Steve Miller Band
Encyclopedia
The Steve Miller Band is an American
rock
band formed in 1967 in San Francisco, California
. The band is managed by Steve Miller
on guitar
and lead vocals, and is known for a string of (mainly) mid-1970s hit singles that are staples of the classic rock
radio format.
founded the Goldberg-Miller Blues Band along with bassist Shawn Yoder, rhythm guitarist Craymore Stevens, and drummer Lance Haas after moving to Chicago to play the blues. The band was contracted to Epic Records
after playing many Chicago clubs. They also appeared on Hullabaloo
with the Four Tops and the Supremes, and gigged at a Manhattan club.
Miller left the group to go to San Francisco where the psychedelic scene was flourishing. He then formed the Steve Miller Blues Band which, when they contracted with Capitol Records
in 1967, they shortened to the Steve Miller Band. The band, consisting of Miller, guitarist James Cooke, 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 the live album
, Live at Fillmore Auditorium. Guitarist Boz Scaggs
joined the band soon after and the group performed at the Monterey Pop Festival
in June. In May 1968 while in England, they recorded their debut album Children Of The Future. The album did not have any successes and did not score among the Top 100 album chart, but standout tracks were the acoustic tune "Baby's Calling Me Home" and funky blues number "Steppin' Stone". Closing the album is a slow version of the blues standard "Key To The Highway".
The Steve Miller Band's second album Sailor
appeared in October, and climbed the Billboard
chart to #24. Successes included the singles "Livin' In The USA", "Lucky Man", and Boz Scaggs "Overdrive" and "Dime-A-Dance Romance".
Miller's audience expanded with each album: Brave New World
(#22, 1969), which featured the successful song "Space Cowboy" and the track "My Dark Hour" that was co-written by and featured Paul McCartney
(aka Paul Ramon) on bass; followed by Your Saving Grace
(#38, 1969); and then Number 5
(#23, 1970).
In 1971, Miller suffered a broken neck after a car accident and Capitol Records released the album Rock Love
. The album featured unreleased live performances (including an eleven minute jam on the title track) and studio material and is one of two of Steve Miller Band albums not to be released on CD, the other being Recall the Beginning...A Journey from Eden
. It is on this album the song "Fandango" (Track 8) appeared. The first lyrics of the song read, "Kim, come and play the drum." This song was written as an invitation to drummer Kim Kopko of the band, The Black and Blues, to, as the next lyrics call, "come and join the fun." Although it was believed at the time that Miller was reaching out to a recently departed lady friend. In 1972, the double album compilation Anthology
was released, featuring 16 songs from the band's first five albums.
The Joker
(#2, 1973) showed audiences a new style of the band. The title track became a #1 single and was certified platinum for reaching over one 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 success, "Rock 'N Me". Miller credits the guitar intro to "Rock 'N Me" as a tribute to the classic song by Free
, "All Right Now
".
Book Of Dreams (#2, 1977) also included three successes: "Jet Airliner" (#8), "Jungle Love" (#23) (later becoming the song played over the opening credits of the 8th season of Everybody Loves Raymond
), and "Swingtown" (#17). 1982's Abracadabra album gave Steve Miller his third Number One success with the title track. Miller's hit pushed Chicago
's "Hard to Say I'm Sorry
" out of the #1 spot, similar to his "Rock N' Me" knocking Chicago's "If You Leave Me Now
" out of the #1 spot in 1976.
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.
Long time member Norton Buffalo died from lung cancer
on October 30, 2009.
Bingo!
, a new album of blues and R&B covers, was released on June 15, 2010. Let Your Hair Down
, a companion release to Bingo!, was released 10 months later, on April 18, 2011.
Blues guitarist, Jacob Peterson officially joined the band prior to the Spring 2011 tour. Following Petersen joining the band, long time guitarist Kenny Lee Lewis became the band's full-time bassist.
James Cooke died from cancer on 16 May 2011.
On November 10, 2011 the band played inside the Boeing
factory in Everett, Washington to celebrate the successful delivery milestones of the 747-8 program. They opened the set with "Jet Airliner".
s, 3 live album
s, 7 (official) compilation album
s, and at least 29 single
s.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band formed in 1967 in San Francisco, California
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...
. The band is managed by Steve Miller
Steve Miller (musician)
Steven H. "Steve" Miller is an American guitarist and singer-songwriter who began his career in blues and blues rock and evolved to a more popular-oriented sound which, from the mid 1970s through the early 1980s, resulted in a series of successful singles and albums.-Early years:Born in Milwaukee,...
on guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and lead vocals, and is known for a string of (mainly) mid-1970s hit singles that are staples of the classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
radio format.
