This is a question many musicians ask when they have nothing else to talk about.
I was recently asked this question and after careful thought, I came up with a name most of you may not even recognize.
Favorite trumpet player’s names such as Maynard Ferguson, Bobby Shew, Miles Davis, Al Hirt, Adolph Herseth, Wynton Marsalis, “Doc” Severinsen, Armando Ghitalla, Robert Nagle, and equally gifted players first came to mind. But for me at this time in my life, the person who I would rate as my favorite trumpet player would be Doyle Miller.
Most of you are now wondering who this person is and how I decided to list him as my current “most favorite trumpet player” and this post was written to answer that question.
Doyle Miller is a native of Russell, Kansas and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas. Throughout his career, Doyle has performed with musical groups such as Les Brown and the Band of Renown; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra; Harry James Orchestra; Les Elgart Orchestra; Sammy Kaye Orchestra; Russ Morgan Orchestra and Bobby Vinton with the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
Doyle currently lives in Branson, Missouri where he has played in many theaters and shows including The All Hands On Deck! Show; Silver Dollar City – Worldfest; The Rat Pack – A Tribute to Frank, Dean & Sammy; Les Brown and The Band Of Renown; The Rat Pack Is Back! (From Las Vegas); Branson Jubilee; The Magnificent Seven and Swing, Swing, Swing. He has also worked or recorded with celebrities such as Bob Hope; Andy Williams; The Lettermen; Shirley Jones; Marie Osmond; Jimmy Osmond; Merrill Osmond; Mannheim Steamroller; Little Anthony and The Imperials; John Davidson; Jack Jones; Lee Greenwood; The Lennon Sisters; Jan Daley; Gloria Loring; Fred Travalena and the St. Louis Jazz Orchestra. Prior to moving to Branson, Doyle worked for Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line playing lead trumpet in their show bands touring around the world.
Now that you know what he has done in his musical career in the past and now I’ll tell you why I would consider him one of my favorite trumpet players. It is not from what he has done in the past but what he has been doing for the past four months in our current show, “The All Hands On Deck Show”.
When one of the trumpet chairs opened, I suggested that we bring in Doyle to play lead and I would play the solo chair. We have been performing five shows a week now for months and being able to play second to Doyle has been a blast.
I consider myself an above average second trumpet player and when you are able to play alongside someone who is musical, in tune and consistent as Mr. Miller, it makes your life much easier. Each day when the downbeat goes down, I know exactly what he is going to do and he knows what I am going to do. Intonation is never a problem as well as the balance between the two trumpets. Every articulation is matched because of his consistency and fine musicianship.
To give you another example of working in harmony together, today my first valve froze and I mentioned it to Doyle. Within a few seconds he has the top off the valve oil container at the same time I had my valve removed. We had that sucker oiled, reinserted and screwed down in seven measures. No that is team work.
I can’t count the number of lead players I have worked with and in most cases it was a challenge, for most tend to believe that everyone has to follow them. To some degree this is true but when a lead player lays down the correct notes in the proper style, in tune and every time, the second chair player is in heaven.
Thank you Doyle for playing in our show and for making my trips to the office each day an experience I look forward to.
