Kari Lynn Miller never had an idea that her father, Eddie Miller, didn’t claim as his own, and she’ll never forget the goofy grin he would get when he snatched an idea.

“He was always right,” Kari laughed. “If it was an idea, you had to make sure he said it and just go along with what he said, and it makes everything easier.”

Eddie passed away unexpectedly at age 65 on June 7, 2015. Friends and family remember Eddie for many things, especially his love for music.

“I don’t even know what got him started, but it was just he never felt complete if he wasn’t [playing],” Eddie’s wife, Lori Lynn Miller, said.

Eddie played in many bands over the years, like the Blue Denim Band, Recent Lately, Ma’s Kids, and Twister.

He also toured with the DC Drifters for many years as well as played solo shows. He traveled the United States, playing in states like Colorado, California, North Carolina and more.

“He tried to retire several times,” Lori said.

The day before he passed away, after watching his daughter Jaci Lynn Miller play in her metal band for the first time in the Twin Cities, band member Ann Hemann remembered encouraging Eddie to start playing solo again since he was having health issues and wasn’t sure if he could still play with a band. She asked if he could still play and sing, and he said there were good days and bad days. But Hemann told him he needed to go back to playing music.

“I said, ‘Why not go back to doing singles for now?’” Hemann said.

Hemann remembered Eddie always wanted to play, regardless of the money coming from the job. He would say the band had to play, because the audience deserved to hear them. She remembered the first night playing at Lefty’s Bar in Austin, after months of practice, Eddie handed out certificates he had made to each member before the show to signify they were ready to play.

Even after all the years of playing in various bands, teaching many people to play the guitar and helping people with their music, Eddie never learned to read sheet music. Lori recalled him playing by ear and feel throughout his music career.

“His reply whenever anybody asked him if he read music was, ‘Nope, but I don’t let it affect my playing,’” Lori said.

Band member Steve Morgan remembered meeting Eddie at a music store and playing songs at the back of an optical store in Austin, where Eddie worked.

“We were just learning chords, and the next thing you know, we had a three-piece band and we were playing,” Morgan said.

“We only had about 10 songs, so we just played them over and over again,” he laughed.

Dennis Charnecki of the DC Drifters recalled touring with Eddie to many shows over the years, and he said Eddie played with many different groups throughout the years.

“It was fun playing music with Ed, it was fun to be around him,” Charnecki said. “He made things a little bit better for me, no matter what it was.”

Charnecki said music was a part of Eddie’s soul and that it was always a part of him. Eddie didn’t care if the gig was an hour away or 10 hours away, he would want to go and perform because his music was important to him. He also recalled the friendship the two formed over the years.

“He was the kind of friend, no matter what I did — even if it was wrong — he wouldn’t say it was wrong,” Charnecki said. “He was a real friend.”

Eddie had other hobbies as well, as he enjoyed fishing, recording music in his former music studio, his former 1955 Chevy, and playing pranks on the band members. Lori remembered the band getting him back one night by supergluing his picks to the pick-holder, as Eddie almost pulled over the whole microphone stand trying to get another pick. Band member and friend Bill Apold said there’s a lot to learn from Eddie, but especially that he “never gave up.”

Eddie also enjoyed his job as a janitor at Pacelli Catholic Schools. His wife said it was the first job he had other than music that he came home and loved.

Lori, who also sang for the Blue Denim Band, said she will miss Eddie being by her side while performing.

“I just don’t know how to do it again, because he was my music man,” Lori said. “He was the one that was behind me for all these years.”

Lori said Eddie will live on through his children and grandchildren, many of whom received his talent in their own way.

“His legacy is going to be his kids and anybody who has ever been touched by his music or played with him in bands,” she said.

Planned fundraisers

Several fundraisers are planned to support the Miller family after Eddie Miller passed away June 7.

From 4 p.m. to close on June 25, there will be a tip night at the Austin Pizza Ranch, put on by Stephanie George. Organizers are still looking for volunteers, and anyone interested in helping clear tables can call 507-589-5255. For more information, visit https://m.facebook.com/events/832152733537671.

A second fundraiser, Music For Eddie, will be held from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. on June 28 at the Windrift Lounge in Austin. Organizers DeeAnn Randall and Jack Mathison asked over Facebook if anyone was interested in playing at a fundraiser for Eddie, and Mathison said by the next morning, 20 people had already agreed to perform. Randall said there are over 40 people who will appear as either single acts or bands.

“By morning there was 20 musicians in there saying, ‘Yes we will play; yes we need to do something,’” Mathison said. “Then it just kind of exploded from there before we even knew we could do it.”

“That’s how much loved he is,” he added.

The event is a free-will donation and organizers ask that people bring lawn chairs. There will also be a silent auction. Organizers are still looking for volunteers, and anyone interested in helping or donating items to the silent auction can call Randall at 507-219-1241 or Mathison at 507-219-1235, or sign up on Facebook under Music For Eddie. The event will have music by many people Eddie had an impact on over his life, dancing and much support from friends and family of Eddie. For more information, visit https://m.facebook.com/events/397952387057635.

There is also a Go Fund Me page to support the Miller family and help with funeral expenses at http://www.gofundme.com/w4v4vnbk. As of Wednesday, more than $3,000 had been raised in nine days.