Jacob Miller
b. c.1955, Jamaica, West Indies, d. 23 March, 1980. Miller recorded his first record for Coxsone Dodd, entitled Love Is A Message (aka Let Me Love You) in 1968, aged just 13. The song did little business though, and Miller had to wait a few years before he returned to the studio. In 1974 he recorded a number of singles for Augustus Pablo, including Each One Teach One, Keep On Knocking, False Rasta, Who Say Jah No Dread and Baby I Love You So, most of which were popular on the pre-release circuit in the UK. Unfortunately when Island released Baby I Love You So they failed to credit Miller, and even relegated his vocal to the b-side in favour of its thrashing King Tubby's/Pablo dub, King Tubby's Meets Rockers Uptown. Miller's biggest hits would come as a member of Inner Circle. In 1976 they scored a couple of roots hits with Tenement Yard and Tired Fe Lick Weed In A Bush (both credited to Miller). These and Miller's explosive stage act made them the top act in Jamaica in the latter part of the '70s. Miller, an exuberant, amply proportioned man, possessed of a fine tenor which often employed a trademark stutter, went on to make a number of excellent records with Inner Circle, including All Night Till Daylight and Forward Jah Jah Children. He took part in the notorious 1978 One Love Peace Concert in Kingston, where Bob Marley joined hands with Edward Seaga and Michael Manley, flanked by representatives of Kingston's warring factions, and starred via an amusing cameo in the 1979 film, ROCKERS. He died in a road crash on March 23rd 1980.