The strength of the Native American people and the hardships of their lives are captured through the folk-like balladry of Nashville-based singer/songwriter Bill Miller. Miller's best-known tune, "Tumbleweed," co-written with Peter Rowan and included on Rowan's 1990 album Dust Bowl Children, reflects on a memorable Native American character; Trail of Freedom, however, focuses on alcoholism among Native Americans.
The son of Mohican-German parents, Miller was born on the Stockbridge-Munsee Reservation in northern Wisconsin. Music played an essential role in tribal life, and Miller, whose Mohican name is Fush-Ya Heay Aka (meaning "bird song"), learned to sing traditional songs at an early age. The sounds of nature including the howling of coyotes and the hooting of owls were also influential. Contemporary popular music, however, had a powerful effect on Miller's musical evolution. An enthusiastic fan of the Byrds, the Rolling Stones, and the Beatles, Miller often traveled into town to buy records.
At the age of 12, Miller acquired his first guitar. His first gig came when he sat in with a cousin's polka band. Although he played in a teenaged rock & roll/Top 40 band for two years, he tired of pop music. Trading his electric guitar for an acoustic, Miller began to play folk music and bluegrass. A musical turning point came when Miller attended a Pete Seeger concert shortly after leaving the reservation to study art at the University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse (he later attended the Lake School of Art and Design in Milwaukee). The experience inspired Miller, who moved to Nashville in 1984, to pursue a career as a singer/songwriter.
Miller's biggest break came when Tori Amos asked him to be her opening act on her Under the Pink tour of the United States. The tour, which sold out venues across the country, was extended to over 200 shows.
Although he mostly accompanies his baritone vocals on acoustic guitar, Miller has mastered the Native American flute. His 1991 album Loon, Mountain and Moon was a showcase of traditional Native American flute songs.
CHRONICLES OF HOPE BY BILL MILLER
This group of songs is more like a journal than any other recording project I've worked on. It covers a period of three & a half years. In those times of searching, perseverance & healing, I gained clarity & answers to questions I've turned away from for years. Chronicles of Hope was not industry driven in any way - in fact I became my own stenographer & my notes became my songs. I questioned life & death. I cried out from the wilderness in my own personal storms. I whitewater rafted down the dark rivers into the eternal. I opened myself up to myself & turned away from the mirror many times during the making of this recording only to come back to accept & abandon things that were holding me back. I saw first hand how psychotic songwriters can be. I should have charged myself for counseling fees. I do believe that this work is an honest portrait of me as an artist. Not just a Native American artist but as a human being.
1. DARK RIVER (2:51) MP3 clip
2. HURRICANE (3:17)
3. EAGLE (1:19)
4. TIME (2:20)
5. WAITIN' ON THE LORD (3:40)
6. YOU CAN'T HIDE (3:15)
7. FLY AWAY (2:47)
8. KEEP IT HOLY (4.49)
9. BLIND FAITH (4:13)
10. ETERNAL (2:48)
11. LAST BREATH (3:10)
12. CHASING BIRDS (4:29)
PLAYING TIME 39:01
CD PRICE $16.00
GHOST DANCE BY BILL MILLER
A true testament of both his acoustic & Mohican roots, Ghostdance is an emotional journey of lyrics & sounds that teams contemporary Native American, Western, & folk music with Miller's heritage.
1. Prelude (The Sun is Gonna Rise)
2. Every Mountain I Climb
3. The Reason
4. Ghostdance
5. Forgive
6. The Vision
7. There is You
8. The Last Stand
9. Blessing Wind
10.Waiting for the Rain
11.The Sun is Gonna Rise
CD PRICE $17.00
SACRED GROUND BY BILL MILLER & OTHERS
Producer Jim Wilson has joined forces with the top stars of Native American music to create all new recordings of soul stirring songs that honor our Mother Earth. With traditional spirit and contemporary style these powerful voices call out for us to acknowledge and care for the Sacred Ground on which we live. 2006 Grammy Award Winner, Best Native American Music Album.
1. Scared Ground - Bill Miller MP3 clip
2. Can You Hear the Call - Robert Mirabal MP3 clip
3. Mountain Song - Star Nayea/Primeaux & Mike
4. Spirit Wind - Bill Miller
5. Seeking Light - Joanne Shenandoah
6. Raven - Little Wolf Band
7. People of Yesterday - Robert Mirabal
8. Prayers in the Wind - Little Wolf Band
9. Let Us Dance - Primeaux & Mike/David Carson
10. Mother Earth - Walela/Joanne Shenandoah
PLAYING TIME 55:14
CD PRICE $17.00
SPIRIT RAIN BY BILL MILLER
Bill Miller's folk sensibilities, poetic lyrics combined with his Mohican heritage are chief components of this five-time Native American Music Award-winning musician / vocalist's new release. SPIRIT RAIN is Miller's musical and spiritual evolution, a collection of songs relating to spirit, faith and heritage. A balladic journey of love, hardship and forgiveness, the album is high in emotional gusto, all the while maintaining a pop song sensibility that makes each song as compelling as the last. Bill Miller continues to inspire us all with his message of hope, let his spirit rain on your musical collection.
1. Approaching Thunder MP3 clip
2. You Are the Rain MP3 clip
3. Rain Down Your Love
4. Never Too Far
5. Red Sky Red Heart
6. Face the Blues
7. I Believe
8. Love Sustained
9. Sun Dog
10. Prayers For the Truth
11. 1st Dream
12. Promise, The
13. Little Brother (Spirit Rain)
14. Underneath the Blue Sky
PLAYING TIME 51:20
CD PRICE $15.00
SPIRIT SONGS BY BILL MILLER
This compilation spans over ten years of Bill Miller's hymn-like poetry, exhilarating falsetto, and "spiritual" guitar playing. His lyrical folk-rock has drawn praise from fans such as Tori Amos, Eddie Vedder, and Bono. Experience this essential Bill Miller anthology.
