Julie Miller

Biography

Julie Anne Miller (born Julie Griffin, July 12, 1956) is an American songwriter, singer, and recording artist living in Nashville, Tennessee. She married Buddy Miller in 1981. They sing and play on each other's solo projects and have recorded several duet albums.

Recordings

Julie Miller's first professionally released recording was with the group Streetlight which consisted of Julie, Buddy Miller, and Ron Krueger. The self-titled album was released in 1983. Julie and Buddy wrote some songs for the LP, including the original version of "Jesus in Your Eyes" (later re-recorded for Orphans and Angels). "How Could You Say No" (written by Mickey Cates) was originally performed on this album and later included on Julie's solo debut Meet Julie Miller×Meet Julie Miller20 March 1990 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Dogtown0:332You Knew the Way to My Heart3:003Mystery Love3:074What Would Jesus Do6:115Don't Cry for Me3:506How Could You Say No3:287King of My Heart0:568Song to the Devil (I'm Through With You)2:399Who Owns Your Heart2:4210My Psychiatrist2:1011Love Will Find You3:5212Dangerous Place2:5813I Will Arise and Go to Jesus2:54.
A 1985 demo tape recorded by Julie listed eight songs, but contained eleven. Two of these songs were later included on Meet Julie Miller, but the remaining nine songs were not reissued. Songs on this tape include: "I Don't Need Anything Else", "Mystery Love" (Synth Pop Version), "Love Is", "I Look to You", "I Don't Need", "What Does it Take", "I Wanna Be Ready", "King of my Heart" (not the same as that which appeared later on her first Myrrh release), "My New Psychiatrist" (Synth Pop Version with different lyrics), "Debby Came Back", "Dangerous Place" (Synth Pop Version). Only one copy of this tape has seen circulation; it is unknown whether Julie used the tape to shop for a record label, or sold them at concerts.
Julie's musical career initially took off after singer Sam Phillips forwarded her demo tape to friends at Myrrh Records. Myrrh signed Miller to a contract and released Meet Julie Miller (her first solo album) in 1990. This album included backing vocals from Shawn Colvin, Victoria Williams, Amy Grant, Kelly Willard and Russ Taff.
Miller's second solo album He Walks Through Walls×He Walks Through Walls23 July 1991 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1I Will Follow You4:142He Walks Through Walls4:103Never Gonna Give Up on You3:154Angelina3:555Broken Things3:146Just Want You2:577Don't Let the Devil Ride2:148Naked Heart2:509How Long2:4310Manger Throne3:05 (1991) also included backing vocals from Colvin, Williams, Grant and Willard. Mark Heard and Reverend Dan Smith also contributed vocals. This album included the original version of the song "Broken Things×Broken Things1 July 1999 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Ride the Wind to Me4:062I Know Why the River Runs4:353I Need You4:384I Still Cry4:415Out in the Rain4:206Orphan Train4:037Broken Things3:288All My Tears3:349Two Soldiers3:4910Maggie4:0611Strange Lover5:0112The Speed of Light2:13", which was later re-recorded. Her 1993 album Orphans and Angels×Orphans and Angels23 April 1993 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1River Where Mercy Flows2:532Put a Little Love in Your Heart3:543Mercy's Child3:004Precious to God4:025S.O.S.2:526All My Tears (Be Washed Away)2:567Treasure of the Broken Land3:198Jesus in Your Eyes2:459Any Lie3:1110Angels Dance3:0411Love and Affection2:5012Nobody but You3:1713Praise the Lord, Amen (Appalachian Praise)1:55 included a duet with Emmylou Harris on "All My Tears", which was written after the death of Mark Heard. Jazz vocalist Jimmy Scott also contributed vocals. Miller also covered Heard's song "Treasure of the Broken Land". Shawn Colvin once again contributed background vocals. The video of the song "S.O.S." from this album was released to Christian TV.
Her fourth solo album Invisible Girl×Invisible GirlMay 1994 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Nobody's Child3:462Runaway Heart3:293In My Eyes3:534When You Come Home4:095Too Many Troubles2:146I Will Be With You3:567Weapon of the Spirit4:268I Can't Cry Hard Enough3:459At the End of the Road2:4810Back of Your Head2:4011I Like You2:12 was released by Street Level Records. Julie covered The Williams Brothers song "Can't Cry Hard Enough". Victoria Williams, Mark Olson and the Electrics provided background vocals. In 1997, Julie Miller released Blue Pony (Hightone Records) which includes contributions from Emmylou Harris, Buddy Miller, and Valerie Carter. Her most recent solo album is Broken Things in 1999, which includes new versions of "Broken Things" and "All My Tears" as well as new songs "I Know Why The River Runs," "Orphan Train," "Out in the Rain" and "I Still Cry." The song "By way of Sorrow" was a duet with Innocence Mission's Karen Peris.
In 2001, the first Buddy and Julie Miller duo album Buddy & Julie Miller was released in 2001. This album won the Americana Music Association award for best album in 2002. Released in 2002, Love Snuck Up was a compilation of the Millers' Hightone recordings. A Julie Miller compilation is planned, which will include tracks selected by Julie from her first four albums, which have been out of print for many years.