History
In 1965, Steve Miller and keyboardist Barry GoldbergBarry Goldberg
Barry Goldberg is a blues and rock keyboardist, songwriter and record producer.-Career:As a teenager in Chicago, Goldberg sat in with Muddy Waters, Otis Rush, and Howlin' Wolf. He played keyboards in the band supporting Bob Dylan during his 1965 'electrified' appearance at the Newport Folk Festival...
founded the Goldberg-Miller Blues Band along with bassist Shawn Yoder, rhythm guitarist Craymore Stevens, and drummer Lance Haas after moving to Chicago to play the blues. The band was contracted to Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
after playing many Chicago clubs. They also appeared on Hullabaloo
Hullabaloo (TV series)
Hullabaloo is an American musical variety series that ran on NBC from January 12, 1965 through August 29, 1966. Similar to Shindig! it ran in prime time in contrast to ABC's American Bandstand.-Overview:...
with the Four Tops and the Supremes, and gigged at a Manhattan club.
Miller left the group to go to San Francisco where the psychedelic scene was flourishing. He then formed the Steve Miller Blues Band which, when they contracted with Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
in 1967, they shortened to the Steve Miller Band. The band, consisting of Miller, guitarist James Cooke, bassist Lonnie Turner, and drummer Tim Davis
Tim Davis (musician)
Tim Davis was a drummer, singer and songwriter, most notable as a co-founder of The Steve Miller Band.- History :...
(who replaced the departing Lance Haas on drums), backed Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
at a gig at the Fillmore West
Fillmore West
The Fillmore West was an historic music venue in San Francisco, California made famous by concert promoter Bill Graham. Named after Graham's original "Fillmore" location at the intersection of Fillmore Street and Geary Boulevard, it stood at Market Street and South Van Ness Avenue and was formerly...
that was released as the live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
, Live at Fillmore Auditorium. Guitarist Boz Scaggs
Boz Scaggs
William Royce "Boz" Scaggs is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He gained fame in the 1970s with several Top 20 hit singles in the United States, along with the #2 album, Silk Degrees. Scaggs continues to write, record music and tour.-Early life and career:Scaggs was born in Canton,...
joined the band soon after and the group performed at the Monterey Pop Festival
Monterey Pop Festival
The Monterey International Pop Music Festival was a three-day concert event held June 16 to June 18, 1967 at the Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey, California...
in June. In May 1968 while in England, they recorded their debut album Children Of The Future. The album did not have any successes and did not score among the Top 100 album chart, but standout tracks were the acoustic tune "Baby's Calling Me Home" and funky blues number "Steppin' Stone". Closing the album is a slow version of the blues standard "Key To The Highway".
The Steve Miller Band's second album Sailor
Sailor (album)
Sailor is the second studio album by American rock band The Steve Miller Band, released in October 1968 by Capitol Records. Like The Steve Miller Band's previous album, Children of the Future, Sailor was produced by Glyn Johns; but unlike its predecessor which was recorded in London, England,...
appeared in October, and climbed the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
chart to #24. Successes included the singles "Livin' In The USA", "Lucky Man", and Boz Scaggs "Overdrive" and "Dime-A-Dance Romance".
Miller's audience expanded with each album: Brave New World
Brave New World (Steve Miller Band album)
Brave New World is the third album by American rock band The Steve Miller Band, released in 1969. The tracks "Celebration Song" and "My Dark Hour" featured Paul McCartney on backing vocals, drums and bass guitar credited as Paul Ramon....
(#22, 1969), which featured the successful song "Space Cowboy" and the track "My Dark Hour" that was co-written by and featured Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
(aka Paul Ramon) on bass; followed by Your Saving Grace
Your Saving Grace
Your Saving Grace is the fourth album by American rock band The Steve Miller Band, released in November 1969.-Track listing:#"Little Girl" – 3:25#"Just a Passin' Fancy in a Midnite Dream" – 3:41...
(#38, 1969); and then Number 5
Number 5 (album)
Number 5 is the fifth album by American rock band The Steve Miller Band, released in 1970.-Track listing:#"Good Morning" – 2:48#"I Love You" – 2:45#"Going to the Country" – 3:47...
(#23, 1970).
In 1971, Miller suffered a broken neck after a car accident and Capitol Records released the album Rock Love
Rock Love
Rock Love is the sixth album by American rock band The Steve Miller Band, released in 1971. It featured Ross Valory on bass. The album consists of three blues-rock tracks recorded live, including lengthy jam-style Love Shock which lasts nearly 12 minutes and includes an extensive drum solo, and...
. The album featured unreleased live performances (including an eleven minute jam on the title track) and studio material and is one of two of Steve Miller Band albums not to be released on CD, the other being Recall the Beginning...A Journey from Eden
Recall the Beginning...A Journey from Eden
Recall the Beginning...A Journey from Eden is the seventh album by American rock band Steve Miller Band, released in 1972. Like his previous album, Rock Love, this album did not meet with much success...
