Hazel Miller
Hazel Miller | |
|---|---|
 Miller singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Mile High Stadium in 2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 1954 (age 71–72) |
| Origin | Denver, Colorado |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Singer |
| Years active | Since 1969 |
| Labels |
|
| Member of | Hazel Miller & The Collective |
| Formerly of | Hazel Miller and the Caucasians The Hazel Miller Band |
| Website | hazelmiller.biz |
Hazel Miller (born 1954) is an American blues, jazz, pop and gospel singer. Originally from Kentucky, she has performed in the Denver, Colorado area since 1984.
Early life
[edit]Miller was born in 1954 in Louisville, Kentucky, as one of seven children. She began singing professionally at the age of 15 and featured prominently in the Louisville music scene. She sang backup for Al Green, and opened for Mel Tormé and Lou Rawls. Her band was the first African-American band to play regularly at the Louisville Hyatt Hotel.[1]
In 1982, Miller recorded the song "Look What We Can Do, Louisville", at the request of then-Mayor Harvey I. Sloane as part of a campaign to promote the community. It went on to become considered the city's theme song.[2]
Career
[edit]In 1984, while relocating to Los Angeles with her two children, Miller's rental truck broke down in Denver, and she decided to stay.[3] Since then, she has performed in Colorado and beyond. A review in the Rocky Mountain News called her "a force of nature", and described her voice as "moving and powerful".[3] She played at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre near Denver, at the White House for then President Bill Clinton, and for the Denver Broncos after their 1998 Super Bowl win.[1] Miller has toured with the military five times, including playing at Iwo Jima.[4] She has been a regular performer on the ETown Radio Show, airing on NPR's national affiliate stations. Her recorded voice greets visitors taking the trains to the main terminal at Denver International Airport.[3]
In 2008 she launched Hazel Miller Entertainment and became a booking agent.[5] She has sung with or opened for Julian Lennon, Peter, Paul & Mary, Charlie Musselwhite, James Taylor, James Brown, the Temptations, and many others.[3][6] In addition, she toured for five years with Big Head Todd and the Monsters, and has performed at major jazz and music festivals throughout Colorado.[7]
Discography
[edit]Albums
- 1995: Hazel Miller and the Caucasians (Live at the Fox)
- 2001: I'm Still Looking (USA 1 Stop label)
- 2001: Live at the Fox (Hapi Skratch Records label)
- 2006: Icons (Hazel Miller label)[8][9]
Contributions
Awards
[edit]- 1995, 1996, 1997: Westword Readers Poll Best Blues/R&B band[11][12]
- 2002: National Independent Music Award for Best Independent Blues-R&B Recording[12]
- 2008: Recognized as one of the 150 people who make Denver a better place to live[12]
- Local award[by whom?] for "Best Local Star in a Theatrical Production", for her appearance in a Colorado production of The Vagina Monologues[3]
- 2023: inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame[13]
- 2024: Westword Best of Denver Best Legendary Soul Singer[14]
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Miller, Hazel · Notable Kentucky African Americans Database". nkaa.uky.edu. Archived from the original on September 21, 2019. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
- ↑ Keck, Matthew (January 7, 2023). "'Look What We Can Do': The story behind Louisville's catchy 1980s theme song". WLKY. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "THOUGHTS & PRAYERS: Hazel Miller Suffers Heart Attack - Fundraiser Set Up // Hazel Sends a "Thank You" Note". COMBO - The Colorado Music Business Organization. April 6, 2017. Archived from the original on September 21, 2019. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
- ↑ Husted, Bill (November 9, 2010). "Miller To Pipe Up for Veterans in Vocal Marathon". The Denver Post.
- ↑ "Boulder Music Scene: Changing of the Guard". Colorado Daily. September 17, 2008.
- ↑ Limnios, Michael. "An Interview with singer Hazel Miller: When I sing the blues I am healing a hurt that goes to my soul". blues.gr. Archived from the original on September 21, 2019. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
- ↑ "Hazel Miller Band – Northglenn Arts". Archived from the original on September 21, 2019. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
- ↑ ♫ Hazel Miller and the Caucasians (Live at the Fox) - Hazel Miller. Listen @cdbaby, archived from the original on September 21, 2019, retrieved September 21, 2019
- ↑ "Hazel Miller | Album Discography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 21, 2019. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
- ↑ "Hazel Miller discography". RateYourMusic. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
- ↑ "Rockin' with... The Hazel Miller Band". Colorado Magazine Online. Archived from the original on July 12, 2025. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
- 1 2 3 "Hazel Miller Band". BCE Productions. September 2, 2018. Archived from the original on August 21, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
- ↑ Barnes, Cynthia (June 7, 2023). "Soul Survivor: Hazel Miller's Journey From a Broken-Down Truck to Colorado Music Hall of Fame". Westword. Archived from the original on February 18, 2026. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
- ↑ "Best Of Denver® 2024 Winners". Archived from the original on October 14, 2025. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Hazel Miller discography at Discogs
- 1954 births
- Living people
- 20th-century African-American women singers
- 21st-century African-American women singers
- American blues singers
- American women jazz singers
- American jazz singers
- Blues musicians from Kentucky
- Jazz musicians from Colorado
- Jazz musicians from Kentucky
- Singers from Denver
- Singers from Louisville, Kentucky