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{{short description|American musician, composer and producer}}
{{About|the jazz musician|the German football goalkeeper|Markus Miller}}
{{About|the musician|the football goalkeeper|Markus Miller|19th-century General officer|Marcus P. Miller}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{BLP sources|date=February 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
|name = Marcus Miller
|name = Marcus Miller
|image = Marcus Miller at Stockholm Jazz Fest 2009.jpg
|background = solo_singer
|image = Marcus Miller Ancienne 2007.jpg
|image_size =
|image_size =
|landscape = yes
|landscape = yes
|caption = Miller in 2007
|caption = Miller performing in July 2009
|birth_name = William Henry Marcus Miller Jr.
|birth_name = William Henry Marcus Miller Jr.
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1959|6|14}}
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1959|6|14}}
|birth_place = [[Brooklyn]], New York, United States
|birth_place = New York City, U.S.
|genre = [[Jazz]], [[jazz fusion]], [[rhythm and blues|R&B]], [[Rock music|rock]], [[funk]], [[smooth jazz]]
|genre = [[Jazz]], [[jazz fusion]], [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]], [[Rock music|rock]], [[funk]], [[smooth jazz]]
|occupation = Musician, composer, producer
|occupation = Musician, songwriter, record producer
|instrument = Bass, guitar, vocals, saxophone, [[clarinet]], keyboards, [[recorder (musical instrument)|recorder]]
|instrument = Bass, guitar, vocals, saxophone, clarinet, keyboards, recorder
|years_active = 1975–present
|years_active = 1975–present
|associated_acts = [[SMV (band)|SMV]], [[Miles Davis]], [[David Sanborn]], [[Eric Clapton]], [[Bob James (musician)|Bob James]], [[Christian Scott]], [[Lalah Hathaway]], [[Meshell Ndegeocello]]
|associated_acts = [[SMV (band)|SMV]], [[Miles Davis]], [[David Sanborn]], [[Eric Clapton]], [[Bob James (musician)|Bob James]], [[Christian Scott]], [[Lalah Hathaway]], [[Meshell Ndegeocello]]
|website = {{URL|marcusmiller.com/}}
|website = {{URL|marcusmiller.com}}
}}
}}


'''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>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2013/08/13/208275623/marcus-miller-live-in-concert-newport-jazz-2013|title=Marcus Miller, Live In Concert: Newport Jazz 2013|website=NPR.org|language=en|access-date=February 26, 2020}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodbowl.com/musicdb/artists/6695/marcus-miller|title=Marcus Miller|website=Hollywood Bowl|language=en|access-date=February 26, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.marcusmiller.com/|title=home|website=Marcusmiller.com|access-date=February 26, 2020}}</ref> He was the main songwriter and producer on three of Davis' albums: ''[[Tutu (album)|Tutu]]'' (1986), ''[[Music from Siesta]]'' (1987), and ''[[Amandla (album)|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 (Luther Vandross song)|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]].
'''Marcus Miller''' (born '''William Henry Marcus Miller Jr.'''; June 14, 1959) is an American [[jazz]] composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist, best known as a bass guitarist. He has worked with trumpeter [[Miles Davis]], pianist [[Herbie Hancock]], singer [[Luther Vandross]], and saxophonist [[David Sanborn]], among others.


==Life and career==
== Early life ==
William Henry Marcus Miller Jr. was born in the [[Brooklyn]] borough of New York City on June 14, 1959.<ref name="LarkinGE">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=1694}}</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.


