Harry M. Miller

Harry Maurice Miller (6 January 1934 – 4 July 2018) was a New Zealand Australian promoter, publicist and media agent.

Early career

Born on 6 January 1934 in New Zealand, Miller grew up in the Auckland suburb of Grey Lynn. He moved to Australia in 1963,[1] where he established a company called Pan Pacific Productions with Keith and Dennis Wong, owners of the noted Sydney nightclub Chequers.[2] During the 1960s, Pan Pacific promoted many concert and theatrical tours of Australia and New Zealand, including Louis Armstrong, Arthur Rubinstein,[3] Herman's Hermits,[2] The Rolling Stones and The Beach Boys.[4] During the mid-1960s Pan Pacific was in stiff competition in the pop tour market with rival promoter, Aztec Services Ltd, headed by veteran promoter Kenn Brodziak, but by the late 1960s Miller and Brodziak had become friends and colleagues[5] and subsequently collaborated on many concert and theatrical promotions. During this period Miller also expanded into personal management; his first client was pioneering TV chef Graham Kerr, already a household name in New Zealand, who became a national TV star in Australia before launching a very successful international career.

In 1969, Miller discovered 16-year-old American singer Marcia Hines in Boston, Massachusetts, while casting African-American performers for the Australian stage version of Hair, which he was producing. Hines flew to Australia, unaware that she was already six months pregnant, and Miller acted as her legal guardian in Australia until she turned 21.[6] Miller went on to produce the Australian productions of Jesus Christ Superstar in 1972 and The Rocky Horror Show in 1974,[7] both of which used many of the production staff from Hair including director Jim Sharman.[8]

In 1970, Miller joined the council of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and was elected chairman of the gallery's society.[9]

Computicket and fraud charges

In 1978, Miller started a ticketing company called Computicket, which went into receivership within six months.[2] On 30 April 1982,[10] Miller was found guilty of aiding and abetting the misappropriation of $728,000 in funds and sentenced to three years in jail.[11] The verdict led to the collapse of the company,[10] and he served ten months in prison at Long Bay and Cessnock Correctional Centres.[2]

Celebrity agent and manager

Miller was the founder and director of the Harry M. Miller Group, based in Moore Park, Sydney. His agency represented a varied client base of well-known figures in Australia including all contestants on Big Brother,[12] Lindy Chamberlain[13], Stuart Diver[13] (the only survivor of the 1997 Thredbo landslide),[14] Judy Moran (wife of slain Melbourne underworld figure Lewis Moran),[15] and Gai Waterhouse (a horse racing trainer).[2] Miller gave advice and managed communication, negotiations and media attention surrounding individuals or companies that found themselves under intense public spotlight.[13]

Death

Miller died at age 84 in Sydney, Australia, on 4 July 2018, after a vascular dementia diagnosis in 2011. He died with his long-term partner Simmone Logue, daughters Justine, Brook and Lauren, and their mother Wendy by his side.[1]

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References
  1. "Celebrity agent Harry M Miller dies at age 84". Radio New Zealand. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  2. Tabakoff, Jenny (4 July 2018). "Celebrity agent Harry M. Miller dies". The West Australian. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  3. "Guide to the Papers of Harry M. Miller (MS 7981): Biographical / Historical". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  4. "Papers of Harry Maurice Miller". National Library of Australia.
  5. "'The Boys' will appeal against conviction". The Canberra Times. 10 October 1969. p. 3. Retrieved 5 July 2018 – via Trove.
  6. Marcia Hines. George Negus Tonight. ABC. 14 October 2004. Archived from the original on 1 February 2005.
  7. Moran, Rob (5 July 2018). "Legendary celebrity manager and promoter Harry M. Miller dies, aged 84". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  8. Hartley, Ian (1 May 1974). "The Rocky Horror Show". Tharunka. p. 9. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  9. Meacham, Steve (24 May 2003). "Hang the expense". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  10. "1980s". ABC Archives & library services. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2002. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  11. "Miller jailed, could face new charges". The Canberra Times. 8 May 1982. p. 3. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  12. Brook, Stephen (2 July 2017). "Miller's big bash". The Australian. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  13. Hornery, Andrew (5 July 2018). "The Alsatian at the gate: Harry M Miller remembered". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  14. Elder, John (3 July 2010). "Your time starts now". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  15. "Judy Moran signs with Harry M Miller". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 April 2004. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
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