well as a Most Performed Song award in 1968 and a Pop & Country Performance Award in 1974).
His publisher, Four Star Publishing, gave him platinum records for "Release Me" and "There She Goes."
The Oklahoma Music Association awarded him the All Time Great Songwriter's Award.
He wrote a country opera, "The Legend of Johnny Brown," and a gospel opera, "It Was Jesus."
"Legend of Johnny Brown" was a concept project that may have been years ahead of its time. It was released on Tower Records
Tower Records (record label)
Tower Records was a record label from 1964 to 1970. A subsidiary of Capitol Records, Tower often released music by artists who were relatively low profile in comparison to those released on the parent label, including a number of artists—such as The Standells and The Chocolate Watch Band—later...
. This project featured Kay Adams as Mary Lou, Ray Sanders as Sheriff Tom, Alice Rene as Jezebel Jones and Jerry Naylor as Johnny Brown.
Eddie Miller pitched this project to Capital Records, with a demo version he had already recorded with Alice Rene performing all of the female vocals. Eddie Miller actually wanted Alice Rene for the Mary Lou character but, Capital Records went with Kay Adams. Eddie Miller pressed the label to use Alice Rene and secured her the part of Jezebel Jones. The irony is, that the only recorded version Kay Adams had to learn this music, were the original demos previously recorded by Alice Rene.
He died in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
at age 57.
Published songs
- "After Loving You"
- "Burn Me DownBurn Me Down"Burn Me Down" is a single by American country music artist Marty Stuart. Released in 1992, it was the fourth single from the album Tempted. The song reached #7 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.-Chart performance:...
" - "A Church, a Courtroom & Then Goodbye"
- "Down Came the Rains"
- "Hungry For Love"
- "I Loved and Lost Again"
- "I Love You Honey"
- "Jesus, Let Me Write You a Song"
- "Playboy"
- "Release MeRelease Me (1946 song)"Release Me" is a popular song written by Eddie Miller, Robert Yount, and James Pebworth , published in 1946.Miller wrote the song in 1946 but could not get anyone to record it for years, so he recorded it himself in 1953. Shortly afterward it was covered by Jimmy Heap, and with even better success...
" - "Release Me (From My Sins)"
- "Thanks a Lot"
- "There She Goes"
- "This Old Heart"
- "Three Cigarettes in an Ashtray"