Steve Miller (musician)
Steve Miller | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Steven Haworth Miller |
Born | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | October 5, 1943
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, harmonica, keyboards |
Years active | 1962–present |
Member of | Steve Miller Band |
Website | stevemillerband |
Steven Haworth Miller (born October 5, 1943)[1][2] is an American musician. He is the founder and only remaining original member of the Steve Miller Band, which he founded in 1966, and is the principal songwriter, lead singer, harmonicist, keyboardist, and one of the guitarists. He began his career in blues and blues rock and evolved to a more pop-oriented arena rock genre during the mid-1970s through the early 1980s, releasing popular singles and albums. Miller was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.[3]
Early years
Born in
In 1950, the family relocated to
He taught his older brother Buddy to play the bass guitar and also instructed his classmate, future musical star
In 1962,[7] Miller returned to Wisconsin, and entered the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he formed The Ardells. Scaggs joined the Ardells the next year, and Ben Sidran became the band's keyboardist in the following year.[8] After attending the University of Copenhagen in Denmark for a semester in his senior year to study comparative literature,[2] Miller dropped out six credit hours shy of a literature degree, opting to pursue a music career with his mother's encouragement and his father's misgivings:
[Interviewer:] When you look back over the span of your career, what are the lasting moments, the sweetest highs?
[Miller:] I would have to say my father's relationship with Les Paul and T-Bone Walker when I was young. Growing up in Dallas, being part of that phenomenal music scene. I found a way to do what I really wanted to do, which is so important for a kid. Near the end of college, my parents said, 'Steve, what are you going to do?' I said, 'I want to go to Chicago and play the blues.' My father looked at me like I was insane. But my mom said, 'You should do it now.' So I went to Chicago. And that was a special time. I played with Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. I got to work with adults and realized music was what I wanted to do, what I loved.[6]
Upon his return to the United States, Miller moved to Chicago where he immersed himself in the city's blues scene. During his time there, he worked with harmonica player Paul Butterfield and jammed with blues greats Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Buddy Guy, all of whom encouraged the young guitarist to pursue music.[8] In 1965, Miller and keyboardist Barry Goldberg formed the Goldberg-Miller Blues Band and began playing on the Chicago club scene.[4] They signed with Epic Records and released a single, "The Mother Song". They began a residency at a New York City blues club.[8]
When Miller returned from New York, he was disappointed by the
Steve Miller Band
In 1966, he formed the
The group followed the release of their second album,
Miller established his persona of the "Gangster of Love" (from Sailor)[8] and the "Space Cowboy" (from Brave New World), which were reused in later works. In 1972, Miller recorded the album Recall the Beginning...A Journey from Eden, in which a third persona, "Maurice", was introduced in the tune "Enter Maurice".
In 1973,
Miller followed up with Fly Like an Eagle in 1976, and Book of Dreams in 1977. (The songs for both had been recorded at the same time, and released over two single albums rather than one double-album.) This pair of albums represented the peak of Miller's commercial career, both reaching the top echelons of the album charts and spawning a lengthy series of hit singles, including "Fly Like an Eagle", "Rock'n Me", "Take the Money and Run", "Jet Airliner", and "Jungle Love".[8] The Steve Miller Band co-headlined a major stadium tour with the Eagles in 1978.
The Steve Miller Band's ongoing popularity has been notable. In 1978, Greatest Hits 1974–78 was released, featuring the big hits from his two most popular albums, Fly Like an Eagle and Book of Dreams along with the title track from The Joker. This popularity also fueled successful concert tours throughout the 1980s and 1990s, often with large numbers of younger people being present at the concerts, many of whom were fans of the big hits and inevitably purchased the greatest hits album. Miller would often headline shows with other classic rock acts, and played a variety of his music, including a selection of his blues work dating from the late 1960s.
