FRANKIE MILLER


Frankie Miller was born in Scotland in 1949. He began singing and writing songs at an early age. Robin Trower discovered him performing in a pub in London in the early 70s. Trower had recently left Procol Harum and wanted to form a new band. Together they formed Jude. It included Miller’s friend, James Dewar, from Stone The Crows and Clive Bunker from Jethro Tull. They disbanded before producing any recordings. Robin Trower and James Dewar continued on with great success and Frankie Miller went solo. 
On his first album, “Once in a Blue Moon”, he was backed by Brinsley-Schwarz. His second album, “Highlife”, was recorded in New Orleans and was produced by Allen Toussaint, who also wrote seven of the songs. 
Miller briefly teamed up with Andy Fraser, from Free, who was looking for a replacement for Paul Rogers. They soon spilt, but co-wrote, “A Fool in Love”, which appeared on his third album, “The Rock”. Paul Kossoff played lead guitar uncredited on “I know why the sun don’t shine”.
“The Rock” included guitarist Henry McCullough from The Grease Band and Paul McCartney’s Wings. Also Mick Weaver, who had recently replaced Steve Winwood in a reformed Traffic, called Wooden Frog. Chris Stewart and Stu Perry played bass and drums. 
Frankie Miller continued to record with other musicians. His music became more famous then himself as other artists recorded his songs. Artists such as Ray Charles, Joe Cocker, Rod Stewart, Etta James, The Everly Brothers and more. He also worked as an actor.
In 1994, just as he was starting a new project with Joe Walsh and Nicky Hopkins, he suffered a brain hemorrhage. He survived and has been in recovery since.
Henry McCullough had a massive heart attack on November 5, 2012. He suffered brain damage and is in recovery.

My friends and I saw The Frankie Miller Band perform at the
Keystone in Berkeley, California on October 13, 1975. 
To see my photos and read our memoirs 
of the concert, go to -
Brit Rock By The Bay
                  

From The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of 
Rock & Roll. Copyright © 1983 by
Rolling Stone Press.
From Rock Family Tree by Pete Frame. 
Copyright © 1993 Omnibus Press.
An article about Wings with Henry McCullough.
Frankie Miller was the opening band for Wings 
and was being backed by Brinsley-Schwarz. 
Rumors start that McCullough is leaving Wings.
Copyright © Sounds July 21, 1973.
Copyright © Sounds July 21, 1973.
Rumors of Henry McCullough and 
Paul Rogers, of Free, forming a band.
Copyright © Melody Maker September 8, 1973.
Henry debunks the rumors
and talks about his new solo album.
Copyright © Melody Maker 
September 15, 1973.
Robin Trower talks 
about leaving Procol Harum
and forming Jude.
Copyright © Rolling Stone
 December 20, 1973.
A promotional piece for "Highlife"
in Circular magazine.
July 15, 1974.
A positive review 
of "Highlife"
Copyright © 
Rolling Stone 
October 10, 1974.
"The Rock" receives 
good reviews, too.
Copyright © 
Rolling Stone 
November 6, 1975.
A flyer from the Keystone
where we saw him perform.
Frankie Miller discusses his 
past, present and future.
Copyright © Rolling Stone
October 6, 1977.
"Full House" gets
mixed reviews.
Copyright © 
Rolling Stone
June 2, 1977.
Another mixed review.
Copyright © Rolling Stone 
June 1, 1978.

These are some of the albums 
in my collection.
The first album released 1972.
The second album released 1974.
This is the same album, but different cover art.
I suspect it is due to copyright infringement
of the Miller Beer logo.
The third album released 1975.
The fourth album released 1977.
The fifth album released 1978.
The sixth album released 1979.
The seventh album released 1980.
The Grease Band with
Henry McCullough. The band started 
out as Joe Cocker's backing band.
Henry McCullough's first solo album.
Released 1975 on George Harrison's 
Dark Horse label.
Allen Toussaint's solo album
released 1975.

Related links

ALVIN LEE with Ten Years After & Alvin Lee & Co.


Alvin Lee began his career as a musician while still a teenager in Nottingham, England in the late 1950s. He joined various groups with titles like, Vince Marshall and the Square Caps, Alan Upton and the Jail-Breakers, Atomics, Jaybirds and others. He played small venues from London to Hamburg for many years.
He met drummer, Leo Lyons in 1960. Bassist Ric Lee in 1965 and Keyboardist Chick Churchill in 1966. Ten Years After was formed in 1967.
The name was pulled by Leo Lyons from a magazine advertising a book, “Ten Years After The Suez”, (referring to the Suez Canal). The title’s ambiguousness appealed to the band because it didn’t pin them down to one style or another. 
In 1969 they played at Woodstock and their performance of “I’m Going Home” was featured in the film and soundtrack. This catapulted them to superstardom. They broke up in 1975 after failing to reach the same sort of success and not being able to escape the limitations that their fame brought them. 
Alvin Lee recorded a somewhat country style album with Mylon LeFevre in 1973. He then formed a new band titled Alvin Lee & Co. in 1974, with ex-members of King Crimson and Stone The Crows. They released a live album, “In Flight”. 
He toured once more with Ten Years After in 1975 before branching out into various solo and collaborative ventures. Alvin Lee died March 3, 2013. 

My friends and I saw Ten Years After perform at the 
Cow Palace, near San Francisco, in 1974. 
We also saw Alvin Lee & Co., in 1975, 
at Winterland in San Francisco. 

To see photos of the Winterland show 
and read our memoirs go to - 
BRIT ROCK BY THE BAY

My photo of Ten Years After taken at
the Cow Palace June 13, 1974.
I met Alvin Lee and got his autograph
after performing as Alvin Lee & Co.
at Winterland, San Francisco, 
February 14, 1975
A history of Ten Years After from
"The Harmony Illustrated Encyclopedia
Of Rock" by Mike Clifford.
© 1986 Salamander Books, Ltd.
From "The Rolling Stone 
Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll"
© 1983 The Rolling Stone Press
From "Rock Family Trees"  
by Pete Frame. Published by 
Omnibus Press. © Pete Frame 1993.
Detailed views.
A review of their third album, "Ssssh"
October 18, 1969.
A review of their fifth album, 
"Cricklewood Green"
June 11, 1970.
A review of their sixth album, "Watt"
February 4, 1971.
Alvin Lee is interviewed and
talks about TYA's image troubles.
He also talks candidly about 
his early life and 
musical interests.
February 1, 1973.
A review of their
"Recorded Live" album,
August 2, 1973.
A review of "On The Road To Freedom"
April 11, 1974.
A review of 
Chick Churchill's solo 
album, "You & Me"
April 11, 1974.
A review of their
eleventh and last album, 
"Positive Vibrations"
July 18, 1974.
Alvin Lee is interviewed and talks about 
disbanding TYA, "On The Road To Freedom"
and working with his new band, Alvin Lee & Co.
February 13, 1975.
A review of "in Flight"
April 10, 1975.
A review of 
"Pump Iron"
November 20, 1975.


The albums in my collection.














Chick Churchill released his only 
solo album in 1973.
Mylon LeFevre began as a gospel 
singer and recorded a number of 
solo albums.

Alvin Lee died March 6, 2013.

Related links