Steve Miller Band

Miller has been a headliner since his 1968 debut with Children of the Future. Initially a fixture in San Francisco’s “Summer of Love” scene as leader of the Steve Miller Band, the Texas-bred singer, songwriter, and guitarist used his blues/rock roots to transcend the psychedelic trend and develop his own enduring sound.

Just months after legendary San Francisco deejay Tom Donahue introduced Children of the Future to listeners as the herald of a new era in underground radio, Miller released the critically acclaimed Sailor, which became his first Top 40 album. Brave New World, which followed in June 1969, peaked at No. 22 and featured an appearance by Paul McCartney on the single “My Dark Hour.” Your Saving Grace, issued just five months later, climbed to No. 38. Success continued in 1970, as Number Five became the band’s fourth album in two years to break into the Top 40.

An automobile accident in 1972 sidelined Miller for nearly a year. After returning to the studio, he shifted toward a tighter, more pop-oriented style. Miller unveiled this new sound on The Joker, in 1973; the album would peak at No. 2, while the title cut would hit No. 1. Another strong showing followed in 1976 as Fly Like an Eagle, the Miller Band’s first platinum-selling album, reached No. 3 while propelling four singles, including the chart-topping “Rockin’ Me,” into the Top 40; in years to come the album would earn quadruple platinum status. And Book of Dreams, which reached No. 2 in 1977, would eventually generate triple platinum sales.

In the 1980s the Steve Miller Band continued to score with album and singles successes. Anthology, their first retrospective compilation, and The Joker both topped the platinum sales mark; Abracadabra (1983) reached No. 2 and broke the platinum barrier as well, with the title cut racking up more sales throughout the world than every other single that year; and Circle of Love (1982) earned gold record status. In 1987 the single “I Want to Make the World Turn Around,” from Living in the 20th Century, lodged for five weeks at the top of the AC singles charts. Another compilation, Greatest Hits 1974-1978, was certified 13x platinum in May 2003, bringing their cumulative album total to 23.5 million since their debut in 1968.