As we have just released Mark's latest CD, "Whatcha Gonna Do!", he wanted to include the dedication from the CD here: "This CD is dedicated to my good friend, Brad Delp, June 12, 1951 - March 9, 2007, whom I call the King of Kindness. He was kind enough to drive from New Hampshire to Maine twice to sing on this CD with me. Brad was one of the greatest singers in the world. We'll miss you, my friend."
Brad Delp said, "Mark 'Guitar' Miller is one of the best bluesmen in the country". As lead singer for Boston, he'd seen a lot of players, so he had some basis for his opinion. Mark played guitar for Brad for three years on Brad's solo project, which, in the end, was never released. Nevertheless, Brad later reciprocated by traveling to Maine twice to lend his distinctive voice to many tracks on Mark's "Whatcha Gonna Do!" CD project. Mark's fans in northern New England will agree with Delp, Mark Miller has been the region's legendary (blues and acoustic) guitarist for decades.
Born in the northern Maine town of Houlton and raised in East Millinocket, Maine, Mark Miller has been playing guitar since he was six years old, and for more than 45 years Mark has made his living by playing guitar. In the early days, he played with his brothers on the porch. He started his first band at 11 years old, and in high school he had a band playing top 40. Later he played with a number of prominent bands as a "hired gun," did studio work for numerous CDs, then he came back to Maine where he has reigned over the music scene ever since. A guitar-player's guitar player, Mark "Guitar" Miller knows how to fill a room with heart and soul, no matter what its size - from small, hip bars to large clubs to festivals such as the North Atlantic Blues Festival.
His accomplishments include opening for national acts, including BB King, Johnny Winter, Taj Mahal, Peter Wolf, Pat Travers, Jonathan Edwards, Waylon Jennings, Shemekiah Copeland and others.
He's played onstage with Johnny Rawls, Jimmy Johnson, Debbie Davies, James Montgomery, Buddy Spicher, Jimmy Day, Dale Watson (in Austin, TX), and Brad Delp for 3 years, with whom he performed at the Boston Music Awards, and on his solo project.
Between 1995 and 2000, he was featured on the cover of Face Magazine twice, as well as in articles in the Maine Times, Lewiston SunJournal, Bangor Daily News, and many other publications throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Mark "Guitar" Miller was also was also the winner of the 1989 Lenny Breau Memorial trophy, handed to Mark by Lenny's mother - of which he is most proud.
The year 2000 he released his first CD, Naked Soul, consisting of original music and lyrics. 2000 also saw Mark out in Hollywood, CA recording bed tracks for this new CD. Later that year the Naked Soul CD (recorded in Maine), was listed in the top 50 in the Belgium radio market. Then, in 2004, he played on the same billing as Johnny Hiland at the L/A Guitar Arts Festival.
Mark has performed for the Governor of Maine on numerous occasions, he was invited to the governor's mansion for a special performance, and has performed monthly at the governor's family restaurant. Starting in 2002 when he was hired to play at the governor's first inaugural ball, and later also performed at the second inauguration. In June of 2006, Mark was nominated by Maine Governor John Baldacci to serve a three year term on the Maine Arts Commission. Mark brings to the Maine Arts Commission a much-needed blue collar working musician perspective.
Also in 2006, Mark worked together with the Maine Department of Conservation and the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund on the video project "Northrunner", celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway in Northern Maine. Mark performed the soundtrack for this great documentary.
