Well-Known Composer Bob Miller Succumbs

Bob Miller, successful song writer, who wrote some 7,000 songs, many of which were highly successful, died Friday morning at his home in Nyack, N. Y., of a heart ailment.

Mr. Miller was born in Memphis 60 years ago and planned a career as a concert pianist. In the early ‘20s, he and his Idlewild Orchestra played aboard the Idlewild, a Mississippi River steamer, and also played on the roof garden atop the Falls Building on Front Street.

In 1923 his band played one of the first test programs for WMC when the station was about to go on the air and played regularly until 1927.

Among his big hits were “There’s A Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere”, “Sweet Pal”, “Seven Years with the Wrong Woman”, and many others.

He studied at the Southern Conservatory in Memphis and the Chicago Conservatory of Music, before turning to song writing which he had always enjoyed as a hobby.

In 1928, he went to New York as an arranger for the Irving Berlin Co., and later established Bob Miller, Inc., his own publishing firm.

He was a frequent Memphis visitor and was always happy to welcome Memphians who came to New York.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Nita Miller, of Nyack, N. Y.; three brothers, David H. Miller, A. L. Miller and John Miller, and a sister, Mrs. Lena Miller Moskovitz, all of Memphis.

Services were held Monday in Memphis with Rabbi James A. Wax officiating. Interment was in Temple Israel Cemetery.

Hebrew Watchman

September 1, 1955 page 11