Happy Birthday James "Bubber" Miley 1903-1932...As a child he sang for money on the streets of New York, taking up the coronet and trombone at the age of 14. After a very brief stint in the Navy, he started playing professionally in 1920, touring the south and later joining Mamie Smith's Jazz Hounds, replacing Johnny Dunn. While touring with Smith in Chicago, he heard King Oliver's Creole Jazz band and took special note of the use of mutes and the rest, as they say, was history.
Miley experimented with both the plunger and straight mutes as well as a derby or two and found his own unique growl that became a signature sound in the Duke Ellington band from 1923-1929. "Black and Tan Fantasy", "East St' Louis Toodle-Oo", "Doin' the Voom Voom" and "Creole Love Call" feature Miley prominently and were inspired by his melodic inventions which were in turn inspired by Baptist hymns sung in his church. Many jazz critics credit Miley with being a major part of Ellington's early success at the Cotton Club with his "Jungle Music" sound.
Miley was known for his charm and fun-loving personality but he was also just as famous for his unreliability and heavy drinking. His alcoholism would eventually lead him to exit Ellington's band in 1929 but his influence continued as new trumpeters with the band did their best to imitate him.
After leaving Ellington's band he joined Noble Sissle's Orchestra for a one month tour of Europe. On returning to New York he recorded with groups led by King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, Hoagy Carmichael and Zutty Singleton, recording 6 sides under his own name for Victor in 1930. He was also the only African-American who played with Leo Reisman's society dance band and but had to wear an usher's uniform and stand offstage or play behind a screen.
Miles' alcohol addiction eventually undermined his health and at the age of 29 he died of tuberculous in New York.
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