The Steve Miller Band is an American rock band formed in San Francisco, California, in 1966, led by Steve Miller on guitar and lead vocals. The group gained prominence in the mid- to late-1970s with hit singles that became staples of classic rock radio, following earlier releases in the psychedelic rock style. Miller formed the Steve Miller Blues Band after leaving his first band and moving to San Francisco. The band signed with Capitol Records in 1967 and shortened its name to the Steve Miller Band. Their debut album, "Children of the Future", was released in February 1968, followed by "Sailor", "Brave New World", "Your Saving Grace", "Number 5", "The Joker", "Fly Like an Eagle", and "Book of Dreams". The compilation album "Greatest Hits 1974–78" (1978) has sold over 13 million copies. In 2016, Steve Miller was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist.
Prior to forming the Steve Miller Blues Band, Miller and keyboardist Barry Goldberg founded the Goldberg-Miller Blues Band in Chicago in 1965, recording the single "The Mother Song". After Miller moved to San Francisco, the Steve Miller Blues Band originally consisted of Miller, guitarist James "Curley" Cooke, drummer Tim Davis, and bassist Rich Personett, with Lonnie Turner replacing Personett in January 1967. Jim Peterman joined on Hammond B3 organ in time for the band's appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival. Boz Scaggs later replaced Cooke on guitar and vocals.
After signing with Capitol Records, the band recorded "Children of the Future" in London with Glyn Johns as engineer and producer. Their second album, "Sailor" (1968), reached No. 24 on the Billboard chart, featuring the single "Living in the USA". "Brave New World" (1969) included the songs "Space Cowboy" and "My Dark Hour", with Paul McCartney credited as "Paul Ramon" contributing drums, bass, and backing vocals. Subsequent albums included "Your Saving Grace" (No. 38, 1969), "Number 5" (No. 23, 1970), "Rock Love" (1971), and "Recall the Beginning...A Journey from Eden" (1972), with the double album compilation "Anthology" released later in 1972.
The band's style shifted toward straightforward rock with "The Joker" (No. 2, 1973), whose title track became a No. 1 single and was certified 7× platinum. "Fly Like an Eagle" (No. 3, 1976) produced the singles "Take the Money and Run" (No. 11), "Fly Like an Eagle" (No. 2), and "Rock'n Me" (No. 1). "Book of Dreams" (No. 2, 1977) included "Jet Airliner" (No. 8), "Jungle Love" (No. 23), and "Swingtown" (No. 17). The "Greatest Hits 1974–78" compilation has sold over 15 million copies.
In 1982, the album "Abracadabra" produced the title track, Miller’s third No. 1 single. Later releases include "Bingo!" (2010), an album of blues and R&B covers, followed by "Let Your Hair Down" (2011).
Several former members of the band have passed away, including Tim Davis (1988), Norton Buffalo (2009), John King (2010), James Cooke (2011), and Lonnie Turner (2013). Jacob Petersen joined the band as a blues guitarist before the Spring 2011 tour, while Kenny Lee Lewis transitioned to full-time bassist. In 2014, the Steve Miller Band toured with Journey. Miller expressed that, when he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 2016, he would have preferred recognition for all past members of the band.
Studio albums
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)
The Joker (1973)
Fly Like an Eagle (1976)
Book of Dreams (1977)
Circle of Love (1981)
Abracadabra (1982)
Italian X Rays (1984)
Living in the 20th Century (1986)
Born 2 B Blue (1988)
Wide River (1993)
Bingo! (2010)
Let Your Hair Down (2011)
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…shrink me down again