Marcus Miller facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marcus Miller
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Miller performing in July 2009
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | William Henry Marcus Miller Jr. |
| Born | June 14, 1959 New York City, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1975–present |
| Associated acts | SMV, Miles Davis, David Sanborn, Eric Clapton, Bob James, Christian Scott, Lalah Hathaway, Meshell Ndegeocello |
William Henry Marcus Miller Jr. (born June 14, 1959) is a famous American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for his amazing skills on the bass guitar. Miller has worked with some of the biggest names in music, including the legendary trumpeter Miles Davis and the soulful singer Luther Vandross.
Miller was a key part of three of Miles Davis's albums: Tutu (1986), Music from Siesta (1987), and Amandla (1989). He also had a very close partnership with Luther Vandross. Miller helped produce most of Vandross's albums and co-wrote many of his hit songs.
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Growing Up with Music
William Henry Marcus Miller Jr. was born in Brooklyn, New York City, on June 14, 1959. He grew up in a family full of music. His father, William Miller, was a church organist and choir director. This means music was all around him from a young age. He is also the cousin of the famous jazz pianist Wynton Kelly.
Miller first learned to play the clarinet. He later taught himself how to play the keyboards, saxophone, and guitar. This ability to play many instruments helped him become a very versatile musician.
A Career in Music
Miller started his career working in New York City. He played bass and wrote music for jazz artists like flutist Bobbi Humphrey and keyboardist Lonnie Liston Smith. For about 15 years, he worked as a session musician. A session musician is a musician who is hired to play on other artists' recordings.
During this time, he played bass on over 500 albums! He worked with superstars like Michael Jackson, Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Eric Clapton, and Frank Sinatra. His talent was so recognized that he won the "Most Valuable Player" award for studio musicians three years in a row.
Working with Legends
In the 1980s, Miller began working with the jazz icon Miles Davis. Miller wrote and produced most of the songs on Davis's famous album Tutu. This album became a classic and showed off Miller's unique sound.
He also had a long and successful partnership with singer Luther Vandross. Together, they wrote hit songs like "'Til My Baby Comes Home" and "Power of Love/Love Power". Miller also co-wrote the funky 1988 hit "Da Butt" for the group Experience Unlimited, which was featured in the movie School Daze.
Solo Career and Supergroups
In the mid-1980s, Miller started his own solo career. He released albums like Suddenly (1983) and Marcus Miller (1984), where he was the main songwriter and producer. He has released many more solo albums since then.
Miller has also been part of several supergroups. A supergroup is a band made up of musicians who are already famous from their own careers.
- In 1997, he formed the group Legends with Eric Clapton, Joe Sample, David Sanborn, and Steve Gadd.
- In 2008, he created the band SMV with two other amazing bass players, Stanley Clarke and Victor Wooten.
Awards and Honors
Marcus Miller has won many awards for his work. He has won two Grammy Awards.
- In 1992, he won a Grammy for Best R&B Song for "Power of Love/Love Power", which he co-wrote for Luther Vandross.
- In 2001, he won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Jazz Album for his solo album M².
In 2012, Miller was named a UNESCO Artist for Peace. This honor recognizes his work to support and promote the UNESCO Slave Route Project, which helps teach people about the history of the slave trade. In 2021, Bass Player magazine gave him a Lifetime Achievement Award for his incredible career.
Miller's Famous Bass Guitar
Miller is famous for playing a 1977 Fender Jazz Bass. This bass was specially modified for him to give him more control over his sound in the recording studio. The guitar became so popular that the Fender company created a special "Marcus Miller signature" model for other musicians to buy. He also has his own signature series of bass strings with the company Dunlop.
Composing for Movies
Besides his career as a performer and producer, Miller is also a successful film score composer. This means he writes the background music for movies. He has composed music for many films, including:
- Boomerang (starring Eddie Murphy)
- The Great White Hype (starring Samuel L. Jackson)
- Head of State (starring Chris Rock)
- Marshall
- Candy Cane Lane
Selected Discography
Here are some of the studio albums Marcus Miller has released as a solo artist.
- Suddenly (1983)
- Marcus Miller (1984)
- The Sun Don't Lie (1993)
- Tales (1995)
- M² (2001)
- Silver Rain (2005)
- Free (2007)
- Marcus (2008)
- Renaissance (2012)
- Afrodeezia (2015)
- Laid Black (2018)
See also
In Spanish: Marcus Miller para niños
