F. E. Miller
Encyclopedia
Flournoy Earkin Miller was an African American
composer, singer, writer, and actor who appeared in vaudeville
with Aubrey Lyles
as Miller and Lyles.
From 1906 to 1909, Miller and Lyles performed with the Pekin Theater Stock Company in Chicago, and then on the vaudeville
circuit for many years. In 1915, they appeared in André Charlot
's production Charlot's Revue in England, and upon their return to the U.S., appeared in Darkydom with Abbie Mitchell
.
, a Broadway musical with music by Eubie Blake
and lyrics by Noble Sissle
. Also in 1921, Orlando Kellum made a short film with Miller and Lyles performing their song "De Ducks" in Kellum's short-lived Photokinema
sound-on-disc
process.
Miller and Lyles also worked on another Broadway production, Runnin' Wild (1923). Lyles broke up the act in 1929, but they reunited briefly in 1932 -- shortly before Lyles' death -- trying to put together a new show Shuffle Along of 1933. Miller also starred in the 1930 version of Lew Leslie
's Blackbirds on Broadway, and in the all-black Western
Harlem on the Prairie
(1937).
He was posthumously nominated for a Tony Award
in 1979 for his contributions to the musical Eubie!
, based on the life of Eubie Blake
.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
composer, singer, writer, and actor who appeared in vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
with Aubrey Lyles
Aubrey Lyles
Aubrey Lyles was an African American songwriter, lyricist, and vaudeville performer, appearing with F. E. Miller as Miller and Lyles...
as Miller and Lyles.
From 1906 to 1909, Miller and Lyles performed with the Pekin Theater Stock Company in Chicago, and then on the vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
circuit for many years. In 1915, they appeared in André Charlot
André Charlot
André Eugene Maurice Charlot was a French impresario known primarily for the highly successful musical revues he staged in London between 1912 and 1937...
's production Charlot's Revue in England, and upon their return to the U.S., appeared in Darkydom with Abbie Mitchell
Abbie Mitchell
Abriea "Abbie" Mitchell , also billed as Abbey Mitchell, was an American soprano opera singer who sang the role of "Clara" in the premier production of George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess in 1935....
.
Biography
In 1921, Lyles and Miller wrote the book for Shuffle AlongShuffle Along
Shuffle Along is the first major successful African American musical. Written by Flournoy Miller and Aubrey Lyles, with music and lyrics by Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake, the musical premiered on Broadway in 1921.-Plot:...
, a Broadway musical with music by Eubie Blake
Eubie Blake
James Hubert Blake was an American composer, lyricist, and pianist of ragtime, jazz, and popular music. In 1921, Blake and long-time collaborator Noble Sissle wrote the Broadway musical Shuffle Along, one of the first Broadway musicals to be written and directed by African Americans...
and lyrics by Noble Sissle
Noble Sissle
Noble Sissle was an American jazz composer, lyricist, bandleader, singer and playwright.-Early life:...
. Also in 1921, Orlando Kellum made a short film with Miller and Lyles performing their song "De Ducks" in Kellum's short-lived Photokinema
Photokinema
Photo-Kinema was a sound-on-disc system for motion pictures invented by Orlando Kellum.-1921 introduction:The system was first used for a small number of short films, mostly made in 1921...
sound-on-disc
Sound-on-disc
The term Sound-on-disc refers to a class of sound film processes using a phonograph or other disc to record or playback sound in sync with a motion picture...
process.
Miller and Lyles also worked on another Broadway production, Runnin' Wild (1923). Lyles broke up the act in 1929, but they reunited briefly in 1932 -- shortly before Lyles' death -- trying to put together a new show Shuffle Along of 1933. Miller also starred in the 1930 version of Lew Leslie
Lew Leslie
Lew Leslie was a Broadway writer and producer. Although white, he was the first impressario to present black artists on stage...
's Blackbirds on Broadway, and in the all-black Western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
Harlem on the Prairie
Harlem on the Prairie (film)
Harlem on the Prairie is a race movie, billed as the first "all-colored" western musical. The movie reminded audiences that there were black cowboys and corrected a popular Hollywood image of an all-white Old West....
(1937).
He was posthumously nominated for a Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
in 1979 for his contributions to the musical Eubie!
Eubie!
Eubie! is a revue featuring the music of Eubie Blake, with lyrics by Noble Sissle, Andy Razaf, Johnny Brandon, F.E. Miller, and Jim Europe.-Production:...
, based on the life of Eubie Blake
Eubie Blake
James Hubert Blake was an American composer, lyricist, and pianist of ragtime, jazz, and popular music. In 1921, Blake and long-time collaborator Noble Sissle wrote the Broadway musical Shuffle Along, one of the first Broadway musicals to be written and directed by African Americans...
.