1. Dreams of Wounded Knee MP3 clip
2. Praises
3. Faith of a Child
4. Listen to Me
5. Ghostdance
6. The Sun Is Gonna Rise
7. Every Mountain I Climb
8. Reservation Road
9. Tumbleweed
10. Geronimo's Cadillac
11. The Art of Survival
12. Wind Spirit [Instrumental]
13. Never Too Far
14. You Are the Rain
15. Love Sustained
16. Underneath the Blue Sky
PLAYING TIME 78:52
CD PRICE $19.00
SPIRIT WIND EAST BY BILL MILLER
As a member of the Stockbridge-Munsee-Mohican nation, this recording was made with respect to the original homelands of my people. I also have a deep respect for the beautiful people & lands of the six nations & the New England tribes all the way to Maine. The creation of this project was like a spiritual homecoming for me as I reflected on the history & spirit of the Eastern Tribes.
1. Where the Waters Never Still 2:53 MP3 clip
2. Eastern Woodland 4:35
3. Nighthawk 4:22
4. Evergreen 3:21
5. The River 2:42
6. Greyhawk 2:52
7. Morning Bird 3:19
8. Prayer Stones 3:40
9. Sacred Secrets 4:23
10. Flight of the Soul 5:34
11. Bird of Spring 4:18
12. Eagles Wings 4:40
13. Founding Brothers 6:12
PLAYING TIME 52:58
CD PRICE $16.00
SPIRIT WIND NORTH BY BILL MILLER
Spirit Wind North was the winner of the 2010 Grammy for Native American Music Album. Bill Miller, now a three time Grammy winner, has reached back into his Native American heritage to present the first of four albums walking with the listener into a world of healing & reconciliation & hope. Spirit Wind North features the fine texture of Bill's renowned flute driven melodies. In his own words Bill elucidates, "Spirit Wind North is the first in a series of sacred directions honoring all the tribes of Turtle Island...Every direction brings me inspiration; the north wind has its own imagery, which I tried my best to portray in this collection of songs...I have been so blessed by the north wind & songs of the northern tribes, & may you be blessed as you listen to this collection of songs."
1. Birds of Pray MP3 clip
2. Together as One MP3 clip
3. High eagle prayer
4. Lost canyon
5. Vision quest
6. Tranquil fire
7. Journey into prayer
8. Amazing grace
9. Reconciliation prayer
This group of songs is more like a journal than any other recording project I've worked on. It covers a period of three & a half years. In those times of searching, perseverance & healing, I gained clarity & answers to questions I've turned away from for years. Chronicles of Hope was not industry driven in any way - in fact I became my own stenographer & my notes became my songs. I questioned life & death. I cried out from the wilderness in my own personal storms. I whitewater rafted down the dark rivers into the eternal. I opened myself up to myself & turned away from the mirror many times during the making of this recording only to come back to accept & abandon things that were holding me back. I saw first hand how psychotic songwriters can be. I should have charged myself for counseling fees. I do believe that this work is an honest portrait of me as an artist. Not just a Native American artist but as a human being.
A true testament of both his acoustic & Mohican roots, Ghostdance is an emotional journey of lyrics & sounds that teams contemporary Native American, Western, & folk music with Miller's heritage.
Producer Jim Wilson has joined forces with the top stars of Native American music to create all new recordings of soul stirring songs that honor our Mother Earth. With traditional spirit and contemporary style these powerful voices call out for us to acknowledge and care for the Sacred Ground on which we live. 2006 Grammy Award Winner, Best Native American Music Album.
Bill Miller's folk sensibilities, poetic lyrics combined with his Mohican heritage are chief components of this five-time Native American Music Award-winning musician / vocalist's new release. SPIRIT RAIN is Miller's musical and spiritual evolution, a collection of songs relating to spirit, faith and heritage. A balladic journey of love, hardship and forgiveness, the album is high in emotional gusto, all the while maintaining a pop song sensibility that makes each song as compelling as the last. Bill Miller continues to inspire us all with his message of hope, let his spirit rain on your musical collection.
This compilation spans over ten years of Bill Miller's hymn-like poetry, exhilarating falsetto, and "spiritual" guitar playing. His lyrical folk-rock has drawn praise from fans such as Tori Amos, Eddie Vedder, and Bono. Experience this essential Bill Miller anthology.
As a member of the Stockbridge-Munsee-Mohican nation, this recording was made with respect to the original homelands of my people. I also have a deep respect for the beautiful people & lands of the six nations & the New England tribes all the way to Maine. The creation of this project was like a spiritual homecoming for me as I reflected on the history & spirit of the Eastern Tribes.
Spirit Wind North was the winner of the 2010 Grammy for Native American Music Album. Bill Miller, now a three time Grammy winner, has reached back into his Native American heritage to present the first of four albums walking with the listener into a world of healing & reconciliation & hope. Spirit Wind North features the fine texture of Bill's renowned flute driven melodies. In his own words Bill elucidates, "Spirit Wind North is the first in a series of sacred directions honoring all the tribes of Turtle Island...Every direction brings me inspiration; the north wind has its own imagery, which I tried my best to portray in this collection of songs...I have been so blessed by the north wind & songs of the northern tribes, & may you be blessed as you listen to this collection of songs."
