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Ken grew up in Rutherford, N.J. At age 11, he later moved to Eureka, MT. Working two jobs with two little children at a young age, playing guitar wasn't in my plan for life, but it was apparently in God's.
When I was working at a convenience store, a little hippy guy saw my motorcycle for sale. He wanted to trade a guitar. I needed money, so I was just going to sell it. But this gentleman said when you come to pick up the guitar, you're getting a lesson. I told him "no thanks". He insisted. I told him I was left-handed and that righty wouldn't work. He said don't worry about that. So when I got there, he had this beautiful Ibanez Artist re-strung lefty and tuned. He said sit down. He taught me the intro to Sweet Home Alabama. The rest was history. Here's a link to "SweetHome," a song I wrote to tell the story.
Growing up in the late '60s and '70s, Ken was influenced by a variety of music but always had a love and feel for the Blues. Ken respects traditional Blues, but his style leans more towards his biggest influences, SRV, Robin Trower, Hendrix, Billy Gibbons, Gary Moore, and Warren Haynes. Jimi said it best, "the Blues is easy to play but hard to feel." Ken plays with a lot of feel and loves to be playing in a Solid Power Trio, performing original music. Ken is most thankful for his Love for the Lord. Most of what Ken writes is spiritually influenced. He says, "It's awesome to perform a tune that's accepted at Church and also in the mainstream. Someone once said Ken plays God Rock, and God said... Right on!
In my previous bio, I mentioned the little hippy guy who traded me his guitar for a motorcycle I had for sale. His name was Bjorn Searles. I was a late bloomer and was not planning on playing guitar. Although a serious music lover and concertgoer. His switching that guitar to lefty and pretty much forcing a lesson on me was nothing short of miraculous. Taught me the intro to Sweet Home Alabama. Been playing ever since. That was in Eureka, Mt 1985. Since then, I've been playing professionally (along with a day job, of course. It is Montana ????). For 25 years. Blue Onion Band was 1st project. Then morphed into Kenny James Miller band. I ended up writing original Blues/Rock songs. A lot of them were inspired by my faith. I ended up playing on a lot of Praise bands at churches and being a pinch hitter for leading when they needed.
Man!!! Probably put more hours on guitar to better my playing. Also, more songwriting time. Buy good equipment right off the bat. Stay away from junk ????
Music is therapy for me. Even though I've gone through years of drama, along with a lot of fun, the bottom line is when we're on stage playing music, it's an awesome thing. Especially as a Power Trio like all my heroes. When you can perform original music and get called to come back, it's very inspiring. Hauling gear is what you get paid for. Playing is Free.
Probably for me, it would be Fulltone Clyde Wah, Plimsoul Overdrive, and Fatboost. Pretty much would get all the tone I need for the music I'd play. Plus, they would play the rest of my life. When they found my bones, they could grab those pedals, and they'd still sound good for someone else. Lol
Hmmmm. I think time is the healer for me in that regard. If I try to force things, it doesn't work out, and then I'm even more uninspired to play. Sometimes, a short break or even a long one is the ticket for me. Also, listening to lots of different kinds of music in that downtime can be very inspiring.
Before I played guitar in my 20s, it was pretty much any Southern rock band you could think of. When I became serious about playing in my 30s, it was SRV, Robin Trower, Gary Moore, Billy Gibbons, and Warren Haynes. Many more guitarists came on board after that. Hasn't changed for 30 years. I just keep adding more of them from the 50s, 60s, and 70s, as I hear them. So many stellar ones.
But if I had to pick one favorite, it would have to be SRV. I was just learning to play guitar when Texas Flood came out. I just bought the vinyl by fluke. Dropped the needle and heard Mary Had a Little lamb. That was it for me.
I never have a certain riff. I just play what comes into my head at the time. Usually, just some minor blues scales and some funky 9th chord grooves.
Right now, as I get older, I like to find good-sounding small amps. I was in Seattle playing last summer, and I met an older fellow player who was playing a small Quilter Aviator amp. The American-made ones. I was so impressed I found two of them and bought them. 20 lbs and the best solid-state amp I ever heard that sounds tube. Dan Quilter is the man.
I hate to say I'm maxed out. But I've been through so much different gear. I've had all the vintage Fender amps. Sold them all. Some 1/2 stacks. I'm pretty set with my pedals, two Fender American Strats, and my little quilters. But I probably wouldn't kick a lefty Gibson ES 335 out of my jam room. Had one and sold it. Big mistake ????
I've always been told to go wild to mild on pedal routing. Seems to maintain best tone.
So I go as follows:
Boss tuner(use mainly for signal shut off since snark tuners were invented)
Dunlop MC404 CAE Wah Pedal
EMMA Electronic DiscumBOBulator Auto Wah/Envelope Filter Pedal
Fulltone Catalyst fuzz
Fulltone PlimSoul overdrive
Fulltone Clean Fat Boost V-1
Fulltone Mini Deja Vibe MDV-1
TRex Delay.
I been running Fulltone pedals ever since my friend and I went to a Robin Trower show in Tacoma. At the end of show we leaned over to look at his pedals. He had an OCD, Fat Boost, Deja vibe, and Clyde wah. All Full Tone. Being one of our favorite guitarist and best tone guy, he really inspired us. So on the way home we stopped at Marks Guitar shop in Spokane and low and behold he had two of everything. We built our boards together then. Great memory. I've been a Fulltone guy ever since.
I've tried multiple power sources. I've settled for One Spot. Most simple and quiet.
I've tried multiple patch cords. George L's for years. Had some problems through the years.
I just got turned on to Rattlesnake. Love the custom options. Really like the pancake style. What I really noticed is how clean and quiet the signal is. I'm very impressed. Found my cord source for sure. The service is Stellar. Very impressed.
Projects 1st to last.
Blue onion band "Blues with a Bite"
Blue Onion Band "Live at the Garden"
Kenny James Miller band "Revelator"
Kenny James Miller band" Live at 11th & Grant"
Kenny James Miller band "Tear in my eye"
Kenny Coen Project "Who is He"
All on Amazon and streaming platforms.
Videos:
Kenny James Miller band. PBS 11th and Grant
Kenny James Miller band PBS Inland Sessions.
Do you have to be a famous musician to be featured? No. Do you have to be a professional musician to be featured? No. Do you have passion about playing and gear -- oh and a verified Rattlesnake Cable Company cable user. Yes!
All you need to do is contact us and we'll direct you to our submission form. If your submission is approved, it will be in the queue to be showcased!
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