Punch Miller
Encyclopedia
Ernest Miller aka Punch Miller or Kid Punch Miller (June 10, 1894 – December 2, 1971), was a Dixieland
jazz trumpeter.
Miller was born in Raceland, Louisiana
. He was known in New Orleans, Louisiana
, where he was based from 1919 to 1927 when he moved Chicago
. In Chicago he worked with various bands including those of Jelly Roll Morton
and Tiny Parham
, and appeared on a number of recordings.
His lifestyle and the decline of Dixieland or New Orleans jazz led to his return to mostly doing festivals and falling out of the limelight. This changed with the rising importance of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band
and he returned to national attention.
He returned to New Orleans, playing at Preservation Hall
and leading a band under his own name, in addition to playing with other groups.
In 1963 he did a tour of Japan
with George Lewis
. He was the subject of the television documentary Til the Butcher Cuts him down.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0393620/
Dixieland
Dixieland music, sometimes referred to as Hot jazz, Early Jazz or New Orleans jazz, is a style of jazz music which developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century, and was spread to Chicago and New York City by New Orleans bands in the 1910s.Well-known jazz standard songs from the...
jazz trumpeter.
Miller was born in Raceland, Louisiana
Raceland, Louisiana
Raceland is a census-designated place on Bayou Lafourche in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 10,224 at the 2000 census...
. He was known in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, where he was based from 1919 to 1927 when he moved Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. In Chicago he worked with various bands including those of Jelly Roll Morton
Jelly Roll Morton
Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe , known professionally as Jelly Roll Morton, was an American ragtime and early jazz pianist, bandleader and composer....
and Tiny Parham
Tiny Parham
Hartzell Strathdene "Tiny" Parham was a Canadian-born American jazz bandleader and pianist of African-American descent....
, and appeared on a number of recordings.
His lifestyle and the decline of Dixieland or New Orleans jazz led to his return to mostly doing festivals and falling out of the limelight. This changed with the rising importance of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Preservation Hall Jazz Band is the name for numerous groups of Dixieland Jazz and traditional jazz bands at Preservation Hall in New Orleans, Louisiana, and on tours as organized by the Preservation Hall...
and he returned to national attention.
He returned to New Orleans, playing at Preservation Hall
Preservation Hall
Preservation Hall is a noted jazz performance hall located at 726 St. Peter Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. It hosts nightly concerts featuring a rotating roster of bands. The bands of Preservation Hall typically perform jazz in the New Orleans style.Despite the fame of the...
and leading a band under his own name, in addition to playing with other groups.
In 1963 he did a tour of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
with George Lewis
George Lewis (clarinetist)
George Lewis was an American jazz clarinetist who achieved his greatest fame and influence in the later decades of his life.-Ancestry:...
. He was the subject of the television documentary Til the Butcher Cuts him down.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0393620/