COVER STORY
SOUND
ADVICE
S
teve Miller knows how to
throw a hook. Yes, there
was the controversy with
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame where
Miller said the institution should be
revamped from top to bottom. But
the reason he got to the Hall of Fame
in the first place was because, for
Steve Miller, delivering hooks is second
nature. He’s been throwing them at
us since the late 60s. With Les Paul as
his godfather and T-Bone Walker his
one-on-one musical mentor, his twin
punches of radio-friendly, blues-infused
songs has been a constant source of
pleasure. When people say the blues
had a baby and they named it rock ‘n’
roll, they are talking about the family of
songs Steve Miller has fathered. Songs
like “Space Cowboy,” Jet Airliner,” “The
Joker,” “Fly Like an Eagle,” “Take the
Money and Run,” “Living in the U.S.A.,”
“Rock’n Me,” “Swing Town,” “Jungle
Love,” “Abracadabra,” and “Dance
Dance Dance.” With so many smack
down hits in evidence, I spent a few
minutes with Steve as he offered sound
advice about hooks and songs and how
to deliver them.
Sound
Advice
Steve
Miller
By John Stix
30
DIGITAL EDITION
AUG/SEPT