Nathan "Ned" Miller (August 2, 1899 â€" January 26, 1990) was a
British-born American songwriter, composer, music publisher, and actor
who wrote the hit songs, "Why Should I Cry Over You", (a waltz ballad)
in 1922, "Sunday" (a jazz standard) in 1926, and "Little Joe" (a jazz
standard) in 1931. His music has been recorded by Frank Sinatra, Nat
King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Al Jolson, Carmen McRae, Stan Getz, Peggy
Lee, the Ink Spots, Johnny Mercer, Benny Goodman, Andy Williams, and
many others. His music has also been featured in weekly TV programs
and films. In 1982, Ned Miller was inducted into the American Society
of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Golden Circle after
having been a member for fifty years.Miller was born in London and
emigrated to the United States with his family when he was a small
child. At the age of seven, he quit school to support his brothers and
sisters by singing on the street corner for pennies a day. In 1922,
Ned Miller moved to Chicago and joined with Jack Benny on the
vaudeville circuit where Benny included him in his acts. From that
time on, they became lifelong friends often collaborating on
television shows, TV specials, and even musical compositions.Based on
his success in vaudeville, Miller began writing and publishing his
music in the 1920s and became part of the Chicago jazz sounds and Tin
Pan Alley. Before long, his songs were recorded by Victor Records
(acquired by RCA Victor), the Virginians' "Why Should I Cry Over You?"
in 1922, the Paul Whiteman Orchestra in 1923, and the Jean Goldkette
Orchestra in 1926. In 1926, when Jule Styne was only 17 years old and
beginning his career, Styne collaborated with Ned Miller, Chester
Conn, and Benny Krueger on "Sunday" which became an instant hit and
the first best-selling song for Styne. "Sunday" also became a parlor
song, popularly sung by friends and family gathering around the piano
for entertainment. Art Tatum included the song in a collection of his
Parlor Songs. Al Jolson liked the song so much that he helped promote
it. "Sunday" later became the theme song for the 1940s radio show of
husband and wife team Alice Faye and Phil Harris.The song charted
three times in 1927. Cliff Edwards (Ukulele Ike) took it to number
three: Gene Austin (the "Voice of the Southland") took it to number 11
accompanied by pianist Abel Baer; and the vaudeville singing trio, the
Keller Sisters and Lynch, recorded "Sunday" with the Jean Goldkette
Orchestra where their version rose to number 11. "Sunday," has been
performed regularly by a wide variety of noted jazz musicians. Many
saxophonists have recorded it: Lester Young, Lee Konitz, and John
Coltrane; Ben Webster on two occasions with fellow saxists Gerry
Mulligan and Don Byas; Harry Allen with the John Pizzarelli Trio; and
Stan Getz with the Oscar Peterson Trio. Other recordings include
vibraphonist Red Norvo; trumpeter Sweets Edison; pianists Fats Waller
and Hank Jones; and vocalists Maxine Sullivan, Johnny Hartman, Carmen
McRae, June Christy, Nat King Cole, Carol Sloane and the Buddy Rich
Ensemble. The multi-Grammy winning vocal quartet, The Manhattan
Transfer, closed each episode of their weekly television variety show
with the song, "Sunday."In addition to "Sunday" and "Why Should I Cry
Over You", Mr. Miller wrote hundreds of songs during his lifetime,
including "Heartbreaker" (©1933), "Kentucky Lullaby", "Don't Mind The
Rain", "What Will You Do", "You Don't Like Itâ€"Not Much", "Sicilian
Tarantella", and many others.
British-born American songwriter, composer, music publisher, and actor
who wrote the hit songs, "Why Should I Cry Over You", (a waltz ballad)
in 1922, "Sunday" (a jazz standard) in 1926, and "Little Joe" (a jazz
standard) in 1931. His music has been recorded by Frank Sinatra, Nat
King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Al Jolson, Carmen McRae, Stan Getz, Peggy
Lee, the Ink Spots, Johnny Mercer, Benny Goodman, Andy Williams, and
many others. His music has also been featured in weekly TV programs
and films. In 1982, Ned Miller was inducted into the American Society
of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Golden Circle after
having been a member for fifty years.Miller was born in London and
emigrated to the United States with his family when he was a small
child. At the age of seven, he quit school to support his brothers and
sisters by singing on the street corner for pennies a day. In 1922,
Ned Miller moved to Chicago and joined with Jack Benny on the
vaudeville circuit where Benny included him in his acts. From that
time on, they became lifelong friends often collaborating on
television shows, TV specials, and even musical compositions.Based on
his success in vaudeville, Miller began writing and publishing his
music in the 1920s and became part of the Chicago jazz sounds and Tin
Pan Alley. Before long, his songs were recorded by Victor Records
(acquired by RCA Victor), the Virginians' "Why Should I Cry Over You?"
in 1922, the Paul Whiteman Orchestra in 1923, and the Jean Goldkette
Orchestra in 1926. In 1926, when Jule Styne was only 17 years old and
beginning his career, Styne collaborated with Ned Miller, Chester
Conn, and Benny Krueger on "Sunday" which became an instant hit and
the first best-selling song for Styne. "Sunday" also became a parlor
song, popularly sung by friends and family gathering around the piano
for entertainment. Art Tatum included the song in a collection of his
Parlor Songs. Al Jolson liked the song so much that he helped promote
it. "Sunday" later became the theme song for the 1940s radio show of
husband and wife team Alice Faye and Phil Harris.The song charted
three times in 1927. Cliff Edwards (Ukulele Ike) took it to number
three: Gene Austin (the "Voice of the Southland") took it to number 11
accompanied by pianist Abel Baer; and the vaudeville singing trio, the
Keller Sisters and Lynch, recorded "Sunday" with the Jean Goldkette
Orchestra where their version rose to number 11. "Sunday," has been
performed regularly by a wide variety of noted jazz musicians. Many
saxophonists have recorded it: Lester Young, Lee Konitz, and John
Coltrane; Ben Webster on two occasions with fellow saxists Gerry
Mulligan and Don Byas; Harry Allen with the John Pizzarelli Trio; and
Stan Getz with the Oscar Peterson Trio. Other recordings include
vibraphonist Red Norvo; trumpeter Sweets Edison; pianists Fats Waller
and Hank Jones; and vocalists Maxine Sullivan, Johnny Hartman, Carmen
McRae, June Christy, Nat King Cole, Carol Sloane and the Buddy Rich
Ensemble. The multi-Grammy winning vocal quartet, The Manhattan
Transfer, closed each episode of their weekly television variety show
with the song, "Sunday."In addition to "Sunday" and "Why Should I Cry
Over You", Mr. Miller wrote hundreds of songs during his lifetime,
including "Heartbreaker" (©1933), "Kentucky Lullaby", "Don't Mind The
Rain", "What Will You Do", "You Don't Like Itâ€"Not Much", "Sicilian
Tarantella", and many others.
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