===Early life===
== Career ==
Miller was born in [[Brooklyn]], New York City, in 1959 and raised in a musical family that included his father, William Miller (a church organist and choir director) and jazz pianist [[Wynton Kelly]]. He is classically trained as a [[clarinet]]ist and also plays keyboards, saxophone and guitar. He began to work regularly in New York City, eventually playing bass and writing music for jazz flutist [[Bobbi Humphrey]] and keyboardist [[Lonnie Liston Smith]]. Miller soon became a session musician, appearing on over 500 albums by such artists as [[Michael Jackson]], [[Beyoncé]], [[Herbie Hancock]], [[Mariah Carey]], [[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=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.marcusmiller.com/about-marcus/bio-personal-info/|title=Bio {{!}} Marcus Miller|website=www.marcusmiller.com|access-date=June 5, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Crusaders-Healing-The-Wounds/release/2288296|access-date=January 12, 2019|title=The Crusaders – Healing The Wounds}}</ref>

===Professional career===
[[File:MarcusMillerParadiso.jpg|thumb|upright|Miller in 2007]]
[[File:MarcusMillerParadiso.jpg|thumb|upright|Miller in 2007]]
After being discovered by [[Michał Urbaniak]] in 1975, Miller spent approximately 15&nbsp;years performing as a [[session musician]], observing how band leaders operated. During that time he also did a lot of arranging and producing. He was a member of the ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' band 1988–1989. He wrote the intro to Aretha Franklin's "I Wanna Make It Up To You". He has played bass on over 500 recordings including those of Luther Vandross, Grover Washington Jr., [[Roberta Flack]], [[Carly Simon]], McCoy Tyner, [[Weldon Irvine]], [[Bryan Ferry]] and [[Billy Idol]]. He won the "Most Valuable Player" award (given by [[The Recording Academy|NARAS]] to recognize studio musicians) three years in a row and was subsequently awarded "player emeritus" status and retired from eligibility. In the nineties, Miller began to write his own music and make his own records, putting a band together and touring regularly.<ref name=":0" />
Miller began to work regularly in New York City, eventually playing bass and writing music for jazz flutist [[Bobbi Humphrey]] and keyboardist [[Lonnie Liston Smith]]. Miller's earliest influences include [[James Jamerson]] and [[Larry Graham]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://postgenre.org/marcus-miller-part-i/|title=Moving Foward &#91;sic&#93;: A Conversation with Marcus Miller (Part One)|first=Rob|last=Shepherd|website=Postgenre.org|date=February 24, 2021|access-date=September 29, 2021}}</ref> He spent approximately 15&nbsp;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">{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Dennis |date=1990-05-20 |title=Marcus Miller Is Flying High as the 'Superman of Soul' |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-05-20-ca-282-story.html |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> He co-wrote Aretha Franklin's "Jump To It" along with Luther Vandross.<ref name=":2" /> 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 (Houston group)|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">{{Cite web|url=http://www.marcusmiller.com/about-marcus/bio-personal-info/|title=Bio {{!}} Marcus Miller|website=Marcusmiller.com|access-date=June 5, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Crusaders-Healing-The-Wounds/release/2288296|access-date=January 12, 2019|title=The Crusaders – Healing The Wounds|website=[[Discogs]]|year=1991 }}</ref> He won the "Most Valuable Player" award (given by [[The Recording Academy|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 (Marcus Miller album)|Suddenly]]'' (1983) and ''[[Marcus Miller (album)|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.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}
Between 1988 and 1990 he appeared regularly both as a musical director and also as the house band bass player in the Sunday Night Band during two seasons of ''[[Sunday Night (American TV program)|Sunday Night]]'' on [[NBC]] late-night television.<ref>''Sunday Night'' episodes No.&nbsp;104 (1988), No.&nbsp;121 (1989)</ref>


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 (American TV program)|Sunday Night]]'' (also known as ''Night Music'') on [[NBC]], hosted by David Sanborn and [[Jools Holland]].<ref>''Sunday Night'' episodes No.&nbsp;104 (1988), No.&nbsp;121 (1989)</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2014/10/20/marcus-miller-maps-musical-history|title=Interview: Jazz Bassist Marcus Miller Maps His Musical History|last=thebeijinger|date=October 20, 2014|website=Thebeijinger.com|language=EN|access-date=February 26, 2020}}</ref>
As a composer, Miller co-wrote several songs on the [[Miles Davis]] album ''[[Tutu (album)|Tutu]],'' including its title track. He also composed "Chicago Song" for [[David Sanborn]] and co-wrote "'Til My Baby Comes Home", "[[It's Over Now (Luther Vandross song)|It's Over Now]]", "[[For You to Love]]", and "[[Power of Love/Love Power|Power of Love]]" for Luther Vandross. Miller also wrote "[[Da Butt]]", which was featured in [[Spike Lee]]'s ''[[School Daze]]''.<ref name=":0" />


