Harry Maurice Miller (born 6 January 1934) is an Australian promoter and publicist.
Contents |
Born in New Zealand, Miller grew up in Grey Lynn, Auckland, and moved to Australia in 1963, where he established a company called Pan Pacific Productions with Keith and Dennis Wong, owners of the noted Sydney nightclub "Chequers". During the 1960s, Pan Pacific promoted many concert and theatrical tours of Australia and New Zealand, including Louis Armstrong, Arthur Rubinstein, The Rolling Stones and The Beach Boys.[1]
In 1969, Miller discovered 16-year-old American singer Marcia Hines in Boston, Massachusetts and cast her in the Australian stage version of Hair which he was producing. Hines flew to Australia, unaware that she was already six months pregnant, and Miller acted as her legal guardian in Australia until she turned 21.[2] Miller went on to produce the acclaimed and highly successful Australian productions of Jesus Christ Superstar in 1972 and The Rocky Horror Show in 1974, both of which used many of the production staff from Hair.
In 1970, Miller joined the council of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and was elected chairman of the gallery's society after his opponent for the position, art patron Mervyn Horton was filmed by the ABC commenting on Miller's Jewish background. As chairman, Miller was instrumental in revitalising the gallery from an austere, staid Sydney institution to a modern, welcoming venue.[3]
In 1978, Miller started a ticketing company called Computicket, which went into receivership within six months. On 30 April 1982, Miller was found guilty of fraud which lead to the collapse of the company, and he served ten months in prison at Long Bay and Cessnock Correctional Centres.[4]
Miller is the founder and director of the Harry M. Miller Group, based in Sydney. He has a varied client base, representing a number of well-known figures in Australia including:
Miller gives advice and manages all communication, negotiations and media attention surrounding an individual or company that finds themselves under intense public spotlight for example, Stuart Diver, the only survivor of the 1997 Thredbo landslide.