William Henry Marcus Miller Jr. (born June 14, 1959) is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, composer, producer and singer, best known as a bassist. He has worked with trumpeter Miles Davis, pianist Herbie Hancock, singer Luther Vandross, and saxophonist David Sanborn, among others. His collaboration with Vandross was especially close: Miller co-produced and served as the arranger for most of Vandross’s albums, and co-wrote (with Vandross) many of his songs, including the hits “I Really Didn’t Mean It“, “Any Love“, “Power of Love/Love Power” and “Don’t Want to Be a Fool“. He also co-wrote the 1988 single “Da Butt” for Experience Unlimited. Miller was the main songwriter and producer on three of Miles Davis’s albums: Tutu (1986), Music from Siesta (1987), and Amandla(1989).

Miller was born in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, and raised in a musical family. His father, William Miller, was a church organist and choir director; Miller is jazz pianist Wynton Kelly‘s cousin.Miller is classically trained as a clarinetist and also plays keyboards, saxophone and guitar. He began to work regularly in New York City, eventually playing bass and writing music for jazz flutist Bobbi Humphrey and keyboardist Lonnie Liston Smith. Miller became a session musician. Miller’s earliest influences include James Jamerson and Larry Graham.