John Ramsey Miller
Encyclopedia
John Ramsey Miller is an American author.
He began his writing career as a journalist, including an exclusive interview with Martha Mitchell during the Watergate era. His interview with Mitchell appeared on The Dick Cavett Show
when John himself was interviewed by Cavett. (photo of John on Cavett Show)
As a commercial portrait photographer, John photographed notable recording artists for album covers for major labels and portraits of recording artists for illustrating music related magazine articles and for publicity purposes, including; Tennessee Ernie Ford and The Jordanaires, Bill Monroe, Bill Anderson, David Allen Coe, Amy Grant, Brenda Lee, Dion, B.J. Thomas, Dr. Hook, Don Williams, Eric Clapton, Waylon Jennings, Mel Tillis, Tammy Wynette, Earl Scruggs, Bill Gaither Trio, Eddie Rabbitt, Jerry Clower, Terry Bradshaw, Dottie West, Crystal Gayle, Dolly Parton, Carlene Carter, Ed Brown, Alex Chilton, Ronnie Milsap, Fury Lewis, BB King, Burt Reynolds, Robbie Benson, Jerry Reed, Chet Atkins, Les Paul, Porter Wagoner, Johnny Cash, Gary Stewart, Guy Clark, 2 Live Crew, Johnny Duncan, Tommy Overstreet, Dogwood, 2 Average White Kids
Additionally John produced a thought provoking series of photos after setting up an unheard of 'studio' at Angola Prison Death Row.
John continued to deal with controversy with an insider's no holds barred account of the obscenity trials of 2 Live Crew
. The book, As Nasty as They Wanna Be: The Uncensored Story of Luther Campbell of the 2 Live Crew, takes the wraps off the notorious rap group, revealing the people behind the bad-mouthed persona.
Switching genres to produce a popular thriller, The Last Family, John entered a relationship with Bantam Books that included the spine tingling Winter Massey series from which UPSIDE DOWN was nominated for an International Thriller Writers Award for best PBO (Paper Back Original)and
INSIDE OUT was nominated for a BARRY Award for best PBO.
on October 3, 1949.
His father, Rush Glenn Miller, was a Methodist minister, who was Pastor Emeritus of the University Methodist Church in Oxford, Ms. until his death on Oct. 3, 2007. His mother, Dr. Gene Ramsey Miller, PhD, was a history professor.
He attended Delta State University
in Cleveland, Mississippi
where he studied art.
In 1972 he was working as a still photographer and graphic designer at an ABC TV network affiliate station in Mississippi when he accidentally became embroiled with Martha Mitchell and the burgeoning Watergate scandal. He was fired from his job for trying to help a friend protect Mrs. Mitchell from the press. Thanks to Helen Thomas, he conducted an exclusive filmed interview with Martha Mitchell, which aired on The Dick Cavett
Show, August 9, 1973.
In 1981 John set up a studio in a narrow hallway of death Row at Angola and produced a series of formal portraits of the inmates. Over the next four years he set up a portable studio and produced formalized portraits of individuals associated with "groups." He photographed firemen, policemen, klansmen in their robes, Skinheads and Identity Christians as well as their children. He photographed artists, entertainers, prostitutes, doctors, lawyers, drug addicts and politicians. His portrait work has been shown in museums and included in several books and national magazines. The Death Row series was published in Oxford American, and his portraits of white supremacists in New Times and The Miami Herald's Sunday magazine, TROPIC.
In 1990, working with Luther Campbell, he wrote a non-fiction book on 2 Live Crew
and the obscenity trials.
In 1994 Bantam Books
bought his book, The Last Family. The book was a Literary Guild Main Selection, was published in twelve languages, was optioned by Hallmark Entertainment for a feature film, made it to #16 on the New York Times Best Seller list
, and is still in print.
