Steve Miller Caricature

Steve Miller Caricature, illustrated here in Los Angeles, California in 1973, age 30.

Steven Haworth Miller is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter, known as leader of the Steve Miller Band.
He began his career in blues and blues rock and evolved to a more pop-oriented sound during the mid-1970s through the early 1980s, releasing popular singles and albums.

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Miller received his first exposure to music from his mother, Bertha, whom he described as a remarkable jazz-influenced singer, and his physician father, George, known as “Sonny” who, in addition to his profession as a pathologist, was a jazz enthusiast and an accomplished amateur recording engineer.
Guitar virtuoso Les Paul and his musical partner Mary Ford were regular visitors at the Miller house. The Millers were best man and matron of honor at the December 1949 Paul/Ford wedding.

Les Paul became Steve’s godfather.

In 1950, the family relocated to Dallas, Texas. Many distinguished musicians came to the house to record, and Steve absorbed much from “greats” such as T-Bone Walker, Charles Mingus, and Tal Farlow.
His friend and classmate was future musical star Boz Scaggs. In 1964, 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.

In 1966, he formed the Steve Miller Band and in 1968 released their first album, Children Of The Future (with Boz Scaggs).
The group followed the release of their second album, Sailor, with Brave New World, Your Saving Grace, and Number 5, which spawned the hits “Gangster Of Love” and “Space Cowboy”.
In 1973, The Joker marked the start of the second phase of Miller’s career with a new direction and the hit from the title track.

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.)

Hits: “Fly Like an Eagle”, “Rock’n Me”, “Take the Money and Run”, “Jet Airliner”, and “Jungle Love”. Miller’s last commercial success was the 1982 album, “Abracadabra”.

In 2016, Miller was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He lives on a 420 acre ranch in rural southwest Oregon. He’s been married 4 times.

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