Bill Miller (musician) facts for kids

Bill Miller (born January 23, 1955) is a talented Native American singer, songwriter, and artist. He is from the Mohican people. Bill is known for playing the guitar and the Native American flute. He is also a painter.

Bill Miller's Journey

Bill Miller grew up on the Stockbridge-Munsee reservation in northern Wisconsin. His Mohican name is Fush-Ya Heay Aka, which means "bird song." He started playing guitar when he was 12 years old.

In 1973, Bill moved to Milwaukee. He won a scholarship to an art school there. Later, he studied at the University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse.

Music Career Starts

Bill moved to Nashville in 1984. A big moment in his career happened when the famous musician Tori Amos heard his music. She invited him to open her "Under the Pink" tour. This helped Bill gain many new fans.

He then toured with many different artists. These included Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, The BoDeans, and Richie Havens. He also wrote songs with artists like Nanci Griffith.

Music in Movies

In 1995, Bill's flute playing was featured in a very popular song. It was "Colors of the Wind" by Vanessa Williams. This song was from Disney’s movie Pocahontas. The song won a Grammy Award, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award.

Bill has also worked with other Native American musicians. These include Robert Mirabal and Carlos Nakai. One project with Robert Mirabal, called Native Suite, mixed traditional and experimental sounds. It featured flute, drums, and Mohican pow-wow singing.

Art and Symphony

In 2008, Bill worked on an art project in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He painted a tall heron statue. These statues were placed around the city to celebrate the arts.

In April 2008, Bill's symphony, "The Last Stand," was performed for the first time. The La Crosse Symphony Orchestra played it. Native American musicians and dancers also joined in. Bill was inspired to write the symphony after visiting the Battle of the Little Bighorn site when he was nine. It is called a "symphony of hope." It talks about the battle and the idea of people coming together.

What Bill Miller Sings About

Bill Miller's songs are often very spiritual. He explores his Christian faith using his native language. His albums Spirit Rain and Hear Our Prayer show this. He believes in "standing up for the truth." He says that if you stand up for what you believe, you can inspire many people.

Awards and Recognition

Bill Miller has won many awards for his music. He has won three Grammy Awards. He has also received many Native American Music Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2005, his instrumental album Cedar Dream Songs won a Grammy Award for Best Native American Music Album.

Discography

Albums

• Bill Miller and Native Sons (1983, Windspirit)
• Old Dreams and New Hopes (1987, Windspirit)
• The Art of Survival (1990, Vanguard)
• Loon, Mountain And Moon (1991, Vanguard)
• Reservation Road - Live (1992, Vanguard)
• The Red Road (1993, Warner Western)
• Raven in the Snow (1995, Reprise/Warner Bros.)
• Native Suite: Chants, Dances, and the Sacred Earth with Robert Mirabal (1996, Warner Western)
• Ghostdance (1999, Vanguard)
• Healing Waters (1999, JVO Records; 2001 Good Cop Bad Cop)
• Hear our Prayer (2000, Integrity)
• Spirit Rain (2002, Paras)
• A Sacred Gift (2003, Paras)
• Cedar Dream Songs (2004, Paras)
• Spirit Songs: The Best of Bill Miller (2004, Vanguard)
• Spirit Wind North (2009, Cool Springs Music Group)
• Spirit Wind East (2010, Cool Springs Music Group)
• Chronicles of Hope (2010, Cool Springs Music Group)
• Stone Tree (2021)

Contributing artist

• Disney's Pocahontas Soundtrack with Vanessa Williams (1995)
• The Rough Guide to Native American Music (1999, World Music Network)
• Look Again To The Wind: Johnny Cash's Bitter Tears Revisited (2015, Sony Masterworks)