The Steve Miller Band

Steve Miller Band
Steve Miller Band in 2009
Background information
Also known as	The Steve Miller Blues Band The Miller Band
Origin	San Francisco, California, United States
Genres	Blues rock psychedelic rock pop rock
Years active	1966–present
Labels	Capitol Mercury Polydor Roadrunner Loud & Proud
Associated acts	Goldberg-Miller Blues band
Website	www.stevemillerband.com
Members	Steve Miller Kenny Lee Lewis Gordy Knudtson Joseph Wooten Jacob Petersen
Past members	Sonny Charles Lonnie Turner James Cooke Tim Davis Jim Peterman Boz Scaggs Ben Sidran Nicky Hopkins Bobby Winkelman Jack King Ross Valory Gerald Johnson Dick Thompson Roger Alan Clark Gary Mallaber John King David Denny Greg Douglass Byron Allred Norton Buffalo John Massaro Billy Peterson Ricky Peterson Bob Malach

The Steve Miller Band is an American rock band formed in 1966 in San Francisco, California. The band is led by Steve Miller on guitar and lead vocals. It is best known today for a string of (mainly) mid-1970s hit singles that are staples of classic rock radio, as well as several earlier acid rock albums. Miller left his first band to move to San Francisco and form the Steve Miller Blues Band. Shortly after Harvey Kornspan negotiated the band’s landmark contract with Capitol/EMI Records in 1967, the band shortened its name to the Steve Miller Band. In February 1968, the band recorded its debut album, Children of the Future. It went on to produce the albums Sailor, Brave New World, Your Saving Grace, Number 5, Rock Love and more. The band's Greatest Hits 1974–78, released in 1978, sold over 13 million copies. The band continued to produce more albums and in 2014 toured with the rock band Journey. In 2016, Steve Miller was inducted as a solo artist in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In 1965, after moving to Chicago to play the blues, Steve Miller and keyboardist Barry Goldberg founded the Goldberg-Miller Blues Band along with bassist Roy Ruby, rhythm guitarist Craymore Stevens, and drummer Maurice McKinley. The band was contracted to Epic Records after playing many Chicago clubs. They also appeared on Hullabaloo with the Four Tops and the Supremes.

Miller left the group to go to San Francisco, where the psychedelic scene was flourishing. He then formed the Steve Miller Blues Band. Harvey Kornspan, managing partner, wrote and negotiated the band's landmark contract ($860,000 over five years as well as $25,000 of promotion money that was to be spent at the band's discretion) with Capitol/EMI Records then-president Alan Livingston in 1967. Shortly after, the band's name was shortened to the Steve Miller Band in order to broaden its appeal. The band, consisting of Miller, guitarist James Cooke, bassist Lonnie Turner, drummer Tim Davis (who replaced the departing Lance Haas on drums) and Jim Peterman on Hammond B3 organ, backed Chuck Berry at a gig at the Fillmore West that was released as the live album, Live at Fillmore Auditorium. Guitarist Boz Scaggs joined the band soon after and the group performed at the Magic Mountain Festival and the Monterey Pop Festival in June.