John, working in a collaboration with 14 other noted writers, including friend Jeffrey Deaver, wrote the 17-part serial thriller "The Chopin Manuscript" narrated by Alfred Molina that was broadcast on Audible.com from September 25 to November 13, 2007. * "The Chopin Manuscript" on Audible.com
Feature articles for Miami Herald's Tropic Magazine (Covers and stories illustrated with photos by the author)
My Friend the Nazi, by John R. Miller
The Fifth Street Gym, by John R. Miller
Busting With Pride, by John R. Miller
Pawnography, by John R. Miller
The Estimable Mr. Campbell, by John R. Miller
New Times Magazine, Miami (Features)
Welcome to the Cobra Club
He began his writing career as a journalist, including an exclusive interview with Martha Mitchell during the Watergate era. His interview with Mitchell appeared on The Dick Cavett Show
The Dick Cavett Show
The Dick Cavett Show has been the title of several talk shows hosted by Dick Cavett on various television networks, including:* ABC daytime ...
when John himself was interviewed by Cavett. (photo of John on Cavett Show)
As a commercial portrait photographer, John photographed notable recording artists for album covers for major labels and portraits of recording artists for illustrating music related magazine articles and for publicity purposes, including; Tennessee Ernie Ford and The Jordanaires, Bill Monroe, Bill Anderson, David Allen Coe, Amy Grant, Brenda Lee, Dion, B.J. Thomas, Dr. Hook, Don Williams, Eric Clapton, Waylon Jennings, Mel Tillis, Tammy Wynette, Earl Scruggs, Bill Gaither Trio, Eddie Rabbitt, Jerry Clower, Terry Bradshaw, Dottie West, Crystal Gayle, Dolly Parton, Carlene Carter, Ed Brown, Alex Chilton, Ronnie Milsap, Fury Lewis, BB King, Burt Reynolds, Robbie Benson, Jerry Reed, Chet Atkins, Les Paul, Porter Wagoner, Johnny Cash, Gary Stewart, Guy Clark, 2 Live Crew, Johnny Duncan, Tommy Overstreet, Dogwood, 2 Average White Kids
Additionally John produced a thought provoking series of photos after setting up an unheard of 'studio' at Angola Prison Death Row.
John continued to deal with controversy with an insider's no holds barred account of the obscenity trials of 2 Live Crew
2 Live Crew
2 Live Crew was a hip hop group from Miami, Florida. They caused considerable controversy with the sexual themes in their work, particularly on their 1989 album As Nasty As They Wanna Be.- Early career :...
. The book, As Nasty as They Wanna Be: The Uncensored Story of Luther Campbell of the 2 Live Crew, takes the wraps off the notorious rap group, revealing the people behind the bad-mouthed persona.
Switching genres to produce a popular thriller, The Last Family, John entered a relationship with Bantam Books that included the spine tingling Winter Massey series from which UPSIDE DOWN was nominated for an International Thriller Writers Award for best PBO (Paper Back Original)and
INSIDE OUT was nominated for a BARRY Award for best PBO.
Biography
Miller was born in Greenville, MississippiGreenville, Mississippi
Greenville is a city in Washington County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 48,633 at the 2000 census, but according to the 2009 census bureau estimates, it has since declined to 42,764, making it the eighth-largest city in the state. It is the county seat of Washington...
on October 3, 1949.
His father, Rush Glenn Miller, was a Methodist minister, who was Pastor Emeritus of the University Methodist Church in Oxford, Ms. until his death on Oct. 3, 2007. His mother, Dr. Gene Ramsey Miller, PhD, was a history professor.
He attended Delta State University
Delta State University
Delta State University, also known as DSU, is a regional public university located in Cleveland, Mississippi, United States, in the heart of the Mississippi Delta...
in Cleveland, Mississippi
Cleveland, Mississippi
Cleveland is a city in Bolivar County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 12,334 as of the 2010 census.Cleveland has a fairly large commercial economy, with numerous restaurants, stores, and services along U.S. Highway 61...
where he studied art.
