Marcus Miller

Biography

William Henry Marcus Miller Jr. was born on June 14, 1959, in Brooklyn, New York, into a deeply musical family that included his father William Miller, a church organist and choir director, and his cousin Wynton Kelly, a renowned jazz pianist. By age 13, Marcus had become proficient on clarinet, piano, and bass guitar, and was already composing original songs. This early classical training and immersion in jazz fundamentals set the stage for what would become one of the most versatile and influential careers in modern music. Miller spent approximately 15 years working as a session musician and sideman in New York City, during which time he honed his craft as both a performer and arranger while observing how seasoned band leaders operated. His work during this period included playing bass and writing music for jazz flautist Bobbi Humphrey and keyboardist Lonnie Liston Smith, establishing himself as a reliable and innovative studio musician.

Miller's breakthrough came in the mid-1980s when he transitioned from session work to prominence as a solo artist and producer. He released his first solo albums, Suddenly (1983) and Marcus Miller (1984), establishing himself as a funk and R&B vocalist, though he would become far more renowned for his instrumental work. His most significant early achievement was becoming the main songwriter and producer for Miles Davis's comeback albums Tutu (1986), Music from Siesta (1987), and Amandla (1989)—a full-circle moment given that his cousin Wynton Kelly had played on Davis's epochal 1959 album. Miller's innovative approach to bass playing revolutionized the instrument, pioneering techniques that would be emulated by subsequent generations of musicians. He has played bass on over 500 recordings across genres including jazz, R&B, soul, and pop, collaborating with artists ranging from Luther Vandross and Herbie Hancock to Michael Jackson, Beyoncé, and Frank Sinatra.

Throughout his career spanning over four decades, Miller has maintained an extraordinary balance between collaborative work and solo leadership. He was a member of the Saturday Night Live band (1978-1979), served as musical director and house band bassist for a music performance program, and participated in high-profile supergroups including Legends (1997) with Eric Clapton, Joe Sample, David Sanborn, and Steve Gadd, and SMV (2008) with fellow bassists Stanley Clarke and Victor Wooten. His accolades include two GRAMMY Awards, Holland's Edison Award for Lifetime Achievement in Jazz (2013), France's Victoire du Jazz (2010), and appointment as a UNESCO Artist for Peace (2013). Miller won the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) 'Most Valuable Player' award three consecutive years for his studio work and was subsequently granted 'player emeritus' status. He has released 13 solo albums as a leader and continues to tour extensively throughout Europe, Japan, and internationally, maintaining his position as one of the most significant and influential bass players in jazz, fusion, funk, R&B, and soul music.

Fun Facts

• Miller wrote the intro to Aretha Franklin's 'I Wanna Make It Up To You' and played bass on over 500 recordings across multiple genres and decades.
• He won the NARAS 'Most Valuable Player' award three years in a row for his studio work and was subsequently granted 'player emeritus' status, retiring from eligibility for the award.
• Miller played bass on Don Was's hit song 'Walk the Dinosaur' in the 1980s after receiving an unexpected call from the producer, leading to a long-term professional relationship.
• His cousin Wynton Kelly was a member of Miles Davis's group that recorded the epochal 1959 album, creating a full-circle moment when Miller later became Davis's bassist and producer during his comeback in the mid-1980s.

Associated Acts

• The Sunday Night Band - bass guitar (1988–1988)
• The Sunday Night Band - bass guitar (1989–1989)
• S. M. V.
• Legends - bass guitar

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• James Jamerson - Early stylistic influence on bass playing technique (General influence on Miller's bass approach) [1970s-1980s]
• Larry Graham - Early stylistic influence on funk bass technique (General influence on Miller's funk bass approach) [1970s-1980s]
• Wynton Kelly - Cousin and jazz pianist; family musical influence (Miles Davis's 1959 album; family mentorship) [1959 onwards]

Key Collaborators

• Miles Davis - Main songwriter, producer, and bassist on Davis's comeback albums (Tutu (1986), Music from Siesta (1987), Amandla (1989)) [1986-1989]
• Luther Vandross - Frequent bass player and collaborator on multiple recordings (Multiple Luther Vandross albums) [1980s-1990s]
• Herbie Hancock - Frequent collaborator and performer (Multiple albums and performances) [1980s onwards]
• David Sanborn - Saxophonist collaborator in multiple projects (Legends supergroup (1997), various recordings) [1980s onwards]
• Eric Clapton - Guitarist in Legends supergroup (Legends supergroup (1997) - 11-date European jazz festival tour) [1997]
• Stanley Clarke - Fellow bassist in SMV supergroup (SMV supergroup, album Thunder) [2008-2010]
• Victor Wooten - Fellow bassist in SMV supergroup (SMV supergroup, album Thunder) [2008-2010]
• Wayne Shorter - Saxophonist collaborator and performer (Miles Davis 20th anniversary celebration tour (2011)) [2011]

Artists Influenced

• Fledgling bass musicians - Pioneered innovative bass techniques now widely emulated (General influence on contemporary bass playing) [1980s onwards]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Que Sera Sera (Laid Black)
2. Detroit (Renaissance)
3. On the Road
4. Free (feat. Corinne Bailey Rae) (Free)
5. Power (M²)
6. Via Dolorosa
7. 7-T's (Laid Black)
8. Candy Cane Lane (Candy Cane Lane (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack))
9. Haunting Me (Night-Lines)
10. For the Love of Freedom (Marshall (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack))

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #contemporary-jazz, #jazz, #jazz-fusion