Gary Miller died on May 10, at the young age of 62. We’ve known each other for more than a decade, ever since he started working on the RAT, Rock Against Trafficking, project, roping in star artists to contribute to the album of Sting songs and benefit the cause which was closed to Miller’s heart. Gary asked me to help him find more participants, and I talked his favorite bass player, my friend Andy Fraser, into joining in – and both of them struck up a friendship too. Sadly, the project still remains unfinished, although the producer was happy to release a few choice covers to the public, which was more important to him than anything he’d done before that. And there was a lot.
Known in later years for his work in America, Miller was born in Yorkshire and started out as a bassist and guitarist for THE KREW, who used to back Nik Kershaw, and the musical director for George Michael’s “Faith” tour, before making a name for himself as part of the Stock Aitken Waterman creative stable. He served as producer, engineer and songwriter on a variety of projects, including records by Donna Summer and BANANARAMA – for who he co-penned, respectively, a piece titled “My Life” and the entire “Ultra Violet” album – as well as Kylie Minogue’s “Celebration” where he played keyboards and David Bowie’s “Everyone Says ‘Hi'” single which he co-produced. Still, it was the “Set Them Free” roster for RAT foundation that Gary cared about the most and hosted Grammy parties to raise funds and awareness and fight human trafficking; hopefully, it will see the light of day soon now that he’s gone. Gary Miller will be sorely missed by many.