1980s and later
Miller developed a high degree of music business acumen. He knew that songs earn individual publishing royalties no matter what their length and separated the 57-second electronic introduction from the song "Sacrifice" on Book of Dreams, named it "Electro Lux Imbroglio", and published it separately earning thousands of extra dollars as a result.[
Miller released
For the 2010–11 academic year, Miller was an Artist in Residence at the USC Thornton School of Music, where he taught students in the Popular Music and Music Industry programs.[13]
At a guitar auction in 2011, Miller said that he owned 450 guitars.[14]
In 2016, Miller was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The ceremony caused controversy because of Miller's disparaging remarks about the experience being "unpleasant" saying that the Hall of Fame was misogynistic, and ignoring the "need to respect the artists they say they're honoring, which they don't." His speech that night only hinted at his anger, congenially thanking the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame "for all of your hard work on behalf of all musicians," but adding, "and I encourage you to keep expanding your vision, to be more inclusive of women and to be more transparent in your dealings with the public, and most importantly, to do much more to provide music in our schools." Miller himself said part of his angry behavior that evening was because the Hall vetoed his proposal to be inducted by Elton John, as he "knows me and probably knows my music better than most people", and its controlling aspects such as the licensing contracts.[15] The Black Keys, who were asked to induct Miller and accepted, having been long-time fans, later stated that they regretted the experience. Dan Auerbach said that for him and Patrick Carney, the unpleasant experience was being around Miller, as he had no idea who the band was and did not care. Auerbach and Carney left the ceremony as soon as they finished their speech, instead of staying for the entire event.[16]
Personal life
Miller has been married four times[17] and his current wife is Janice Ginsberg Miller.[18] From 1976 to 1986, Miller owned the Lippincott-Wagner House and a 420-acre (170 ha) ranch in the hamlet of Williams which is in rural southwestern Oregon. In 2015, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.[19]
Discography
See also
References
- ^ Justin Kern. "'Wizard of Waukesha' still casts a spell here: Les Paul has 'changed the world for the better'," Waukesha Freeman (WI), May 9, 2007: "... Paul's godson, Milwaukee-born Steve Miller ... ."
- ^ a b Lynn Van Matre. "Steve Miller gets on with making music," Sun-Sentinel (reprinted from Chicago Tribune), January 2, 1987, p. 36
- ^ Greene, Andy (December 17, 2015). "N.W.A, Deep Purple, Cheap Trick Chosen for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
- ^ a b MachoCityRadio (January 10, 2011). "Steve Miller Interview on Beat Club (1972)". Archived from the original on December 5, 2013. Retrieved June 25, 2016 – via YouTube.
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Steve Miller Fans (November 24, 2008). "Steve Miller On CBS Sunday Morning News Show". Retrieved June 25, 2016 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b Michael Granberry. "Steve Miller: Dallas set him on his path to stardom", Dallas Morning News, November 28, 2004, Texas Living section, page 2E.
- ^ Tom Alesia. "'Gangster of Love' still drawing the college crowd," Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI), April 11, 1996, Rhythm section, page 6: "A UW student in 1961–65, Miller also played in Madison blues-rock bands the Ardells (with Boz Scaggs, Ben Sidran and the Night Trains)."
- ^ ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
- ^ "index.php/sixties-archives/ :: Crawdaddy! :: Paste". Pastemagazine.com. Archived from the original on November 13, 2009. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
- ^ "Steve Miller". November 18, 2013.
- ^ "Rock legend Steve Miller on his first new album in 17 years -- and why record companies are full of 'clowns.'". Music-mix.ew.com. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
- ^ "Steve Miller Band Announce New Album | Rock News | News". Planet Rock. February 11, 2011. Archived from the original on February 15, 2011. Retrieved December 30, 2011.
- ^ "USC News". Uscnews.usc.edu. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
- ^ Katya Kazakina (October 11, 2011). "Richard Gere Guitar Collection Fetches $936,000 at Auction". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
- ^ Varga, George (April 14, 2016). "Steve Miller talks a blues streak — & Rock Hall of Fame". San Diego Tribune. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
- ^ Newman, Jason (April 13, 2016). "Black Keys 'regret' inducting Steve Miller into Rock Hall of Fame". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
- ^ Globe, Joan Anderman Boston (February 13, 2006). "HE'S NO JOKER". Sun-Sentinel.com. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
- ^ Post, Geoff EdgersThe Washington. "'70s rocker Steve Miller is no softer in his 70s". The Repository. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
- ^ Eastman, Janet (July 13, 2015). "Rent rocker Steve Miller's old Oregon ranch house or just drop by to fish (photos)". Oregonlive.com. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
External links
- Steve Miller Band Official Site
- Steve Miller at AllMusic
- Steve Miller at IMDb
- "Rock legend Steve Miller on his first new album in 17 years" – Entertainment Weekly 6/14/2010
- "Steve Miller Band and Preservation Hall Jazz Band make their Austin City Limits debuts." PBS 2011
- Steve Miller Interview at NAMM Oral History Library (2020)