Julie Miller

Julie Miller
Miller with Phil Madeira, 2004
Background information
Birth name Julie Griffin
Born (1956-07-12) July 12, 1956
Waxahachie, Texas, U.S.
Genres CCM, country, alt-country
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter
Instruments Vocals, guitar
Years active 1983–present
Labels Myrrh, Street Level, HighTone
Associated acts Buddy Miller
Website buddymiller.com

Julie Anne Miller (born Julie Griffin, July 12, 1956) is a songwriter, singer, and recording artist[1] currently living in Nashville, Tennessee. She married Buddy Miller in 1981. They sing and play on each other's solo projects and have recorded two duet albums.

Career

Recordings

Julie Miller's first professionally released recording was with the group Streetlight which consisted of Julie, Buddy Miller, and Ron Krueger. The self-titled album was released in 1983. Julie and Buddy wrote some songs for LP, including the original version of "Jesus in Your Eyes" (later re-recorded for Orphans and Angels). "How Could You Say No" (written by Mickey Cates) was originally performed on this album and later included on Julie's solo debut Meet Julie Miller.

A 1985 demo tape recorded by Julie listed eight songs, but contained eleven. Two of these songs were later included on Meet Julie Miller, but the remaining nine songs were not reissued. Songs on this tape include: "I Don't Need Anything Else", "Mystery Love" (Synth Pop Version), "Love Is", "I Look to You", "I Don't Need", "What Does it Take", "I Wanna Be Ready", "King of my Heart" (not the same as that which appeared later on her first Myrrh release), "My New Psychiatrist" (Synth Pop Version with different lyrics), "Debby Came Back", "Dangerous Place" (Synth Pop Version). Only one copy of this tape has seen circulation; it is unknown whether Julie used the tape to shop for a record label, or sold them at concerts.

Julie's musical career initially took off after singer Sam Phillips forwarded her demo tape to friends at Myrrh Records. Myrrh signed Miller to a contract and released Meet Julie Miller (her first solo album) in 1990. This album included backing vocals from Shawn Colvin, Victoria Williams, Amy Grant, Kelly Willard and Russ Taff.

Miller's second solo album He Walks Through Walls (1991) also included backing vocals from Colvin, Williams, Grant and Willard. Mark Heard and Reverend Dan Smith also contributed vocals. This album included the original version of the song "Broken Things", which was later re-recorded.

Her 1993 album Orphans and Angels included a duet with Emmylou Harris on "All My Tears", which was written after the death of Mark Heard. Jazz vocalist Jimmy Scott also contributed vocals. Miller also covered Heard's song "Treasure of the Broken Land". Shawn Colvin once again contributed background vocals. The video of the song "S.O.S." from this album was released to Christian TV.

Her fourth solo album Invisible Girl was released by Street Level Records. Julie covered The Williams Brothers song "Can't Cry Hard Enough". Victoria Williams, Mark Olson and the Electrics provided background vocals.

In 1997, Julie Miller released Blue Pony (Hightone Records) which includes contributions from Emmylou Harris, Buddy Miller, and Valerie Carter.

Her most recent solo album is Broken Things in 1999, which includes new versions of "Broken Things" and "All My Tears" as well as new songs "I Know Why The River Runs," "Orphan Train," "Out in the Rain" and "I Still Cry." The song "By way of Sorrow" was a duet with Innocence Mission's Karen Peris.

In 2001, the first Buddy and Julie Miller duo album Buddy & Julie Miller was released in 2001. This album won the Americana Music Association award for best album in 2002.

Released in 2002, Love Snuck Up was a compilation of the Millers' Hightone recordings.

A Julie Miller compilation is planned, which will include tracks selected by Julie from her first four albums, which have been out of print for many years.

Other contributions

In 1987 Julie contributed background vocals to the song "Remember Me" on Benny Hester's album Through the Window.

In 1992, Julie provided the title track for Cry of the Heart: Emily's Eyes, an album released to bring hope to victims of child abuse. Julie mentioned after a 2002 concert in Kentucky that the song "Emily's Eyes" had one line edited out of it, as there was concern regarding the "implications". No further details were provided.

In 1994, Julie and Buddy Miller recorded Mark Heard's "Orphans of God" which was the title track for the single CD Mark Heard Tribute album Strong Hand of Love.[2] They also assisted Victoria Williams on her version of "What Kind of Friend". Later that same year, both songs were included on the two-CD Mark Heard Tribute Orphans of God, with the song "What kind of Friend" expanded by nearly a full minute.[3]

Julie's composition was an inspiration for the tone of Cameron Crowe's movie Vanilla Sky but the song was not featured in the film.[4]

Songs performed by others

Many artists have recorded songs composed by Julie Miller, and songs written by both Julie and Buddy. See the discography for an extensive list.

After the 1998 Omagh bombing in Northern Ireland, local singer Juliet Turner performed a version of Miller's song "Broken Things" at a memorial service for the victims of the bombing.[5]

Touring and performing

Julie and Buddy Miller teamed up with Victoria Williams, Mark Olson, and Jim Lauderdale for a European tour billed as "The Rolling Creek Dippers" in the 90s.[6]

Awards

Awards
First
None recognized before
 AMA Album of the Year (artist)
2002
with Buddy Miller		 Succeeded by
Johnny Cash
Preceded by
Alison Krauss and Robert Plant		 AMA Album of the Year (artist)
2009
with Buddy Miller		 Succeeded by
Rosanne Cash
Preceded by
Hayes Carll and Brian Keane		 AMA Song of the Year (Songwriter)
2009		 Succeeded by
Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett
Preceded by
Alison Krauss and Robert Plant		 AMA Duo/Group of the Year
2009
with Buddy Miller		 Succeeded by
The Avett Brothers

Compositions

Discography

Solo and with Buddy Miller

Year Album Chart Positions Label
US Christian US Country US US Heat
1990 Meet Julie Miller 23 Myrrh
1991 He Walks Through Walls 27
1993 Orphans and Angels 29
1994 Invisible Girl Street Level
1997 Blue Pony HighTone
1999 Broken Things
2001 Buddy & Julie Miller (with Buddy Miller) 45 41
2004 Love Snuck Up (with Buddy Miller)
2009 Written in Chalk (with Buddy Miller) 159 3 New West

As contributing musician

As primary contributing artist

  • 1995: Various Artists - Noel (VIA Records) - track 10, "Away in a Manger" (with Buddy Miller)

References

  1. ↑ "Julie Miller Biography". musicianguide.com. musicianguide.com. Retrieved February 25, 2012.
  2. ↑ Newcomb, Brian (July 1, 1994). "Review: 'Strong Hand of Love: A tribute to Mark Heard'". Syndicate. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  3. ↑ Porter, Tim (March 1, 2002). "Remembering America's Best Songwriter". Paste Magazine. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  4. ↑ Sottile, Alexis (May 18, 2017). "Cameron Crowe on the 'Singles' Soundtrack, Chris Cornell". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  5. ↑ uncredited (August 23, 1998). "Singer rules out Omagh single release". BBC News. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  6. ↑ Sullivan, Denise (May 24, 2000). "Wedding Albums". SF Weekly. Retrieved April 10, 2017.


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