Who Was Jerry Miller? All About Moby Grape’s Lead Guitarist As He Passes Away At 81

As a dedicated follower and huge fan of Jerry Miller‘s music, I am deeply saddened by the news of his passing. Miller was not only a pioneer in the San Francisco music scene of the 1960s but also a virtuoso guitarist whose skills were highly admired by his contemporaries.


In the realm of music, another beloved figure from the San Francisco scene of the 1960s has passed away. Jerry Miller, a well-known musician, died in Tacoma, Washington, at the age of 81. At present, no information regarding the cause of his death has been disclosed. The news was shared on the Moby Grape Facebook fan page and by journalist Eric Brenner.

With deep regret, we announce that Jerry Miller passed away during the night. His wife Jo and their family kindly ask for space and understanding at this difficult time. For the moment, Jo has requested that folks hold off on making phone calls. We will share details about survivors and memorial arrangements as they become available. Our thoughts are with Jerry’s loved ones as they grieve his loss.

More about Jerry Miller

In the late 1950s, I, Jerry Miller, got my start playing and recording music with well-known Northwest dance-rock bands. I played guitar on an early rendition of “I Fought the Law” by The Bobby Fuller Four, which went on to become a hit. After touring with Fuller, I became the lead guitarist for Moby Grape, a band that formed in San Francisco in 1966 alongside two other musicians.

The Grape, which is another name, entered into an agreement with Columbia Records and produced four albums for them between the years 1967 and 1969. Miller collaborated with Don Stevenson on writing three of Moby Grape’s most famous songs: “Hey Grandma,” “8:05,” and “Murder In My Heart for The Judge.” Following Moby Grape, Miller went on to create The Rhythm Dukes and later joined forces with organist Bill Champlin.

Jerry Miller was known for his extraordinary guitar skills

Based on Deadline’s report, Miller was highly regarded by his peers for his exceptional guitar skills. Eric Clapton went so far as to declare him the “best guitar player in the world” upon his arrival in the United States. Additionally, Robert Plant acknowledged Miller as a significant influence on Led Zeppelin, even going as far as playing Moby Grape songs during their initial rehearsals.

I have been deeply moved by the extraordinary story of this musician, whose guitar skills earned him a place among the greatest in history. Rolling Stone, a renowned authority in music, recognized his talent by including him at number 68 on their list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. Moreover, they acknowledged Moby Grape’s groundbreaking album as one of the 500 best albums ever created, ranking it at number 124.

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2024-07-22 12:53