12 fans
Johnny Miller, known as Cootie Stark, was born on December 27, 1927, in Abbeville, South Carolina. He grew up in Anderson County and received his first guitar from his father at age 14. Due to poor eyesight, he began busking on street corners, learning from fellow performers like Peg Leg Sam and Pink Anderson. Stark acquired the nickname "Sugar Man" and performed as a songster under various names, including Blind Johnny Miller. In 1997, Tim Duffy of the Music Maker Relief Foundation discovered him playing Fats Domino songs, leading to the release of his debut album, Sugar Man, in 1999. His second and final album, Raw Sugar, was released in 2003 with accompaniment from Taj Mahal. Stark received the South Carolina Folk Heritage Award in 2005. He passed away on April 14, 2005, in Greenville, South Carolina.