As a composer, Miller co-wrote and produced several songs on the [[Miles Davis]] album ''[[Tutu (album)|Tutu]]'', including the title track.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/stage/marcus-miller-i-came-of-age-during-black-power-i-had-no-sense-of-inferiority-1.2394731|title=Marcus Miller: 'I came of age during black power. I had no sense of inferiority'|last=Larkin|first=Cormac|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=February 27, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Chinen|first=Nate|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/24/arts/music/24marcus.html|title=Getting More From an Electric Miles Davis Model|date=June 23, 2010|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 27, 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He also composed "Chicago Song" for [[David Sanborn]] and co-wrote "'Til My Baby Comes Home", "[[It's Over Now (Luther Vandross song)|It's Over Now]]", "[[For You to Love]]", and "[[Power of Love/Love Power|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''.
Miller currently has his own band. In 1997 he played bass guitar and bass clarinet in a band called Legends, featuring [[Eric Clapton]] (guitars and vocals), [[Joe Sample]] (piano), David Sanborn (alto sax) and [[Steve Gadd]] (drums). It was an 11-date tour of major jazz festivals in Europe.


In 1997, he played bass guitar and bass clarinet in the [[supergroup (music)|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 (band)|SMV]], with fellow bassists [[Stanley Clarke]] and [[Victor Wooten]], for a world tour lasting 18 months.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.laphil.com/musicdb/artists/5289/stanley-clarkemarcus-millervictor-wooten-the-thunder-tour|title=Stanley Clarke/Marcus Miller/Victor Wooten: The Thunder Tour|website=LA Phil|language=en|access-date=February 26, 2020}}</ref> He produced SMV's first release, [[Thunder (SMV album)|Thunder]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jazz|first=All About|title=S.M.V.: Thunder album review @ All About Jazz|url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/thunder-smv-stanley-marcus-victor-heads-up-international-review-by-woodrow-wilkins.php|access-date=December 24, 2020|website=All About Jazz| date=September 16, 2008 |language=en}}</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 2008 Miller formed [[SMV (band)|SMV]] with [[Stanley Clarke]] and [[Victor Wooten]].


In 2017, Miller, along with [[Common (rapper)|Common]], headlined the [[Playboy Jazz Festival]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2017-03-07 |title=Common, Marcus Miller and Bobby Hutcherson tribute lead Playboy Jazz Festival lineup |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-ms-playboy-jazz-festival-20170307-story.html |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
Miller also 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>{{cite web|url=https://m.siriusxm.com/|title=Marcus Miller - Host|website=SiriusXM|accessdate=May 30, 2019}}</ref>


In addition to his recording and performance career, Miller has established a parallel career as a [[film score]] composer ([[Marcus Miller#Film scores|see listing below]]), having written numerous scores for films.<ref>See also interview on ABC Radio National Music Show with Andrew Ford Nov 2010</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>{{cite web|url=https://m.siriusxm.com/|title=Marcus Miller – Host|website=SiriusXM|access-date=May 30, 2019}}</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>{{Cite web |title=AFI{{!}}Catalog |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Person/258520-Marcus-Miller?sid=37548fb1-1554-4a0f-8a5f-12070cbd4f88&sr=9.405388&cp=1&pos=0&isMiscCredit=false |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=catalog.afi.com}}</ref>

