Music and Jeffery Miller: Loving What He Does and Doing What He Loves

“Love what you do and do what you love. Don’t listen to anyone else who tells you not to do it. You do what you want, what you love. Imagination should be the center of your life,” Ray Douglas Bradbury stated.

The above adage seems like a catchy tagline. It’s enjoyable, simple, memorable, playful phonetics. But it is far more than a mere motto. It’s an ideal way of life. It should be a healthy way of life. And getting to share it with the universe is one of the most life-altering pieces of wisdom.

Music can touch a person’s soul. It holds an undeniable power that can penetrate the heart, influence the mind, and flow into the spirit, eventually stirring the blood as it becomes part of one’s entire being. People often talk about how they can “feel the music.” That rings true, especially if the artist is passionate about making beautiful music that conveys their thoughts and emotions — translating into words and melodies others’ otherwise unexpressed thoughts and emotions as well.

Jazz trombonist and contemporary R&B singer Jeffery Miller was born and raised in New Orleans by his maternal grandparents. Straight from high school, he was specially chosen by jazz trailblazer Wynton Marsalis to join him at The Juilliard School (yes, THE Juilliard School). At a young age, Jeffery recognized that one doesn’t get to where he or she wants to be without sacrifice. So with a heavy heart, he left his aging grandparents behind to chase his once-in-a-lifetime dream in New York.

By 2020, Jeffery has bagged three Grammy nominations for collaborating in jazz projects with John Legend and Jon Batiste. After graduating from Juilliard with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the ripe age of 24, Jeffery has set a well-paved path to make a name for himself as a solo artist. He orchestrates two musical souls — one deep-seated in musical jazz trombone that is nostalgic of home, the other a voice echoing the likes of Ty Dolla Sign — both telling a harmonious symphony of two cities and their notable characters that make Jeffery who he is at present.

With outstanding performances at Carnegie Hall and Madison Square Garden (to name a few), Jeffery is very much a prodigy with perfect pitch and synesthesia. He aims to share his destiny of making music that touches people’s lives in the company of young music lovers and everyone else who fully appreciates quality music.

Jeffery Miller is the living proof of Ray Bradbury’s quote. The person who is doing what they love has a passion that comes from somewhere far more deep within them. Through his Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter accounts, Jeffery essentially chronicles his devotion and greatest dream with both eyes wide open. His social media accounts could very well be his chart-topping albums and certified hits.

To be faithful to your purpose as it links to your life’s work, which is key to building a career wherein you genuinely love what you do, you need to ask yourself, “What is my inner potential? What are my deepest talents?” By searching for questions that push you to uncover your true identity, values, and what you care about the most, you’ll find your truth: that you must first understand what your true gift is to find fulfillment in your career.