Charles Miller (musician)
Encyclopedia
Charles Miller was an American musician best known as the saxophonist and flutist for multicultural California
n funk band War
.
, moved with his family to Los Angeles
two years later, and eventually settled in Long Beach, California
.
Charles was always interested in music; he played woodwinds, piano, guitar, school bands and school orchestras.
In 1967 Charles' interest in music was supplanted until, when at Long Beach City College
he sustained a football injury.
Charles recorded with various groups such as: Senor Soul on the Double Shot Records: “Senor Soul Plays Funky Favorites” and “It’s your thing.” He did recording sessions with The Ray Charles Band, and toured with the Debonaires, Brenton Wood, Senor Soul and Afro Blues Quintet + 1.
In the summer of 1969 Charles was in Hollywood at the first “Studio Instrument Rentals
” (located on Santa Monica and Vine) when he heard Harold Brown
practicing with Howard E. Scott
and Papa Dee Allen. He joined and the Night Shift
was created.
Charles Miller was performing at the Rag Doll in North Hollywood with the Night Shift, when Eric Burdon
and Lee Oskar
came into the club. Lee Oskar went to the bandstand and that’s when that magical sound came together, the blend of his saxophone and Lee Oskar’s harp.
Charles Miller’s voice can be heard on the classic War
song, “Low Rider
”. It was recorded at Wally Heider Studios
in San Francisco, California
in 1975.
In 1980 Charles Miller was murdered in Los Angeles. To this day, no one has been brought to justice for his murder.
At the time of his death he was living in Hollywood, California with his family.
Wife Eddie Miller, daughter Annette, son Donald, daughter Laurian and son Mark.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
n funk band War
War (band)
War is an American funk band from California, known for the hit songs "Low Rider", "Spill the Wine", "The Cisco Kid" and "Why Can't We Be Friends?". Formed in 1969, War was a musical crossover band which fused elements of rock, funk, jazz, Latin, rhythm and blues, and reggae...
.
Biography
Miller was born in Olathe, KansasOlathe, Kansas
Olathe is a city in and the county seat of Johnson County, Kansas, United States. Located in northeastern Kansas, it is also the fifth most populous city in the state, with a population of 125,872 at the 2010 census. As a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, Olathe is the fourth-largest city in the...
, moved with his family to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
two years later, and eventually settled in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
.
Charles was always interested in music; he played woodwinds, piano, guitar, school bands and school orchestras.
In 1967 Charles' interest in music was supplanted until, when at Long Beach City College
Long Beach City College
Long Beach City College, established in 1927, is a community college located in Long Beach, California. It is divided into two campuses. The Liberal Arts Campus, known as LAC, is located in the residential community of the Lakewood Village section of Long Beach, on Carson Street west of Clark Avenue...
he sustained a football injury.
Charles recorded with various groups such as: Senor Soul on the Double Shot Records: “Senor Soul Plays Funky Favorites” and “It’s your thing.” He did recording sessions with The Ray Charles Band, and toured with the Debonaires, Brenton Wood, Senor Soul and Afro Blues Quintet + 1.
In the summer of 1969 Charles was in Hollywood at the first “Studio Instrument Rentals
Studio Instrument Rentals
Studio Instrument Rentals is one of the first backline companies in America and it has been involved in all phases of the entertainment business. SIR was established in 1967....
” (located on Santa Monica and Vine) when he heard Harold Brown
Harold Brown
Harold Brown may refer to:*Harold Brown *Harold P. Brown, builder of the first electric chair*Harold L. Brown, Pennsylvania politician*Harold Brown , American physicist, U.S...
practicing with Howard E. Scott
Howard E. Scott
Howard E. Scott is an American funk/rock guitarist and founding member of the successful 1970s funk band War.-Biography:...
and Papa Dee Allen. He joined and the Night Shift
Night Shift
A night shift is either a group of workers who work during the night, or the period in which they work. See shift work.Night Shift may also refer to:* Night Shift , a fictional team of supervillains in the Marvel Universe...
was created.
Charles Miller was performing at the Rag Doll in North Hollywood with the Night Shift, when Eric Burdon
Eric Burdon
Eric Victor Burdon is an English singer-songwriter best known as a founding member and vocalist of rock band The Animals, and the funk rock band War and for his aggressive stage performance...
and Lee Oskar
Lee Oskar
Lee Oskar is a Danish harmonica player, notable for his contributions to the sound of the rock-funk fusion group War, which he formed with Eric Burdon, his solo work, and as a harmonica manufacturer...
came into the club. Lee Oskar went to the bandstand and that’s when that magical sound came together, the blend of his saxophone and Lee Oskar’s harp.
Charles Miller’s voice can be heard on the classic War
War (band)
War is an American funk band from California, known for the hit songs "Low Rider", "Spill the Wine", "The Cisco Kid" and "Why Can't We Be Friends?". Formed in 1969, War was a musical crossover band which fused elements of rock, funk, jazz, Latin, rhythm and blues, and reggae...
song, “Low Rider
Low Rider
"Low Rider" is a song written by the band War and appearing on their 1975 album Why Can't We Be Friends?. It reached number one on the Billboard R&B charts and peaked at number seven on the Pop Singles chart....
”. It was recorded at Wally Heider Studios
Wally Heider Studios
Wally Heider Studios was a recording studio in San Francisco, California between 1969 and 1980, started by recording engineer and studio owner Wally Heider.-History:...
in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
in 1975.
In 1980 Charles Miller was murdered in Los Angeles. To this day, no one has been brought to justice for his murder.
At the time of his death he was living in Hollywood, California with his family.
Wife Eddie Miller, daughter Annette, son Donald, daughter Laurian and son Mark.