Punch Miller

Ernest Miller, also known as Punch Miller or Kid Punch Miller (June 10, 1894 – December 2, 1971), was an American traditional jazz trumpeter. Miller was born in Raceland, Louisiana, United States. He was known in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he was based from 1919 to 1927, when he moved to Chicago. In Chicago he worked with various bands, including those of Jelly Roll Morton and Tiny Parham, and appeared on a number of recordings. He is also confirmed to be the cornettist on the Gennett recordings of the obscure ensemble King Mutt and his Tennessee Thumpers. His lifestyle and the decline of Dixieland Jazz led to his falling out of the limelight. This changed with the rising importance of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and he returned to national attention. He returned to New Orleans, playing at Preservation Hall and leading a band under his own name, in addition to playing with other groups. In 1963, he toured Japan with the clarinetist George Lewis. Miller was the subject of the television documentary Til the Butcher Cuts Him Down.

Birth and Death Data: Born 1894, Died December 2, 1971

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1925 - 1930

Roles Represented in DAHR: trumpet, cornet, vocalist, composer, songwriter

Notes: Also known as "Kid Punch."

Recordings

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	BVE-46037	10-in.	7/2/1928	The head hunter's dream	Tiny Parham and his Musicians	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, cornet
Victor	BVE-46038	10-in.	7/2/1928	Stuttering blues	Tiny Parham and his Musicians	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, cornet
Victor	BVE-46039	10-in.	7/2/1928	Clarice	Tiny Parham and his Musicians	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, cornet
Victor	BVE-46040	10-in.	7/2/1928	Snake eyes	Tiny Parham and his Musicians	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, cornet
Victor	BVE-46041	10-in.	7/2/1928	Cuckoo blues	Tiny Parham and his Musicians	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, cornet
Victor	BVE-46042	10-in.	7/2/1928	Jogo rhythm	Tiny Parham and his Musicians	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, cornet
Victor	BVE-48846	10-in.	2/1/1929	Stompin' on down	Tiny Parham and his Musicians	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, cornet
Victor	BVE-50523	10-in.	2/25/1929	Can I tell you?	King Oliver Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BVE-50524	10-in.	2/25/1929	Uncle Joe's stomp	King Oliver Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BVE-50525	10-in.	2/25/1929	My good man Sam	King Oliver Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BVE-50526	10-in.	2/25/1929	I can't be worried blues	King Oliver Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BVE-57216	10-in.	12/3/1929	Dixieland doin's	Tiny Parham and his Musicians	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BVE-57217	10-in.	12/3/1929	Cathedral blues	Tiny Parham and his Musicians	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BVE-57218	10-in.	12/3/1929	Cheerful blues	Tiny Parham and his Musicians	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BVE-57219	10-in.	12/3/1929	Black cat moan	Tiny Parham and his Musicians	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BVE-57333	10-in.	10/26/1929	Pig's feet and slaw	Tiny Parham and his Musicians	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BVE-57334	10-in.	10/26/1929	Bombay	Tiny Parham and his Musicians	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BVE-57335	10-in.	10/26/1929	Fat man blues	Tiny Parham and his Musicians	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BVE-57336	10-in.	10/26/1929	Golden lily	Tiny Parham and his Musicians	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BVE-57337	10-in.	10/26/1929	Steel string blues	Tiny Parham and his Musicians	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BVE-57338	10-in.	10/26/1929	Sud buster's dream	Tiny Parham and his Musicians	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
OKeh	8892	10-in.	1/22/1925	Black but sweet, oh God!	Billy Mack ; Mary Mack	Female-male vocal duet, with cornet and piano	instrumentalist, cornet
OKeh	8897	10-in.	1/22/1925	My heartbreakin' gal	Billy Mack ; Mary Mack	Female-male vocal duet, with cornet and piano	instrumentalist, cornet
Brunswick	C2381	10-in.	10/2/1928	Down by the levee	Wynn's Creole Jazz Band	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Brunswick	C2429	10-in.	10/10/1928	Gates blues	Jimmy Wade Dixielanders	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Brunswick	C3364	10-in.	4/25/1929	Isabella	Jimmy Bertrand's Washboard Wizards	Jazz/dance band	composer
Brunswick	C6179	10-in.	11/12/1930	Somebody stole my gal	Frankie Franko ; Louisianians	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Brunswick	C6180	10-in.	11/12/1930	Golden Lily blues	Frankie Franko ; Louisianians	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, songwriter
Gennett	14789	10-in.	2/12/1929	Mississippi stomp (Blythe's stomp)	Frisky Foot Jackson and His Thumpers [King Mutt and his Tennessee Thumpers]	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Gennett	14793	10-in.	2/12/1929	Good time mamma	King Mutt and his Tennessee Thumpers	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Gennett	14794	10-in.	2/12/1929	Maxwell Street stomp	King Mutt and his Tennessee Thumpers	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Gennett	14796	10-in.	2/12/1929	Nuthouse stomp	King Mutt and his Tennessee Thumpers	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet
Gennett	14797	10-in.	2/12/1929	I wanna get it	King Mutt and his Tennessee Thumpers	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Miller, Punch," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/104817.

Miller, Punch. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/104817.

"Miller, Punch." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.