Biography
The hard-charging Gibson/Miller Band emerged amid the cluster of country-rock outfits that appeared after the early-1990s honky-tonk revival. Its two frontmen, guitarists Dave Gibson and Bill “Blue” Miller, arrived in Nashville from sharply contrasting origins. Gibson grew up in Arkansas immersed in the sounds of Eddy Arnold, Hank Williams, and Elvis Presley; as a young musician he collaborated with John Prine and Steve Goodman, later establishing himself as a prominent Nashville songwriter. Miller, a Detroit native, contributed to Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band sessions, performed jingles, toured with Isaac Hayes, and earned an Emmy for composing the theme to an ABC documentary. After residing in multiple cities he relocated to Nashville, where he had never previously performed country material.
Epic Records Vice President Doug Johnson brought the pair together, believing they would form an effective writing partnership. They assembled a group, recorded a demo, and submitted it to Johnson, who promptly offered them a contract. The remaining members included bassist Bryan Grassmeyer, formerly of Vince Gill and Suzy Bogguss; drummer Steve Grossman, a frequent associate of Grassmeyer; and steel guitarist Mike Daly, who had accompanied Gibson for several years and appeared on every one of his demos. The Gibson/Miller Band issued its first single, “Big Heart,” in 1992; the track and its accompanying video gained favorable attention and reached the Top 40 the next year. Follow-up release “High Rollin’” climbed into the Top 20, while the provocative clip for third single “Texas Tattoo” generated considerable notice and paved the way for the debut album Where There’s Smoke (1993). In 1994 the single “Stone Cold Country” again charted in the Top 40, preceding the album Red, White & Blue Collar.
Epic Records Vice President Doug Johnson brought the pair together, believing they would form an effective writing partnership. They assembled a group, recorded a demo, and submitted it to Johnson, who promptly offered them a contract. The remaining members included bassist Bryan Grassmeyer, formerly of Vince Gill and Suzy Bogguss; drummer Steve Grossman, a frequent associate of Grassmeyer; and steel guitarist Mike Daly, who had accompanied Gibson for several years and appeared on every one of his demos. The Gibson/Miller Band issued its first single, “Big Heart,” in 1992; the track and its accompanying video gained favorable attention and reached the Top 40 the next year. Follow-up release “High Rollin’” climbed into the Top 20, while the provocative clip for third single “Texas Tattoo” generated considerable notice and paved the way for the debut album Where There’s Smoke (1993). In 1994 the single “Stone Cold Country” again charted in the Top 40, preceding the album Red, White & Blue Collar.
Albums
