New to Seattle’s music scene

Joseph Miller – producer, composer, arranger, guitar player, singer and founder of Open Blue – grew up in Seattle with his father, legendary guitarist Jerry Miller. To entertain the young Joseph and introduce him to instruments, Jerry often accompanied music in old John Wayne movies, Tom & Jerry cartoons and TV commercials. 

Jerry gave him a custom-built miniature Kepplinger drum set when he turned three, and Joseph has been involved in some form of music ever since. Influenced by musical acts like X Japan, Dire Straits, Meatloaf, Cat Stevens, Beethoven, The Beatles, Elton John and his father’s band Moby Grape, Joe picked up the guitar at age 17 and started playing as if he had been his whole life. Out flowed song after song – melody first, then lyrics.

Joseph is now front man for Open Blue on lead vocals and guitar, with David D’Armond on percussion and Charles Villan on bass and harmonies. Featuring Jerry Miller on guitar, the upcoming Open Blue album is now in its final stages with producer Aaron Mannino and is set for a summer release.

Often described as power-pop with a hint of John Lennon and perhaps John Mayer, Open Blue plays four hours of continuous original material, along with a few original Moby Grape covers. The band has played local music venues like High Dive in Fremont, The Shipwreck Tavern in West Seattle, and Central Saloon in Pioneer Square, in addition to playing for the occasional private event.

Jerry often joins the band for live shows in the Seattle area. Playing psychedelic, rock and blues, the legendary guitarist and vocalist is a founding member of the 1960s San Francisco band Moby Grape. He has shared the stage with many musical greats throughout his career – Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and The Doors, among others. He played with The Bobby Fuller Four and was lead guitar on “I Fought the Law.” Avid fans include Jimmy Page, Steven Stills, David Crosby, Taj Mahal, Eric Clapton (who called Jerry “the best guitar player in the world”), Robert Plant (who cited Moby Grape as a band that empowered Led Zeppelin to interpret the blues in the electrifying, hard rock context), and David Fricke of Rolling Stone (naming Jerry one of the 100 greatest guitar players in the world).

The music has now come full circle with 23-year-old Joseph and his newly formed band, Open Blue.