Meet Robert Miller (Canvas Rebel)
Meet Robert Miller
Canvas Rebel
STORIES & INSIGHTS14 HOURS AGO
Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Robert Miller. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Robert, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?
I started playing the piano when I was 5. My father played the trumpet and was determined that I would be a musician. But I hated piano lessons and practicing. All I wanted to do was to play outside with my friends. I told my parents that I wanted to stop piano. They agreed but only if I took up another instrument, so I chose trumpet like my father.
I played the trumpet through High School in the orchestra and band. But along the way this little band from Liverpool, England came along and changed everything. When the Beatles hit it suddenly was not very cool to play the trumpet. So like millions of other kids I taught myself guitar and then the bass. Music became my passion. I was sure that I was on the path to become a rock star.
But, as they say, life got in the way of my dream. After graduating from college I got a job in the mailroom of the local public television station. So I was working in the mailroom during the day and playing music in clubs at night. I was hardly earning a living though. So in a moment of desperation I applied to law school. I figured that I could practice law during the day and continue to play music at night. But I was totally wrong. Law school was all encompassing, and the law job I got afterwards was even more time consuming. I had no time whatsoever for my music.
I literally stopped playing music for 15 years! By then I was in my 40s, had a wife, two kids, a mortgage, etc. All the trappings. But I was miserable that I had given up my music dream. I resolved to do something about it. I forced myself to start practicing again. I started playing with other musicians. I wound up recording my first album. I put a band together and we played various clubs and festivals. It was exhilarating! But it was also still like an hobby, as I was still working full time.
It took me another 20 years until I finally followed my music dream. Once I turned 60 I decided that it was now or never. I gave up everything else and figuratively jumped into the deep end of the pool. And it turned out to be the best decision that I ever made.
Since then I’ve recorded 13 albums including a Billboard #1 with my band, Project Grand Slam, had millions of video views and streams, and toured in the U.S. and Europe. I’ve opened for Blues Traveler, Edgar Winter, Boney James and Mindi Abair.
This led during the pandemic to me starting my Follow Your Dream Podcast at a time when we couldn’t perform or even rehearse. From nowhere in March 2021 the podcast is now ranked in the Top 1% of all podcasts with listeners in 200 countries. I’ve interviewed so many famous musicians, actors, directors and other creatives. In some instances I’ve been able to collaborate with some of them on new music projects. All in all, my dream come true.
So, to answer the question, yes I wish that I had started down my creative path earlier than I did. All of my peers who made it did so in their 20s. It took me until my 60s. So I didn’t have the chance to build an audience like they did when I was young. On the other hand, doing it at my age is totally unique. I know of no one else who has taken my path and succeeded.
Life takes you on paths that we don’t always anticipate. My motto has become: “You’re never too old, and it’s never too late, to follow your dream.”
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I’m doing exactly what I always wanted to be doing – using my creativity and ingenuity. For me it’s a much higher level of engagement and living than I got in a 9-to-5 job.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me it’s the recognition after all these years of my creativity and output. Knowing that I have thousands of podcast listeners each week across 200 countries who are listening to my podcasts and my music – which I infuse in the podcast – is very rewarding.
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