 Mulgrew Miller was born in Greenwood , Mississippi , to parents who had been raised on plantations . He had three brothers and four sisters . His family was not musical , but they had a piano , which no @-@ one in the house could play . Miller , however , played tunes on the piano from the age of six , playing by ear . He had piano lessons from the age of eight . As a child , he played blues and rhythm and blues for dances , and gospel music in a church . His family was Methodist , but he played in churches of various denominations . His principal influence on piano at this stage was Ramsey Lewis . 
