Gary Miller

Gary Robert Miller writes songs, plays banjo, dobro, acoustic and electric guitar. He also is a Festival Emmcee and has worked many years will Merlefest and the IBMA World of Bluegrass in Raleigh.

Gary Miller is a cousin of Ola Belle Campbell Reed from Ashe County, NC who played with his step granddad, Elmer Elliot in a mountain string band called the North Carolina Ridge Runners. He spent his early years denying the power of mountain music in the foothills of North Carolina outside Winston-Salem knocking around in bands like The Missing Links, The Individuals and the Vandals. They were below Average White Bands.

After many years of “jumping around the bonus room” with an electric guitar Gary returned to acoustic music being drawn back in through the church. “Once you have time to consider things, singing to God is the most important thing you can do.” Then came the bluegrass period where Gary sang and played reso guitar with More Grass For Less, later called the Riverwood Life Boys. “We had the privilege to play about every school auditorium in Johnston County.”

For seven years Gary worked with Larry Butterton to form and manage Peak City Blues Project which found regional success covering great songs of the 60's and 70's.

Today Gary is part of a new time string band called Jordan Lake Swimmers.