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Marcus Miller

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Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox musical artist

William Henry Marcus Miller Jr. (born June 14, 1959) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He has worked with trumpeter Miles Davis, pianist Herbie Hancock, singer Luther Vandross, and saxophonists Wayne Shorter and David Sanborn, among others.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was the main songwriter and producer on three of Davis' albums: Tutu (1986), Music from Siesta (1987), and Amandla (1989). His collaboration with Vandross was especially close; he co-produced and served as the arranger for most of Vandross' albums, and he and Vandross co-wrote many of Vandross' songs, including the hits "I Really Didn't Mean It", "Any Love", "Power of Love/Love Power" and "Don't Want to Be a Fool". He also co-wrote the 1988 single "Da Butt" for Experience Unlimited.

Early lifeEdit

William Henry Marcus Miller Jr. was born in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on June 14, 1959.<ref name="LarkinGE">Template:Cite book</ref> He grew up in a musical family; his father, William Miller, was a church organist and choir director. Through his father, he is the cousin of jazz pianist Wynton Kelly.<ref>"Paul Chambers/John Coltrane: High Step (1956)" (March 2009) Down Beat. p. 34.</ref> He became classically trained as a clarinetist and later learned to play keyboards, saxophone, and guitar.

CareerEdit

File:MarcusMillerParadiso.jpg
Miller in 2007

Miller began to work regularly in New York City, eventually playing bass and writing music for jazz flautist Bobbi Humphrey and keyboardist Lonnie Liston Smith. Miller's earliest influences include James Jamerson and Larry Graham.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He spent approximately 15 years performing as a session musician. During that time he also arranged and produced frequently. He was a member of the Saturday Night Live band between 1979 and 1981.<ref name=":2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He co-wrote Aretha Franklin's "Jump To It" along with Luther Vandross,<ref name=":2" /> and sang alongside Vandross on the 1986 David Bowie single "Underground" from the movie Labyrinth.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> He has played bass on over 500 recordings, appearing on albums by such artists as Michael Jackson, Beyoncé, Herbie Hancock, Mariah Carey, Eric Clapton, The Crusaders, Wayne Shorter, McCoy Tyner, Frank Sinatra, George Benson, Dr. John, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Joe Walsh, Jean-Michel Jarre, Grover Washington Jr., Donald Fagen, Bill Withers, Bernard Wright, Kazumi Watanabe, Chaka Khan, LL Cool J and Flavio Sala.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He won the "Most Valuable Player" award (given by NARAS to recognize studio musicians) three years in a row and was subsequently awarded "player emeritus" status and retired from eligibility.

In the mid-1980s, Miller began a solo career as a funk/R&B singer, with the albums Suddenly (1983) and Marcus Miller (1984). He was the main songwriter, producer and instrumentalist on these albums. He has since then released ten more solo albums, although he has only occasionally sung on these subsequent albums.Template:Citation needed

Between 1988 and 1990, Miller was the musical director and house band bass player (in the "Sunday Night Band") during two seasons of the late-night TV show Sunday Night (also known as Night Music) on NBC, hosted by David Sanborn and Jools Holland.<ref>Sunday Night episodes No. 104 (1988), No. 121 (1989)</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

As a composer, Miller co-wrote and produced several songs on the Miles Davis album Tutu, including the title track.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He also composed "Chicago Song" for David Sanborn and co-wrote "'Til My Baby Comes Home", "It's Over Now", "For You to Love", and "Power of Love" for Luther Vandross. Miller also wrote "Da Butt", which was featured in Spike Lee's School Daze.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> In addition, he composed and provided spoken vocals on "Burn it Up", which was featured on Najee's 1992 album Just An Illusion.

In 1997, he played bass guitar and bass clarinet in the supergroup Legends, featuring Eric Clapton (guitars and vocals), Joe Sample (piano), David Sanborn (alto sax) and Steve Gadd (drums).<ref name=":1" /> It was an 11-date tour of major jazz festivals in Europe. In 2008 Miller formed another supergroup, SMV, with fellow bassists Stanley Clarke and Victor Wooten, for a world tour lasting 18 months.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He produced SMV's first release, Thunder.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the summer of 2011, Miller toured alongside Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter celebrating Miles Davis on the 20th anniversary of his death.

