Goodbye to my friend Rick Miller
KPOV 88.9FM Radio DJ who made my live music dreams come to life
I was in Brookings, Oregon preparing for a show this Friday when I read the news that Rick Miller, radio DJ and producer of Center Stage with KPOV 88.9 FM Community Radio had passed away. My heart sunk.
My entire live music career had Rick in the center as a music motivator. Long ago, about 15 years ago -I dropped off a CD from my first band, KouseFly that had a couple songs including "Bluhai Flower,” which was cut by my bandmate Bird, and "Around the Bend," (which was my song but sang by Bird). We recorded them as our test tracks. The process was like a, “how are we going to get this band thing started and rolling?” It was a great recording but even though I dropped it off at the radio station we’d get any air play. Well, to my surprise - not only did those songs make it on the air but became a regular placement on Rick Miller’s show “Center Stage” which is a local music focused show featuring bands in Central Oregon.
He invited our then duo to perform the songs live on the air. It was incredibly nerve-wracking but an incredibly boosting experience. As our band, Kousefly, grew he would invite the full band to the show to perform on the radio waves and then later asked if the band would like to perform at a fundraising event for KPOV named The Beatles Singalong. I worked with Rick and volunteered to create a slide show that had all of the lyrics for the audience.
My band wore costumes as Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band, I found a marching band blue jacket, something that Paul McCartney would have worn, and Bird found some gold-golden thing to wear. It was perhaps the first moment of music euphoria I’ve ever experienced playing live.
After the fundraising event Rick invited us to perform at the Bend Summer Festival on the KPOV stage. Once again was our advocate and brought us to places we’d never expect being a new band.
As time went on Rick and I formed a great friendship and was super supportive of all my projects. I started a solo recording journey that ended up being a fundraising endeavor of my own for my late sister who had Stage 4 breast cancer. He hosted an entire Center Stage show for my release of my EP and allowed my brothers, David and Daniel to come onto the show and talk live about the album as I promoted the ticketed show featuring other artists including Jason Schweitzer, Kylan Johnson and Stan Roach.
Jason and I moved on to form The Rum and the Sea where and Rick once again asked our band to perform where we once again were offered a position on the Bend Summer Festival Stage. Just like my band before Rick continued to support our music on his show where we would play live.
The love continued from him when I formed Victory Swig with live shows on air and on Center Stage. He even allowed me to come on as a soloist. Rick was my guiding light for music performing - he was the encouraging force that helped give me and my bandmates the courage to perform live. I don’t think I would have had any drive to succeed in music if it were not for Rick’s interventions. In the video below you will see Rick in the window, encouraging the performance like always.
In 2021 during the pandemic he had me on his show promoting my book that I published about local live music when he had me call in from my closet and I talked to all of Central Oregon about the book.
I’ll miss you very much Rick Miller. Thank you for all of the encouragement and support you gave to me during your life. Thank you for your friendship. Save a seat for me at later on at your show in the great gig in the sky.