Over the last four decades, John Miller has served as Music Coordinator for over 130 Broadway productions and is currently represented by Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations and Oklahoma!, in addition to the upcoming New York production of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical. He has worked on Broadway's biggest hits including: The Producers, Once, Jersey Boys, and Hairspray. As a bassist, he has played with everyone from Madonna, Bob Dylan, and Elvis Costello, to Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and the New York Philharmonic. As an actor, he played the role of Dee Dee the drug-dealing percussionist in Amazon Prime's Golden Globe-winning "Mozart in the Jungle" for all four seasons.
Miller's album, "Stage Door Johnny", takes an irreverent and engaging musical trek through a collection of beloved tunes, featuring songs currently on Broadway - "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" from My Fair Lady, "Why Can't You Behave?" from Kiss Me Kate, and "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'" from Oklahoma! - in addition to unexpected choices like "Real Live Girl" from Little Me and "I Won't Grow Up" from Peter Pan.
On "Stage Door Johnny", Miller uses jazzy arrangements, humor, even country music inflections to spice up the mix and create what he wryly calls "Quaalude Funk." The album seeks to remind Broadway fans just how versatile the genre is, and how well the songs stand up to new arrangements. Even those who feel predisposed to not like theater music might find themselves humming along to the tunes.
On this episode, John shares his one way ticket to Bossa Nova's early formative years in Brazil. He also talks about opening night on Broadway, offers advice for musicians, and recalls one particularly memorable concert performing with Frank Sinatra at Carnegie Hall.
John is just one of the dynamic guests featured on The One Way Ticket Show, where Host Steven Shalowitz explores with his guests where they would go if given a one way ticket, no coming back! Destinations may be in the past, present, future, real, imaginary or a state of mind.
Steven's guests have included: Nobel Peace Prize Winner, President Jose Ramos-Horta; Legendary Talk Show Host, Dick Cavett; Law Professor, Alan Dershowitz; Fashion Expert, Tim Gunn; Broadcast Legend, Charles Osgood; International Rescue Committee President & CEO, David Miliband; Playwright, David Henry Hwang; Journalist-Humorist-Actor, Mo Rocca; SkyBridge Capital Founder & Co-Managing Partner, Anthony Scaramucci; Abercrombie & Kent Founder, Geoffrey Kent; Travel Expert, Pauline Frommer, as well as leading photographers, artists, chefs, writers, intellectuals and more.