. It is on this album the song "Fandango" (Track 8) appeared. The first lyrics of the song read, "Kim, come and play the drum." This song was written as an invitation to drummer Kim Kopko of the band, The Black and Blues, to, as the next lyrics call, "come and join the fun." Although it was believed at the time that Miller was reaching out to a recently departed lady friend. In 1972, the double album compilation Anthology
Anthology (Steve Miller Band album)
Anthology is the first greatest hits compilation album for the Steve Miller Band, covering material from their first five albums. It has been certified Gold in the United States.-Track listing:#"I Love You" – 2:46...
was released, featuring 16 songs from the band's first five albums.
The Joker
The Joker (album)
The Joker is the title of the eighth album by Steve Miller Band, released in 1973. The album marked a period of significant change for the group as the band abandoned their psychedelic oriented music for a more melodic, smooth rock/blues sound. Perhaps not coincidentally, it was also their first...
(#2, 1973) showed audiences a new style of the band. The title track became a #1 single and was certified platinum for reaching over one million sales.
Three years later, the Steve Miller Band returned with the album Fly Like An Eagle
Fly Like an Eagle
- Track listing :Side one# "Space Intro" – 1:15# "Fly Like an Eagle" – 4:42# "Wild Mountain Honey" – 4:51# "Serenade" – 3:13...
, 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 success, "Rock 'N Me". Miller credits the guitar intro to "Rock 'N Me" as a tribute to the classic song by Free
Free (band)
Free were an English rock band, formed in London in 1968, best known for their 1970 signature song "All Right Now". They disbanded in 1973 and lead singer Paul Rodgers went on to become a frontman of the band Bad Company along with Simon Kirke on drums; lead guitarist Paul Kossoff died from a...
, "All Right Now
All Right Now
"All Right Now" is a rock single by the English rock band Free. The song, released in mid-1970, hit #2 on the UK singles chart and #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. "All Right Now" originally appeared on the album Fire And Water, which Free recorded on the Island Records label, formed...
".
Book Of Dreams (#2, 1977) also included three successes: "Jet Airliner" (#8), "Jungle Love" (#23) (later becoming the song played over the opening credits of the 8th season of Everybody Loves Raymond
Everybody Loves Raymond
Everybody Loves Raymond is an American television sitcom that originally ran on CBS from September 13, 1996, to May 16, 2005. Many of the situations from the show are based on the real-life experiences of lead actor Ray Romano, creator/producer Phil Rosenthal and the show's writing staff...
), and "Swingtown" (#17). 1982's Abracadabra album gave Steve Miller his third Number One success with the title track. Miller's hit pushed Chicago
Chicago (band)
Chicago is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. The self-described "rock and roll band with horns" began as a politically charged, sometimes experimental, rock band and later moved to a predominantly softer sound, becoming famous for producing a number of hit ballads. They had...
's "Hard to Say I'm Sorry
Hard to Say I'm Sorry
"Hard to Say I'm Sorry" is a 1982 Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit ballad performed by American rock group Chicago, written by band member Peter Cetera and producer David Foster from the album Chicago 16, released in 1982. The song hit number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on September 11...
" out of the #1 spot, similar to his "Rock N' Me" knocking Chicago's "If You Leave Me Now
If You Leave Me Now
"If You Leave Me Now" is the title of a popular hit ballad by the American rock group Chicago, from their album Chicago X. It was written and sung by bass guitar player Peter Cetera and released as a single in July 1976....
" out of the #1 spot in 1976.
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.
Long time member Norton Buffalo died from lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
on October 30, 2009.
Bingo!
Bingo!
Bingo! is an album by the Steve Miller Band released on June 15, 2010.The album is the first studio release by the band since 1993's Wide River. It was recorded alongside a second album which was released 10 months later. The album is dedicated in memory of Norton Buffalo, who died on October 30,...
, a new album of blues and R&B covers, was released on June 15, 2010. Let Your Hair Down
Let Your Hair Down (album)
-Track listing:#"Snatch It Back and Hold It" #"I Got Love If You Want It" #"Just a Little Bit" -Track listing:#"Snatch It Back and Hold It" (Amos Blakemore, Buddy Guy)#"I Got Love If You Want It" (James H. Moore)#"Just a Little Bit" -Track listing:#"Snatch It Back and Hold It" (Amos Blakemore,...
, a companion release to Bingo!, was released 10 months later, on April 18, 2011.
Blues guitarist, Jacob Peterson officially joined the band prior to the Spring 2011 tour. Following Petersen joining the band, long time guitarist Kenny Lee Lewis became the band's full-time bassist.
James Cooke died from cancer on 16 May 2011.
On November 10, 2011 the band played inside the Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
factory in Everett, Washington to celebrate the successful delivery milestones of the 747-8 program. They opened the set with "Jet Airliner".
Discography
The group has been releasing albums and singles since 1968 and currently have released 18 studio albumStudio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
s, 3 live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
s, 7 (official) compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
s, and at least 29 single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
s.
Awards
- ASCAP Golden Note Award, 2008.
- Has a star for "Recording" on the Hollywood Walk of FameHollywood Walk of FameThe Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
on 1750 Vine Street.