Jerry Miller

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For the American racecar driver, see Jerry Miller (driver).

Jerry Miller (born July 10, 1943 in Tacoma, Washington) is an American musician, a guitarist and vocalist who was a member of the 1960s San Francisco band Moby Grape. Before joining the group, Miller and bandmate Don Stevenson were members of The Frantics, a Pacific Northwest bar band.

Jerry Miller's professional career began in the late 1950s, playing and recording with popular Northwest dance-rock bands including the Elegants. He contributed guitar work to the hit record I Fought the Law and toured the South with the Bobby Fuller Four. After Fuller's untimely death, Miller returned to the West. In the epicenter of the cultural revolution, San Francisco, Moby Grape was formed. Jerry Miller provided the fire behind the three-guitar band. The Grape signed with Columbia, recorded a half-dozen albums, toured the U.S. and Europe, then slowly fell apart.

Jerry Miller went on to share the stage with many musical greats – Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, and The Doors. His admirers include Jimmy Page, Stephen Stills, David Crosby, Taj Mahal, David Fricke, Eric Clapton, and Robert Plant. Eric Clapton called Jerry the "best guitar player in the world" when he first came to the U.S. Robert Plant cites Jerry as a major influence for Led Zeppelin – the band even played Moby Grape songs at its first rehearsal. Led Zeppelin and the Grateful Dead are just two of the famous bands that have covered Jerry Miller songs live and on record.

He is #68 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. He currently fronts The Jerry Miller Band, along with veteran rock stars from Seattle, Santa Cruz and Tahoe. The Jerry Miller Band[1] is currently (2007) touring the U.S.