Miller exhibits his love of life

But if a person exemplified the adage that you cannot keep a good man down, it is Frankie Miller, a wee Catholic guy from "Brig’ton", an area in the east-end where the city’s unique religious diversity ensured his earliest musical influences owed more to William of Orange than Ray Charles.

Miller, a blues legend, and one of the finest British soul singers to compete with the American legends, came home yesterday to parade the attitude, flash the grin and open Heidbangers and Heroes, a new art exhibition at the People’s Palace.

The exhibition honours Miller and his Seventies’ contemporary, the late Alex Harvey.

Surrounded by new paintings and memorabilia from the era, Miller belted out the opening lines of Goodnight Irene. It needed work, but it was a remarkable achievement for the songwriter, who, a decade ago, "died" three times and was resuscitated by doctors.

They predicted he would probably not survive the haemorrhage that put him in a coma for five months.

But he did, and yesterday, he was walking and talking after years spent re-learning his life.

The seizure, in 1994, robbed him of everything. In one moment, he "forgot" how to walk, speak, read and write.

Miraculously, Miller achieved mobility and he now has a vocabulary of 50 words, which he delivers in staccato fashion through laughter.

As he toured the exhibition, pointing to the artworks like a child, his partner, Annette Creedon, said: "He is delighted. In terms of his health, he is doing beyond great. The doctors did not believe he would survive.

"He is loving life and you can see his exuberance."

Miller and Ms Creedon travelled from London to open the exhibition, which was conceived by Catherine Heffernan, a Scottish artist.

Miller, communicating with laughter, shrugs and single word answers, indicated he feels great and that he was delighted by the exhibition.

The one blot on the landscape was the failure of his beloved Celtic to win the UEFA Cup.

In the golden days of his career in the United States, Miller would return to the city dressed in a Celtic top presented to him by Jimmy "Wee Jinky" Johnstone, one of the Lisbon Lions.

When mates asked why he was back, Miller would reply: "To see Celtic and ma mammy." In that order.

In days past, Celtic’s heroic failure this week would have devastated him, but illness has made him philosophical. Ms Creedon added: "Who knows how much better he can get, but he’s extremely happy."

Miller was a pioneer of blue-eyed soul, so good that the widow of Otis Redding once said: "That little white boy, Frankie, has the blackest voice since Otis".

The exhibition captures the Miller magic through memorabilia, paintings and cartoons.

Fiona Hayes, the curator, said: "It’s a wonderful celebration of the period and two an icon.

"Catherine [Heffernan] conceived the idea and attracted a talented group of artists to participate."

Miller’s return to the limelight coincides with a burgeoning ability to write songs, but he still cannot play.

He has mobility only in his left arm and hand. But if there is sadness in Miller that he was robbed of a magnificent talent, he masks it well.

In his day, he was one of the most influential musicians of an era.

His love of soul began in the 1960s, when he heard Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and Otis Redding.

Miller was determined to be a singer, endlessly practising their songs.

By the Seventies, he was unique in the pantheon of Scottish soul singers because he wrote as well as performed.

Later, Miller’s songs would be covered by Ray Charles, Roy Orbison, Rod Stewart, Don Williams, the Everly Brothers and the Canadian band Rush.

Later still, he became better known for Country & Western and Celtic offerings, such as his anthem Caledonia. He had gone to London to perform on the club circuit and, in 1972, he was called in to sign a record deal with Chrysalis and created his first album Once In A Blue Moon.

It was the era of tartan talent with Maggie Bell, Jack Bruce and Rod Stewart leading the export of blues back to the US.

The album impressed Allen Toussaint, the legendary New Orleans-based producer, who invited Miller to the US to record High Life.

Songs from the album provided hits for Three Dog Night and Betty Wright.

In 1975, Miller recorded three more albums, The Rock, Double Trouble and Falling In Love.

They provided a Top 10 UK hit in Darlin’ and Miller’s emphasis shifted from soul to country.

The albums kept coming - Easy Money (1980), Standing On The Edge (1982) and Dancing In The Rain (1986). The guitarist, Chris Spedding, who worked on three Miller albums, said: "He was one of the best R&B singers ever."

Ever the performer, Miller turned to acting, gaining rave revues for his role as a hard man in Peter McDougall’s television play Just a Boy’s Game in 1979.

But the brain haemorrhage in 1994 devastated his life.

However, with the help of the Drake Music Project, a charity for disabled musicians, Miller worked hard to reclaim it.

It required a remarkable courage, which prompted Billy Connolly to conclude: "You either have the life force, or you don’t."

Heidbangers and Heroes is at the People’s Palace until 31 August.