Jerry Miller - Early Years: Late 1950s-1966

Early Years: Late 1950s-1966

Jerry Miller's professional career began in the late 1950s, playing and recording with popular Northwest dance-rock bands including The Elegants. He was apparently a member of The Kingsmen (of Louie Louie fame) at one time, with promotional photos that exist as evidence of that. He contributed guitar work to an early version of the hit record I Fought the Law by The Bobby Fuller Four, and toured with Bobby Fuller in his predecessor group to The Bobby Fuller Four.

While both were playing locally in Seattle, prior to becoming internationally famous, Jerry Miller befriended Jimi Hendrix. Along with Larry Coryell, who was developing his reputation as a guitarist while attending the University of Washington in Seattle, they would regularly get together to watch touring bands visiting the Seattle area. One particular club was the Spanish Castle, in Des Moines, Washington, between Seattle and Tacoma. The later Hendrix song, Spanish Castle Magic, was based on his experiences with fellow guitarists at the Spanish Castle in Des Moines.