John Miller (born 1945) is an American bassist and musical coordinator known for his work on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

. He graduated from the

University of Michigan , mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth" , former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821) , budget = $10.3 billion (2021) , endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...

with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1968. A professional bass player, he moved to New York City in the mid-1970s and was eventually hired as the musical director for the

musical ''

I Love My Wife ''I Love My Wife'' is a musical with a book and lyrics by Michael Stewart and music by Cy Coleman, based on a play by Luis Rego. A satire of the sexual revolution of the 1970s, the musical takes place on Christmas Eve in suburban Trenton, ...

''. He also had an acting role in the show for which he won a Drama Desk Award. In the mid-'70s he played bass and arranged for

Leonard Cohen Leonard Norman Cohen (September 21, 1934November 7, 2016) was a Canadian singer-songwriter, poet and novelist. His work explored religion, politics, isolation, depression, sexuality, loss, death, and romantic relationships. He was inducted in ...

, arranging his single “Do I Have to Dance All Night”. Although Miller won an acting award, he has had very few acting roles since, instead choosing to work as a musical contractor and later musical coordinator on stage, and in films and television. As a musical coordinator, he not only finds and hires musicians, but also musical directors, orchestrators, and copyists for productions. He also provides the same service to film companies when they hire out of New York City. Over the past 30 years, Miller has been the musical coordinator for more than 75 Broadway shows including ''

Young Frankenstein ''Young Frankenstein'' is a 1974 American comedy horror film directed by Mel Brooks. The screenplay was co-written by Brooks and Gene Wilder. Wilder also starred in the lead role as the title character, a descendant of the infamous Dr. Victor ...

'', ''

Les Misérables ''Les Misérables'' ( , ) is a French historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published in 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. In the English-speaking world, the novel is usually referred to by its origin ...

'', ''

Jersey Boys ''Jersey Boys'' is a jukebox musical with music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe, and book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. It is presented in a documentary-style format that dramatizes the formation, success and eventual break-up of the ...

'', ''

Sweeney Todd Sweeney Todd is a fictional character who first appeared as the villain of the penny dreadful serial '' The String of Pearls'' (1846–47). The original tale became a feature of 19th-century melodrama and London legend. A barber from Fleet Stre ...

'', ''

Caroline, or Change ''Caroline, or Change'' is a musical with music by Jeanine Tesori and lyrics and book by Tony Kushner. The score combines spirituals, blues, Motown, classical music, and Jewish klezmer and folk music. The show ran both Off-Broadway and on Broadway ...

'', '' Little Shop of Horrors'', '' Big River'', ''

Thoroughly Modern Millie ''Thoroughly Modern Millie'' is a 1967 American musical- romantic comedy film directed by George Roy Hill and starring Julie Andrews. The screenplay, by Richard Morris based on the 1956 British musical ''Chrysanthemum'', follows a naïve you ...

'', '' The Producers'', ''

The Who's Tommy ''The Who's Tommy'' is a rock musical with music and lyrics by Pete Townshend and a book by Townshend and Des McAnuff. It is based on the 1969 rock opera '' Tommy'' by The Who. Productions The musical opened at La Jolla Playhouse in San Dieg ...

'', '' Little Women'' and ''

Barnum Phineas Taylor Barnum (; July 5, 1810 – April 7, 1891) was an American showman, businessman, and politician, remembered for promoting celebrated hoaxes and founding the Barnum & Bailey Circus (1871–2017) with James Anthony Bailey. He wa ...

''. He has also worked as the musical coordinator for films, including '' The Producers'', ''

Mulan Hua Mulan () is a legendary folk heroine from the Northern and Southern dynasties era (4th to 6th century CE) of Chinese history. According to legend, Mulan took her aged father's place in the conscription for the army by disguising herself as ...

'' and '' Marvin's Room''. In 2008, he released a solo album, ''Stage Door Johnny: John Miller Takes On Broadway'' on the P.S. Classics label. It showcases Miller's vocals, guitar, and bass playing on a wide range of material from the Broadway catalog, with unique arrangements and an all-star cast of musicians. In 2014, Miller had a recurring acting role as the drug-dealing tympanist Dee Dee in the Amazon Original comedy series ''

Mozart in the Jungle ''Mozart in the Jungle'' is an American comedy-drama streaming television series developed by Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman, Alex Timbers, and Paul Weitz for the video-on-demand service Amazon Prime Video. It received a production order in ...

''.

References

External links

* https://web.archive.org/web/20120302203248/http://www.johnmillerbass.com/ Official site
John Miller PODCAST
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Miller, John (musician) 1945 births American double-bassists Male double-bassists American session musicians Musicians from New York City Drama Desk Award winners Living people University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance alumni Place of birth missing (living people) 21st-century double-bassists 21st-century American male musicians