Drummer, composer, arranger Allison Miller is descended from a long line of musicians on the maternal side of her family. Her grandmother was a professional organist in Oklahoma, whose sister was a professional singer. Her mother is a classical pianist and choral director. Miller has a cousin who she described as “a very famous opera singer”.

Miller was raised in the Washington, D.C. area, and began playing drums at the age of 10. She attended West Virginia University. Within two months after graduation,^[2] she moved to New York City to study with Michael Carvin and Lenny White, and began her career as a freelance drummer. She has also worked as a producer, composer, and teacher.

She has recorded six albums as a leader: 5 AM Stroll, Boom Tic Boom, No Morphine-No Lilies, Live at Willisau, Otis Was a Polar Bear, and Glitter Wolf as well as working as a session musician. Her work with bands has included forming the band Honey Ear Trio with Rene Hart and Erik Lawrence, Holler and Bam with Toshi Reagon, and her own band, Allison Miller’s Boom Tic Boom.

Miller has performed with songwriting vocalists Ani DiFranco, Natalie Merchant, and Erin McKeown, and toured with avant-garde saxophonist Marty Ehrlich, organist Doctor Lonnie Smith and folk-rock singer Brandi Carlile.  Miller is an original member of Artermis