== Awards and honors ==
Miller has been nominated for numerous [[Grammy Award]]s as a producer for [[Miles Davis]], [[Luther Vandross]], [[David Sanborn]], [[Bob James (musician)|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/Love Power|Power of Love]]" and in 2001 he won for [[Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album|Best Contemporary Jazz Album]] for his seventh solo instrumental album, ''[[M² (album)|M²]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/marcus-miller|title=Marcus Miller|date=November 19, 2019|website=GRAMMY.com|language=en|access-date=February 26, 2020}}</ref> His 2015 album ''Afrodeezia'' earned a [[Grammy Award]] nomination for [[Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album|Best Contemporary Instrumental Album]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.marcusmiller.com/unesco/|title=UNESCO {{!}} Marcus Miller|website=Marcusmiller.com|access-date=January 17, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/grammys/6785974/grammy-nominations-2016-full-list|title=Grammy Nominations 2016: See the Full List of Nominees|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 17, 2018}}</ref>


==Awards and honors==
[[File:Marcus Miller at Stockholm Jazz Fest 2009.jpg|thumb|Miller in 2009]]
Miller has won numerous [[Grammy Award]]s as a producer for Miles Davis, Luther Vandross, David Sanborn, [[Bob James (musician)|Bob James]], [[Chaka Khan]] and [[Wayne Shorter]]. He won a [[Grammy Award for Best R&B Song]] in 1992, for Luther Vandross' "[[Power of Love/Love Power|Power of Love]]" and in 2001 he won for [[Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album|Best Contemporary Jazz Album]] for his seventh solo instrumental album, ''[[M² (album)|M²]]''.
[[File:Marcus Miller - Leverkusener Jazztage 2017-7051.jpg|thumb|Miller in 2017]]
[[File:Marcus Miller - Leverkusener Jazztage 2017-7051.jpg|thumb|Miller in 2017]]
In 2012 Miller was appointed a [[UNESCO]] Artist for Peace, supporting and promoting the UNESCO Slave Route Project.
In 2012 Miller was appointed an [[UNESCO]] Artist for Peace supporting and promoting the UNESCO Slave Route Project. His 2015 album, ''Afrodeezia'', earned a [[Grammy Award]] nomination in 2016 for [[Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album|Best Contemporary Instrumental Album]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.marcusmiller.com/unesco/|title=UNESCO {{!}} Marcus Miller|website=www.marcusmiller.com|access-date=January 17, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/grammys/6785974/grammy-nominations-2016-full-list|title=Grammy Nominations 2016: See the Full List of Nominees|work=Billboard|access-date=January 17, 2018}}</ref>


In December 2021, [[Bass Player (magazine)|Bass Player]] magazine awarded Miller a Lifetime Achievement Award.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.magazinesdirect.com/az-single-issues/6936909/bass-player-uk-magazine-single-issue.thtml|title=Buy Bass Player UK Single Issue from MagazinesDirect}}</ref>
==Instruments==
Miller is noted for playing a 1977 [[Fender Jazz Bass]] that was modified by [[Sadowsky|Roger Sadowsky]] with the addition of a Bartolini preamp so he could control his sound in the studio.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}} [[Fender Musical Instruments Corporation|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. Later, Fender moved the production of the four-string to their Mexico factory<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0257802321 |title=Fender,com |publisher=Fender.com |date= |accessdate=July 18, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706041043/http://www.fender.com/products//search.php?partno=0257802321 |archivedate=July 6, 2010 }}</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>[http://www.drstrings.com/#!fat-beams/c1k2b Marcus Miller Fat Beams at Drstrings.com.] Retrieved November 23, 2014.</ref>


