Happy 80th Birthday Steve Miller!
Happy 80th Birthday Steve Miller!
Born Steven Haworth Miller on this day October 5, 1943, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he is the only remaining original member of the Steve Miller Band. He founded the band in 1966.
Miller’s mother, Bertha, a jazz-influenced singer, was his first influence and exposure to music. His father, George, was an accomplished amateur recording engineer in addition to being a pathologist by profession. Guitar legend Les Paul and his musical partner & wife Mary Ford visited the Miller family home regularly. The Millers were best man and matron of honor at Les & Mary’s wedding. Les Paul became Steve’s godfather.
After the family relocated to Dallas, Texas, Miller began playing guitar at a young age. A wide wide range of musicians influenced his musical styles, including blues, jazz, rock and roll, and folk. Blues legend and Miller family friend, T-Bone Walker taught Steve, at the age of nine, to play his guitar behind his back and with his teeth.
Founding the Steve Miller Band
In the mid 1960s, Miller moved to Chicago, where he immersed himself in the city’s vibrant blues scene. He worked with the late, great Paul Butterfield, and jammed with blues greats like Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, and my all-time favorite blues musician and singer Buddy Guy. They all encouraged Miller to continue his pursuit of music.
In 1965, Miller and keyboardist Barry Goldberg formed the Goldberg-Miller Blues Band, signing with Epic Records. After a brief residency with the band in New York, Miller moved back to Texas in hopes of finishing his studies at the University of Texas.
Miller’s father had given him a VW Bus, and Miller moved to San Francisco where he soon after formed the Steve Miller Blues Band, which eventually shortened its name to the Steve Miller Band. They backed Chuck Berry on his Live at Fillmore Auditorium in 1967.
Less than a year later, the band released its debut album, Children of the Future. This was the first of two Steve Miller Band albums to feature vocalist and guitarist Boz Scaggs. The album was a commercial success, but it wasn’t until years later that the band achieved its greatest success.
In 1973, the band released The Joker, which featured the hit singles like the title track and “Rock’n Me.” The Joker album also featured a live version of the Robert Johnson song “Come On in My Kitchen,” recorded at the Tower Theatre in Upper Darby.
The Steve Miller Band: The Joker (Official Video)
Since the formation of the Steve Miller Band 55 years ago, they have released 18 studio albums. The latest was Let Your Hair Down in 2011. They have six live albums and seven official compilation albums. They’ve sold close to 30 million records, including their Greatest His 1974-78 album that has amassed over 15 million copies sold in just the United States alone. Making it one of the best-selling albums of all time!
The Steve Miller Band: Fly Like An Eagle (Live From Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert, 1973)
Miller is known for his eclectic musical style, which incorporates elements of blues, rock, jazz, and folk. He is also known for his distinctive guitar playing and his soulful vocals. Miller is one of the most successful and influential rock musicians of all time. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 2016, deservedly so!
I had the opportunity to see Steve Miller Band live at the Tower Theatre years ago, and it was an incredible show that featured countless smash-hit songs that have become staples on our playlists for years to come!
Happy 80th Birthday Steve Miller!
The Steve Miller Band: Abracadabra
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