Steve Miller Band
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This article is about the blues rock band. For the British politicians, see David Miliband or Ed Miliband
The Steve Miller Band is an influential American blues rock band, led by Steve Miller on guitar and lead vocals.
| Steve Miller Band | |
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 Steve Miller Band live in 2007
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| Background information | |
| Origin | San Francisco, California, USA |
| Genre(s) | Blues-rock Psychedelic rock |
| Years active | 1967 – present |
| Label(s) | Capitol Records |
| Website | www.stevemillerband.com |
| Members | |
| Steve Miller Norton Buffalo Gordy Knudtson Billy Peterson Kenny Lee Lewis Joseph Wooten Sonny Charles |
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| Former members | |
| James "Curley" Cooke Tim Davis Les Dudek Lonnie Turner Jim Peterman Lance Haas Craymore Stevens Boz Scaggs Glyn Johns Ben Sidran Nicky Hopkins Bobby Winkelman Jack King Ross Valory David Denny Jesse Davis Gerald Johnson Gary Mallaber Dicky Thompson Jim Keltner Roger Allen Clark "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow Byron Allred Greg Douglass John Massaro Bob Malach Billy Peterson Ricky Peterson Leo Sidran |
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Contents |
[edit] History
Steve Miller and keyboardist Barry Goldberg founded the Goldberg-Miller Blues Band along with bassist Roy Ruby, rhythm guitarist Craymore Stevens, and drummer Lance Haas after moving to Chicago to play the blues. The band was signed to Epic Records after playing many Chicago clubs. Their only release was a 45 rpm single on Epic Records, "The Mother Song." They appeared on Hullabaloo with the Four Tops and the Supremes, and gigged at a Manhattan club. Steve Miller moved to the burgeoning San Francisco scene and formed the Steve Miller Blues Band. When they signed with Capitol Records in 1967, they shortened their name to the Steve Miller Band. The quartet of guitarists Miller and James Cook, bassist Lonnie Turner and drummer Tim Davis (who replaced the departing Lance Haas on drums) backed Chuck Berry at a gig at the Fillmore West that was released as a live album. Guitarist Boz Scaggs joined the band soon after and the group performed at the Monterey Pop Festival in June. Their debut album Children Of The Future was recorded in England and released in May 1968. The album had no hits and didn't make the Top100 album chart, but standout tracks are the acoustic tune Baby's Calling Me Home and funky blues number Steppin' Stone. Closing the album is a slow, sleepy groove on the blues standard Key To The Highway. The Steve Miller Band's second album Sailor appeared in October and climbed the Billboard charts to #24.
Miller's audience expanded with each album: Brave New World (#22, 1969) featured the hit Space Cowboy, and the track My Dark Hour which featured Paul McCartney (aka Paul Ramon) on bass, Your Saving Grace (#38, 1969) Number 5 (#23, 1970).
Steve Miller suffered a broken neck after a car accident, and Capitol Records released the album Rock Love in 1971. The album featured unreleased live and studio material and is one of two of Steve Miller Band albums not to be released on CD the other is Recall the Beginning...A Journey From Eden. In 1972, the double album compilation Anthology was released, featuring 16 songs from the band's first five albums.
The Joker (#2, 1973) revealed a new Steve Miller Band. The sound was slick and bouncy, and the title track became a #1 single. The album was certified platinum for over 1 million sales.
Three years later, the Steve Miller Band returned with the album Fly Like An Eagle, which charted at #3. Three singles were released from the album: Take The Money And Run (#11), Fly Like An Eagle (#2) and their second Number One hit, Rock 'N Me.
Book Of Dreams (#2, 1977) also included three hits: Jet Airliner (#8) Jungle Love (#23) and Swingtown (#17). 1982's Abracadabra album gave Steve Miller his third Number One hit with the title track.
Miller recorded sporadically but has not released a new album since 1993's Wide River.
Released in 1978, The Steve Miller Band's Greatest Hits 1974-1978 has sold over 13 million copies and Miller continues to perform successful sold-out concert performances.
[edit] Discography
- Children of the Future (1968)
- Sailor (1968)
- Brave New World (1969)
- Your Saving Grace (1969)
- Number 5 (1970)
- Rock Love (1971)
- Recall the Beginning...A Journey from Eden (1972)
- Living in the U.S.A. (1973)
- The Joker (1973)
- Fly Like an Eagle (1976)
- Book of Dreams (1977)
- Greatest Hits 1974-1978 (1978)
- Circle of Love (1981)
- Abracadabra (1982)
- Steve Miller Band Live! (1983)
- Italian X Rays (1984)
- Living in the 20th Century (1986)
- Born 2 B Blue (1988)
- Steve Miller Band, The Best of 1968-1973 (1991)
- Wide River (1993)
- King Biscuit Flour Hour Presents The Steve Miller Band (2002)
- Young Hearts - Complete Greatest Hits (2003)
- Fly Like an Eagle (30th Anniversary Edition) (2006)
- Steve Miller Live in Chicago (DVD) (2007)
[edit] Singles
| Year | Single | US Hot 100 |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | The Joker | 1 |
| 1976 | Take The Money and Run (Steve Miller) | 11 |
| 1976 | Rockin' Me (Steve Miller) | 1 |
| 1977 | Fly Like an Eagle (Steve Miller) | 2 |
| 1977 | Jet Airliner | 8 |
| 1977 | Jungle Love | 23 |
| 1977 | Swingtown | 17 |
| 1981 | Heart Like a Wheel | 24 |
| 1982 | Abracadabra | 1 |
[edit] Awards
- ASCAP Golden Note Award, 2008.[1]
- Has a star for "Recording" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 1750 Vine Street.
- Former drummer Lance Haas won the Wisconsin "Teacher of the Year" award in 1993.
[edit] External links
- Steve Miller Band Biography and Complete Discography"
- Official Steve Miller Website
- Steve Miller Band MySpace Page
- Steve Miller Fansite
