“Some people call me the Space Cowboy,
Some call me the Gangster of Love...
Some people call me Maurice…
‘Cause I speak of the pompitous of love"

Steve Miller Band - "The Joker"

With a string of hits like “Rock’n Me,” “Fly Like an Eagle,” “Take the Money and Run,” “The Joker” and many others, Steve Miller came to epitomize rock of the 70s.  After a successful run as a blues rocker, Miller took his blues guitar stylings into the pop realm and changed the sound of music forever.  Millions of records sold later, the world considers him one of the greatest of his era. 

He started a life in music at a young age.  He learned to play the guitar from no less than the legendary Les Paul, his godfather.  At 12, he formed his first band, The Marksmen, along with Boz Scaggs, a classmate of his that Miller taught how to play the guitar.  Later on, in college, Miller would form The Ardells, which would also include Scaggs on rhythm guitar.  It was there that Miller’s distinguished sound would emerge and the roots of the Steve Miller Band would be sewn. 

Once out of college (just 6 credit hours shy of a degree in Literature, FYI), Miller left for San Francisco with Scaggs.  After an impressive performance at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, the Steve Miller Band picked up a recording contract and soon recorded and released Children of the Future and Sailor.  Sailor was at that point their biggest selling album, giving them their first chart appearance, and introduced the new persona of the ‘Gangster of Love.’  Their sound of blues and psychedelia was apropos of the era and the location, and the albums brought on critical acclaim.  Scaggs would leave the band after the second album to pursue a solo career, and the Steve Miller Band kept on touring and recording until 1972, when Miller was forced to stop due to recovering from a car accident.  Prior to the accident, the band released three albums, Brave New World, which featured Paul McCartney on bass guitar, drums and backing vocals (though he was credited under the pseudonym Paul Ramon), as well as a second persona of ‘Space Cowboy’, Your Saving Grace and Number Five. 

Back in the studio in 1972, Miller recorded Recall the Beginning, a Journey from Eden.  The album marked a turning point for Miller, where he introduced a third persona on the single “Enter Maurice.”  Shortly afterward, in 1973the Steve Miller Band recorded and released The Joker.  Miller’s sound was taking a turn toward pop, but in doing so, he didn’t forget where he’d been.  On his breakthrough hit, “The Joker,” a bluesy tune with a catchy sing-along chorus about an aspiring ‘Romeo’, Miller alludes to all three of his personae, catching the attention of critics and music fans alike, who would boost the single to #1 on the charts and bring The Joker to #2.

Just two years later, Miller hit the road again, touring the world and occasionally appearing at festivals with the likes of Pink Floyd.  Once Fly like an Eagle was released in 1976, however, it became clear that he wasn’t avoiding any studios.  The album went on to become the biggest and best-selling of his career, to the credit of hits like its title track, “Take the Money and Run” and “Rock’n Me.”  The spacey, tingley title track soared to #2 on the charts, and was quickly followed up with 1977’s Book of Dreams.   The lead single, “Jet Airliner,” about the difficulties of leaving friends and family at home while out on tour, gave the album its first hit and another single “Jungle Love” went into the Top 30.  Later in the years, “Swingtown” went into the Top 20, and gave bars and rock clubs something to dance to. 

For four years, with the exception of a greatest hits compilation, Greatest Hits 1974 – 1978 the Steve Miller Band remained relatively quiet.  After the extended break, Miller returned in 1981 with Circle of Love.  “Heart like a Wheel” gave him another Top-40 hit off the album, and the following year they released Abracadabra.  Their 12th album kept on top of emerging sounds, giving its listeners a New Wave sound to groove to.  Its title track went to #1 on the charts, giving him his third #1 single. 

Throughout the 80s, Miller remained active and continued recording.  Living in the 20th Century found both critical appeal and linked Miller back to his bluesy roots, with one full side of blues classics.  On Born 2B Blue, filled with jazz and blues covers, it appeared that Miller was going back home to the sounds that gave him his tremendous career.  By 1989, Miller was on the road, starting a tradition of him touring during the summers for years to come.

Steve Miller remains as influential as he ever was.  As new audiences are exposed to the music through his performances, as well as the use of his song “Fly like an Eagle” by the United States Postal Service, he also has come back to collaborate with McCartney on Flaming Pie.  In 2003, the band released Young Hearts and in 2006 they released Fly Like an Eagle: 30th Anniversary Edition, which boasts a digital remaster, along with a bonus DVD of a performance in California that featured music legends George Thorogood and Joe Satriani.  With a new album in the pipelines, we’re certain that we haven’t heard the last from Steve Miller.