Steve Miller Band

The Steve Miller Band is an influential American blues rock band, led by Steve Miller on guitar and lead vocals.Infobox musical artist
Name = Steve Miller Band

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Img_capt = Steve Miller Band live in 2007
Img_size = 225
Landscape = Yes
Background = group_or_band
Origin = San Francisco, California, USA
Genre = Blues-rock
Psychedelic rock
Heartland rock
Years_active = 1967 – present
Label = Capitol Records
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.stevemillerband.com/ www.stevemillerband.com]
Current_members = Steve Miller
Norton Buffalo
Gordy Knudtson
Billy Peterson
Kenny Lee Lewis
Joseph Wooten
Sonny Charles

Past_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

History

Steve Miller and keyboardist Andy Connell 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 Top 100 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. Highlights include the single '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) 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 peformances (including an 11-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". 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.

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)

ingles

Awards

*ASCAP Golden Note Award, 2008. [ [http://www.ascap.com/press/2008/0306_popawards.aspx ASCAP to honor Steve Miller and Lionel Richie] ]
*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.
* Their song "The Joker" is a playable track in Guitar Hero World Tour

External links

* [http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/steve_miller_band Steve Miller Band Biography and Complete Discography] "
* [http://www.stevemillerband.com/ Official Steve Miller Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/stevemillerband Steve Miller Band MySpace Page]
* [http://www.smbfans.com/ Steve Miller Fansite]

Notes

References

Steve Miller Band former member Charles R. Calmese