Columnist Jerry Fink: Miller putting stock in her musical career

Friday, Feb. 11, 2005 | 8:41 a.m.

Lisa Dawn Miller is stunningly beautiful.

She is a naturally talented vocalist, the daughter of legendary Motown songwriter Ron Miller ("For Once in My life"; "Touch Me in the Morning"; "Yester-me ... Yester-you ... Yesterday").

And when she was growing up, such luminaries as Stevie Wonder, the Temptations and other Motown greats hung out at the Miller home.

So, naturally, she became a stockbroker.

"I was rebellious," Miller said.

She spent years working her way up the corporate ladder until she became first vice president of the brokerage firm Morgan Stanley in Los Angeles.

Her brokerage career was in full swing two years ago, with the potential for success unlimited -- so, naturally, she quit and became a singer.

Sunday, Miller will wrap up a two-week gig at the Sahara's Casbar Lounge. (Shows at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.)

"I have always loved music," said Miller, who is working on a CD to be released later this year. "It always has been part of my soul."

And part of her household -- her mother, Aurora, also is a songwriter ("Everyone's a Kid at Christmas Time," sung by Wonder) and a performer (in such productions as "The King & I" in Chicago).

Miller almost had a musical career with Motown.

"They wanted to sign me, but I decided to rebel and become a stockbroker," she said. "I got into the business when there was a bull market -- there was a technology boom, the money was great. I had golden handcuffs -- it was very hard to leave."

But it was even harder to fight destiny.

Born in Detroit, where her father was one of the original in-house writers for Motown, Miller grew up in Woodland Hills, Calif., near Los Angeles, where the family moved when she was 7.

"I always had music all around me," she said.

But Miller said she didn't take voice lessons until she was an adult.

"Dad didn't want me to study voice as a child," Miller said. "He thought it would ruin my natural ability -- most of my vocal training came from watching my dad produce Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder."

Ron Miller's songs have been recorded by many of the world's top singers, among them Streisand, Wonder, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Dean Martin, Michael Bolton and Celine Dion.

His song "Heaven Help Us All" is on the album "Genius Loves Company," Ray Charles' last recording before he died last year.

"Genius," a collection of duets sung by Charles and guests, has been nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Album of the Year. He sings "Heaven" with Gladys Knight.

Dion sings Miller's "If I Could" in her show at Caesars Palace.

"It's a song about the way parents feel about their kids," Miller said. "In her show, Celine sings it to her son. Now, I sing it to my son -- I can really relate to the lyrics."

Clint Holmes recently recorded "You Can Believe Again," co-written by Miller, her father and Bill Fayne (Holmes' music director). Miller says Josh Groban has expressed an interest in the song.

Miller said a series of coincidences resulted in her dramatic career change.

"I once made a film score demo recording for a friend," she said.

Ed Matthews, a producer in Las Vegas, heard the demo and liked what he heard.

"He invited me here to do a one-woman show," Miller said.

She performed in March 2003 at the 500-seat Starbright Theatre in Summerlin. It was a moving experience, one that inspired her to return to her musical roots.

But a new career was only part of the change in lifestyles.

"After the show Ed told me I should see the guy who really got me in here and thank him personally," Miller said.

That was Sandy Hackett, son of late comedian Buddy Hackett and a cast member (as well as co-producer) of "A Tribute to Frank, Sammy, Joey and Dean" at Greek Isles.

Miller said Matthews had been unable to secure the theater, and that Hackett had stepped in and arranged for it to happen.

"I went to the Greek Isles to see the show, and the maitre d' sat me down in a booth in the front," Miller said. "Sandy and I made eye contact when the show began. I thought he was cute. But then I got an important phone call and walked out."

She returned to her seat shortly before the show ended, as Louis Velez was performing his Sammy Davis Jr./Mr. Bojangles routine.

Suddenly, Hackett came out from the wings, jumped off the stage and sat in Miller's lap.

"We've been inseparable since we first met," Miller said.

She has toured with Hackett and Steve Rossi, opening for them in Texas and Florida. Miller and Hackett are working on a number of other projects together -- the major one being their upcoming marriage.

The two singles will become a duo at Lake Las Vegas on April 10.

Lounging around

Little Charlie & the Nightcats, a Sacramento-based blues and swing band, will perform at 8 p.m. Feb. 17 at Boulder Station's Railhead as part of the casino's Thursday night Boulder Blues series.

The Nightcats have been together for more than 30 years, mixing outstanding musicianship with a fun time.

Guitarist Little Charlie Baty says, "Our philosophy is that you should entertain people with the music.

"The music can stand on its own, but the theatrics and energy is another level to let the people know that we're enjoying what we're doing."

The Twins Band, an internationally acclaimed lounge act from Romania, will perform at the Mandalay Bay's Lobby Lounge from March 29 through April 10.

The six-piece band includes lead vocalists Beatrice Cioaca and Ruxandra Galeriu (the twins) and Elena Chitic (who looks enough like the twins to make the trio triplets).

Las Vegan Marc Berman, an international concert producer, discovered The Twins Band in 2003 when he was producing concerts with Mariah Carey in Shanghai, China.

The band has appeared at the five-star Hilton Shanghai, among other international venues, for the past seven years.

"They accept very few new engagements," Berman said. "They have standing offers to return to the hotels where they have played in the past.

"They only work the finest hotel properties in the world and are considered the most successful lounge attraction in the world."

Blues fans were out in force Saturday night at the Emergency Room Lounge, 3550 S. Decatur Blvd. John Earl and his Boogieman Band hosted a night of blues entertainment that lasted until after 4 a.m.

More than 800 attended the event.

"At one point there were so many people no one could move," John Earl Williams said.

The occasion was a fundraiser, but it turned into a reunion for fans and musicians who frequented the Sand Dollar, which closed last month. For years the Sand Dollar was the place to hang out to hear blues seven days a week.

Williams, credited with turning the Sand Dollar into a local icon, says almost $2,000 was raised for employees of the club.

A lot of members from past bands who played at the Sand Dollar showed up to jam with members of the more recent bands.

Williams apparently is going to be using the Emergency Room to help fill the blues void left by the Sand Dollar's demise. He will perform there Feb. 19.

"And we're planning some additional dates," he said.

There are a few other local blues venues around town -- Double Down Saloon on Wednesday nights, Euro Place on Thursdays and Sundays and the Cellar from Thursdays through Sundays, to name a few.

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