In 1972 he was working as a still photographer and graphic designer at an ABC TV network affiliate station in Mississippi when he accidentally became embroiled with Martha Mitchell and the burgeoning Watergate scandal. He was fired from his job for trying to help a friend protect Mrs. Mitchell from the press. Thanks to Helen Thomas, he conducted an exclusive filmed interview with Martha Mitchell, which aired on The Dick Cavett
Dick Cavett
Richard Alva "Dick" Cavett is a former American television talk show host known for his conversational style and in-depth discussion of issues...
Show, August 9, 1973.
In 1981 John set up a studio in a narrow hallway of death Row at Angola and produced a series of formal portraits of the inmates. Over the next four years he set up a portable studio and produced formalized portraits of individuals associated with "groups." He photographed firemen, policemen, klansmen in their robes, Skinheads and Identity Christians as well as their children. He photographed artists, entertainers, prostitutes, doctors, lawyers, drug addicts and politicians. His portrait work has been shown in museums and included in several books and national magazines. The Death Row series was published in Oxford American, and his portraits of white supremacists in New Times and The Miami Herald's Sunday magazine, TROPIC.
In 1990, working with Luther Campbell, he wrote a non-fiction book on 2 Live Crew
2 Live Crew
2 Live Crew was a hip hop group from Miami, Florida. They caused considerable controversy with the sexual themes in their work, particularly on their 1989 album As Nasty As They Wanna Be.- Early career :...
and the obscenity trials.
In 1994 Bantam Books
Bantam Books
Bantam Books is an American publishing house owned entirely by Random House, the German media corporation subsidiary of Bertelsmann; it is an imprint of the Random House Publishing Group. It was formed in 1945 by Walter B. Pitkin, Jr., Sidney B. Kramer, and Ian and Betty Ballantine...
bought his book, The Last Family. The book was a Literary Guild Main Selection, was published in twelve languages, was optioned by Hallmark Entertainment for a feature film, made it to #16 on the New York Times Best Seller list
New York Times Best Seller list
The New York Times Best Seller list is widely considered the preeminent list of best-selling books in the United States. It is published weekly in The New York Times Book Review magazine, which is published in the Sunday edition of The New York Times and as a stand-alone publication...
, and is still in print.
John, working in a collaboration with 14 other noted writers, including friend Jeffrey Deaver, wrote the 17-part serial thriller "The Chopin Manuscript" narrated by Alfred Molina that was broadcast on Audible.com from September 25 to November 13, 2007. * "The Chopin Manuscript" on Audible.com
Audible.com
Audible.com is an Internet provider of spoken audio entertainment, information, and educational programming.Audible sells digital audiobooks, radio and TV programs, and audio versions of magazines and newspapers....
NonFiction
- As Nasty as They Wanna Be: The Uncensored Story of Luther Campbell of the 2 Live Crew (1992) (With Luther Campbell)
Feature articles for Miami Herald's Tropic Magazine (Covers and stories illustrated with photos by the author)
My Friend the Nazi, by John R. Miller
The Fifth Street Gym, by John R. Miller
Busting With Pride, by John R. Miller
Pawnography, by John R. Miller
The Estimable Mr. Campbell, by John R. Miller
New Times Magazine, Miami (Features)
Welcome to the Cobra Club
Fiction
- The Last Family Publisher: Bantam (July 1, 1997) ISBN 978-0553574968
- Inside Out Publisher: Dell (May 31, 2005) ISBN 978-0553583373
- Upside Down Publisher: Dell (June 28, 2005) ISBN 978-0553583403
- Side by Side Publisher: Dell (August 30, 2005) ISBN 978-0553583434
- Too Far Gone Publisher: Dell (August 29, 2006) ISBN 978-0440243090
- Smoke and Mirrors Publisher: Dell (March 25, 2008) ISBN 978-0440243106
- The Last Day Publisher: Bantam (December 30, 2008) ISBN 978-0440243113