Work with other artists

In 1987 Julie contributed background vocals to the song "Remember Me" on Benny Hester's album Through the Window. In 1992, Julie provided the title track for Cry of the Heart: Emily's Eyes, an album released to bring hope to victims of child abuse. Julie mentioned after a 2002 concert in Kentucky that the song "Emily's Eyes" had one line edited out of it, as there was concern regarding the "implications". No further details were provided.
In 1994, Julie and Buddy Miller recorded Mark Heard's "Orphans of God" which was the title track for the single CD Mark Heard Tribute album Strong Hand of Love. They also assisted Victoria Williams on her version of "What Kind of Friend". Later that same year, both songs were included on the two-CD Mark Heard Tribute Orphans of God, with the song "What kind of Friend" expanded by nearly a full minute.
In 2022 Miller contributed a rendition of "That's Why We Don't Love God" to the Randy Stonehill tribute album, "There's a Rainbow Somewhere."
Julie's composition, "By Way of Sorrow," was an inspiration for the tone of Cameron Crowe's movie Vanilla Sky but the song was not featured in the film.

Covers of Julie Miller songs

Many artists have recorded songs composed by Julie Miller, and Julie and Buddy. See the
list of songs written by Buddy and Julie Miller for an extensive list. After the 1998 Omagh bombing in Northern Ireland, local singer Juliet Turner performed a version of Miller's song "Broken Things×Broken Things1 July 1999 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Ride the Wind to Me4:062I Know Why the River Runs4:353I Need You4:384I Still Cry4:415Out in the Rain4:206Orphan Train4:037Broken Things3:288All My Tears3:349Two Soldiers3:4910Maggie4:0611Strange Lover5:0112The Speed of Light2:13" at a memorial service for the victims of the bombing.

Touring and performing

Julie and Buddy Miller teamed up with Victoria Williams, Mark Olson, and Jim Lauderdale for a European tour billed as "The Rolling Creek Dippers" in the 90s.

Personal life

Julie has been married to Buddy Miller since 1981. They met in 1976 in Austin when Buddy auditioned for and played in a band with her.
They live in Nashville, where Buddy has set up a home studio on the main floor for music recording and production. She has battled the effects of fibromyalgia, mood swings, and depression.

As contributing musician

1984: Dennis Agajanian - Where Are The Heroes (Sparrow)
1990: Victoria Williams - Swing The Statue! (Rough Trade)
1993: Wes King - The Robe (RCA)
1995: Nina Åström - Moods (Spark)
1995: Kate Miner - Sacred (Cadillac Fund Productions)
1998: Candle - Bullfrogs and Butterflies II: God Loves Fun (Birdwing)
1998: Lee Ann Womack - Some Things I Know (Decca)
1998: Patty Griffin - Flaming Red (A&M)
1998: Victoria Williams - Musings of a Creek Dipper (Atlantic)
2000: Bill Mallonee and Vigilantes of Love – Audible Sigh (Compass Records)
2000: Emmylou Harris - Red Dirt Girl (Nonesuch)
2000: Lee Ann Womack - I Hope You Dance (MCA Nashville)
2000: Tim Finn - Say It Is So (Hypertension)
2001: John Hiatt - The Tiki Bar Is Open (Vanguard)
2002: The Chieftains - Down the Old Plank Road: The Nashville Sessions (RCA)
2002: Jim Lauderdale - The Hummingbirds (Dualtone)
2003: Emmylou Harris - Stumble into Grace (Nonesuch)
2003: Patty Griffin - A Kiss in Time (ATO)
2005: Patty Griffin - Impossible Dream (Proper)
2005: Jude Johnstone - On A Good Day (Bojak)
2007: Levon Helm - Dirt Farmer (Vanguard)
2010: Patty Griffin - Downtown Church (Credential)
2013: Shawn Colvin - All Fall Down (Nonesuch Records)
2014: Johnny Two Bags (Jonny Wickersham) - Salvation Town (Isotone Records)

As primary contributing artist

1995: Various Artists - Noel (VIA Records) - track 10, "Away in a Manger" (with Buddy Miller)