Jacob Miller

Jacob Miller was born on 4th May 1952 in Mandeville, Jamaica. He first recoded Clement “Coxsone” Dodd in the late 1060’s. He became the lead Singer for “Inner Circle” with Roger Lewis on Guitar, Ian Lewis on Bass, Bernard "Touter" Harvey on Keyboards, and Rasheed McKenzie on Drums. In 1976, Inner Circle signed with Capitol Records and released two albums, “Reggae Thing” and “Ready For the World”. Their first hit with Jacob Miller was "Tenement Yard", followed by "Tired Fi Lick Weed In a Bush". Band leader Roger Lewis said Jacob Miller was "always happy and jovial. He always made jokes and everyone liked his jokes."  

Jacob Miller featured in the film “Rockers” alongside many other musicians including Gregory Isaacs, Leroy Wallace, Big Youth, Burning Spear and many more. In the movie, he plays the singer of a hotel house band. Leroy “Horsemouth” Wallace joined Inner Circle Band for a live session playing their hit song “Tenement Yard”.

Jacob Miller also pursued solo recording "Forward Jah Jah Children," produced by Gussie Clarke, and "I'm a Natty" produced by Joe Gibbs. He was 2nd in Jamaica's 1976 Festival Song competition with the song "All Night 'Till Daylight" and he also produced his first solo album in 1978, Dread Dread, backed by Inner Circle. He released Classic Tracks like Rockers Standard "King Tubby Meets The Rockers Uptown" with Augustus Pablo, a dub of "Baby I Love You So," engineered by King Tubby. Other tracks produced by Augustus Pablo included "Keep on Knocking", "False Rasta", and "Who Say Jah No Dread". The album “Who Say Jah No Dread” featured two versions of each of these tracks, the original and a dub, engineered by King Tubby.

Jacob Miller appeared at the One Love Peace Concert, at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica on 22nd April 1978, along with many Reggae Artist, including Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, U-Roy, Judy Mowatt, Dennis Brown, and others. While performing his set, Jacob Miller put on a policeman's hat and fired up an enormous spliff, to the delight of the audience. His set is featured in the Concert Documentary film “Heartland Reggae” which chronicles the historical event. 

 In March 1980 Jacob Miller and Inner Circle began preparing for an American tour with Bob Marley and the Wailers and their next album, “Mixed Up Moods”. Sadly on Sunday, 23 March 1980, Jacob Miller and one of his Sons died in a car accident on Hope Road in Kingston, Jamaica. 

Jacob Miller and Reggae Artist Maxi Priest are cousins. Jacob Miller Festive Christmas Album continues to be a Best Seller during the Season in Jamaica and among Jamaicans abroad. 

InI Salute and remember Jacob Miller the Great Singer, Songwriter, Producer Actor and Comedian in his Earthstrong Iwah