Musician has been part of local scene for 50 years

When Fast Eddie Miller started playing music as a teenager in Dayton in 1959, a gallon of gas cost 25 cents and a movie ticket was $1. “Bonanza” and “The Twilight Zone” were popular television shows and the top of the pop charts was occupied by songs like Bobby Darin’s “Mack the Knife” and Johnny Horton’s “The Battle of New Orleans.”

So much has changed since then, economically and culturally, but Miller’s devotion to music remains. At 66 years old, the bassist for local blues outfit Brown Street Breakdown still averages 20 shows per month, including weekly open jams at Norton’s on Sundays and at J-Alans on Tuesdays.

“We work three or four nights a week,” Miller said. “We do two jams a week and then we try to work every Friday and Saturday.”

Miller played country rock for 30 years before joining Brown Street Breakdown in 1999, but he started his career with Eddie & the Monterays. The rock band, which played songs by acts like Chuck Berry, Gene Vincent and Little Richard, performed throughout the area for seven years.

“We started together as kids and we were playing private parties to begin with and then we went to sock hops,” Miller said. “We did that for a couple years and then when I turned 18 we got a chance to play in clubs like Winter Gardens and The Twilight Club.”

After a stint in the Army in the mid-’60s, Miller returned to Dayton and divided his time between his day job as a surveyor and his nights as a musician.

“I didn’t care for the type of rock ’n’ roll then, so I started playing country and country rock,” he said. “I did that for about 30 years. The band I was with the longest, The Reunion Band, played together for 15 years.”

On Friday and Saturday, Oct. 16 and 17, musicians from Miller’s various bands will gather at J-Alans to celebrate his 50 years in music. Admission is free.

“There are going to be so many musicians there, it’s going to be an open jam environment the entire two days,” said Tom Henry, singer and harmonica player for Brown Street Breakdown. “I should put out a warning — ‘not for the faint of heart.’ Eddie won’t be responsible for people having too much fun.”

“I’m inviting everybody, all my musician friends and the other friends I’ve made through the last 50 years,” Miller said. “We could have quite a collection. I hope J-Alans can handle it.”

CONTACT contributing arts and music writer Don Thrasher at donaldthrasher8@aol.com.

How to go

Who: Fast Eddie Miller's 50th anniversary with Brown Street Breakdown and friends

Where: J-Alans, 121 N. Ludlow St., Dayton

When: 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 16 and 17

Cost: Free

For more information: (937) 222-4811 or www.myspace.com/jalans

Artist info: www.myspace.com/brownstreetbreakdown

In Other News

Fitton Center for Creative Arts’ 2025-26 season includes Ren Fest...

AC/DC tribute to rock State Theater in Springfield

As back-to-school time approaches, groups offer events with free...