Elbert Columbus “E.C.” Miller October 16, 1925-March 25, 2012

Born approximately one mile from the bridge in a house near the Elk River, Elbert Columbus “E.C.” Miller was an acclaimed, self-taught musician, who mastered his three-finger style on the five-string banjo. Miller had his own line of banjos, played with his band as well as a multitude of other bands. He also wrote and sang numerous songs. Miller taught bluegrass music at East Tennessee State University between 1997 and 2012. He played with Earl Scruggs, Lester Flatt, Alison Krauss, Bill Monroe, and Johnny Cash. The self-taught musician became a nation-wide name when he performed on “On the Road with Charles Kuralt”. In 2002 the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance awarded E.C. Miller the Leon Kiser Award for his impact on bluegrass and country music.