Friends of Jim Miller are pouring out their love for him on Facebook, upon word the Portland bassist was in a coma. As Oregon Music News reported, Miller suffered a massive heart attack last week. Along with being a fixture in the Portland music scene, Miller was production manager at the Waterfront Blues Festival for many years. His family is grateful for the many expressions of kindness and support coming their way. Follow along here for plans on a memorial.
Music Millenium’s Terry Currier offered this remembrance of Jim.
A friend of mind and a friend of the Oregon Music Community passed on at 6am. I’ve known of Jim most of my life in Portland but it wasn’t till the 80’s that we really connected. His life was music and he was one of the finest blues bass players in town. He was always looking for ideas to make music happen in a better way. He took on putting on a program that would bring music to people in assisted living. I had many a lunch with him as he brainstormed to bring a Cajun, Zydeco and New Orleans music festival together. He was a fixture at the Waterfront Blues Festival, first as a stage manager and moving into the position of Festival Production Manager, a job he loved more than anything.
He had an eye for talent and loved helping or getting involved with new artists.
I had the pleasure to see Jim play hundreds of times with so many different bands: The Cannonballs, which brought Lloyd Allen back into the blues scene after many years and also introduced us all to one of the greatest pianist on the planet, David Vest. And currently he was playing in one of the best bands he had ever been in with Jaime Leopold, former bass player for Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks, who was replaced by Jim Miller’s brother in the 70’s when Jaime left the band. It was just a few weeks back on the Aladdin Theater stage that a room full of David Bromberg fans were all seeing Jaimie Leopold & the Short Stories for the first time and were blown away. We will miss Jim the person but we will also miss Jim’s contributions to the music community. We will not forget him
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Jim you are a very loved man. and have no shortage of friends down here missing you. take care my friend, say hello to my pops if you see him.
Jim, my dear friend. I’m heartbroken.
Jim Miller was an amazing friend of my fathers since childhood. both excellent bass players. when my dad passed, jim was straight over with the rest of the gang and I remember him bringing a bottle of expensive whiskey over and pouring me some. He really did not know the adult me very well, but he made it a point that day to spend some time making sure I was ok and doing that ol Irish thing where we sit and drink and laugh a minute. I still think about that, what a classy guy, I mean that is about the best you could ever ask from a friend is to check up on your kids and family hen you pass. we became friends and shortly after is when Jim passed. he will be missed. a treasure of a person and a classy guy.