In 2017, Miller, along with Common, headlined the Playboy Jazz Festival.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Miller hosts a jazz history and influences show called Miller Time with Marcus Miller on the Real Jazz channel of Sirius XM Holdings satellite radio system.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In addition to his recording and performance career, Miller has established a parallel career as a film score composer. He has written numerous scores for films, including films directed by Reginald Hudlin and Chris Rock.<ref>See also interview on ABC Radio National Music Show with Andrew Ford Nov 2010</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Awards and honorsEdit

Miller has been nominated for numerous Grammy Awards as a producer for Miles Davis, Luther Vandross, David Sanborn, Bob James, Chaka Khan and Wayne Shorter, and has won two Grammys. He won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song in 1992, for Luther Vandross' "Power of Love" and in 2001 he won for Best Contemporary Jazz Album for his seventh solo instrumental album, M².<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His 2015 album Afrodeezia earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

File:Marcus Miller - Leverkusener Jazztage 2017-7051.jpg
Miller in 2017

In 2012 Miller was appointed a UNESCO Artist for Peace, supporting and promoting the UNESCO Slave Route Project.

In December 2021, Bass Player magazine awarded Miller a Lifetime Achievement Award.<ref>[1] Template:Dead link</ref>

InstrumentsEdit

Miller plays a transparent blonde finish 1977 Fender Jazz Bass that was modified by luthier Roger Sadowsky with the addition of a Stars Guitar and later a Bartolini TCT preamp<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> so he could control his sound in the studio.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Fender started to produce a Marcus Miller signature Fender Jazz Bass in four-string (made in Japan) and five-string (made in U.S) versions.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Later, Fender moved the production of the four-string to their Mexico factory<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and discontinued both four- and five-string models in 2015. DR Strings also produced a series of Marcus Miller signature stainless steel strings known as "Fat Beams", which come in a variety of sizes.<ref>Marcus Miller Fat Beams at Drstrings.com. Retrieved November 23, 2014.</ref> In 2015, Dunlop began producing Marcus Miller Super Bright bass strings which Miller switched to.<ref>Marcus Miller Super Bright Strings and Dunlop.com Retrieved March 26, 2015.</ref>

InstrumentsEdit

Miller speaks French and Spanish, which he started learning in his late 40s. He has been known to speak it fluently during interviews, and has introduced songs such as "Preacher's Kid" – a story about his father, in concerts.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

DiscographyEdit

Studio albumsEdit

Year Title US

Pop

<ref name="Billboard">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

US

R&B

<ref name="Billboard" />

US

Jazz

<ref name="Billboard" />

US

C. Jazz

<ref name="Billboard" />

US

Indie

<ref name="Billboard" />

UK

Jazz

Label
1983 Suddenly Warner Bros.
1984 Marcus Miller
1993 The Sun Don't Lie 93 10 7 Dreyfus Jazz
1995 Tales 12 7 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2001 M² 2 1 27 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Telarc
2002 The Ozell Tapes Dreyfus Jazz
2005 Silver Rain 5 2 15 Koch
2007 Free Dreyfus Jazz
2008 Marcus 191 29 7 3 Concord
2008 Thunder with SMV Heads Up
2012 Renaissance 170 1 1 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Concord
2015 Afrodeezia 3 1 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Blue Note
2018 Laid Black 1 1 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Live AlbumsEdit

Year Title US

Jazz

<ref name="Billboard" />

US

C. Jazz

<ref name="Billboard" />

UK

Jazz

<ref name="Billboard" />

Label
1994 Dreyfus Night in Paris

with Michel Petrucciani, Biréli Lagrène, Kenny Garrett and Lenny White

Dreyfus Jazz
1996 Live & More 8 6 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

GRP
2002 The Ozell Tapes Live: The Official Bootleg citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Telarc
2009 A Night in Monte Carlo – Live 2009 16 10 Dreyfus Jazz

SinglesEdit

Year Title US

R&B <ref name="Billboard" />

US

Jazz

<ref name="Billboard" />

US

Dance

<ref name="Billboard" />

US

Adult

R&B

<ref name="Billboard" />

1983 Lovin' You 55
1984 My Best Friend's Girlfriend 53 36
2008 Free feat. Corinne Bailey Rae 9 19
2012 Detroit 14
2018 The City That Never Sleeps

Philippe Saisse featuring Marcus Miller

18
2019 Korogocho

Kirk Whalum Featuring Marcus Miller & Barry Likumahuwa

5

Live DVDsEdit

Tutu Revisited – Live 2010

As a memberEdit

The Jamaica Boys

  • The Jamaica Boys (WEA, 1987)
  • J. Boys (Reprise, 1990)<ref name=":2" />

As sidemanEdit

Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2 With Miles Davis

With David Sanborn

With Luther Vandross

With Grover Washington Jr.

Template:Col-2 With others

Template:Col-end

Film scoresEdit

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Media appearancesEdit

In 2017, Miller appeared on the Armenian talk show Nice Evening.

ReferencesEdit

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External linksEdit

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