== Instruments ==
As of 2015, Dunlop has begun producing Marcus Miller Super Bright bass strings which Miller has switched to.<ref>[http://www.jimdunlop.com/product/marcus-miller-super-bright Marcus Miller Super Bright Strings and Dunlop.com] Retrieved March 26, 2015.</ref> In 2015, Marcus began endorsing Sire Guitars, with whom he has a signature line of basses.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akSKduNbYOA|title=Sire Marcusmiller Interview|first=|last=Sire Revolution Official|date=October 20, 2016|publisher=|accessdate=May 30, 2019|via=YouTube}}</ref>
Miller plays a transparent blonde finish 1977 [[Fender Jazz Bass]] that was modified by luthier [[Sadowsky|Roger Sadowsky]] with the addition of a Stars Guitar and later a Bartolini preamp<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bradmanpublished |first=E. E. |date=2020-01-08 |title=The story behind Marcus Miller's 1977 Fender Jazz Bass |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/the-story-behind-marcus-millers-1977-fender-jazz-bass |access-date=2022-12-28 |website=guitarworld |language=en}}</ref> so he could control his sound in the studio.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/marcus-miller-keep-em-running|title=Marcus Miller: keep 'em running|last=January 2020|first=Bass Player Staff08|website=Bass Player|date=January 8, 2020|language=en|access-date=February 26, 2020}}</ref> [[Fender Musical Instruments Corporation|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>{{Cite web|url=https://jazztimes.com/features/profiles/marcus-miller-new-york-state-of-mind/|title=Marcus Miller: New York State of Mind|last=Heckman|first=Don|website=JazzTimes|language=en-US|access-date=February 27, 2020}}</ref> Later, Fender moved the production of the four-string to their Mexico factory<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0257802321 |title=Fender.com |publisher=Fender.com |access-date=July 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706041043/http://www.fender.com/products//search.php?partno=0257802321 |archive-date=July 6, 2010 }}</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>[http://www.drstrings.com/#!fat-beams/c1k2b Marcus Miller Fat Beams at Drstrings.com.] Retrieved November 23, 2014.</ref>
In 2015, [[Dunlop Manufacturing|Dunlop]] began producing Marcus Miller Super Bright bass strings which Miller switched to.<ref>[http://www.jimdunlop.com/product/marcus-miller-super-bright Marcus Miller Super Bright Strings and Dunlop.com] Retrieved March 26, 2015.</ref>


==Discography==
== Discography ==
=== Studio albums ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Title
![[Billboard 200|US]]
[[Billboard 200|Pop]]


<ref name="Billboard">{{Cite magazine |title=Marcus Miller {{!}} Biography, Music & News |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/marcus-miller/ |access-date=2023-07-14 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref>
===As leader===
![[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|US]]
====Studio albums====
[[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|R&B]]
* 1983: ''[[Suddenly (Marcus Miller album)|Suddenly]]'' (Warner Bros.)
* 1984: ''[[Marcus Miller (album)|Marcus Miller]]'' (Warner Bros.)
* 1993: ''[[The Sun Don't Lie]]'' (Dreyfus Jazz)
* 1995: ''[[Tales (album)|Tales]]'' (Dreyfus Jazz)
* 2001: ''[[M² (album)|M²]]'' (Telarc)
* 2005: ''[[Silver Rain]]'' (Koch)
* 2007: ''[[Free (Marcus Miller album)|Free]]'' (3 Deuces)
* 2008: ''[[Marcus (album)|Marcus]]'' (Concord)
* 2008: ''[[Thunder (SMV album)|Thunder]]'' (Heads Up) - with [[SMV (band)|SMV]]
* 2008: ''The Other Tapes'' (Dreyfus Jazz)
* 2012: ''[[Renaissance (Marcus Miller album)|Renaissance]]'' (Dreyfus Jazz)
* 2015: ''Afrodeezia'' (Victor)
* 2018: ''Laid Black'' ([[Blue Note Records|Blue Note]])


<ref name="Billboard" />
====Live albums====
![[Jazz Albums|US]]
* 1998: ''[[Live & More (Marcus Miller album)|Live & More]]''
[[Jazz Albums|Jazz]]
* 2002: ''[[The Ozell Tapes|The Ozell Tapes Live: The Official Bootleg]]''
* 2004: ''Dreyfus Night in Paris'' (with [[Michel Petrucciani]], [[Biréli Lagrène]], [[Kenny Garrett]] and [[Lenny White]], recorded in 1994)
* 2008: ''Panther – Live''
* 2012: ''Live in Lugano – A Jazz Hour with Marcus Miller, July 2008''
* 2010: ''A Night in Monte Carlo – Live 2009''
* 2011: ''Tutu Revisited – Live 2010''


<ref name="Billboard" />
===As sideman===
![[Billboard charts|US]]
'''With [[Tom Browne (trumpeter)|Tom Browne]]'''
[[Billboard charts|C. Jazz]]
*1979: ''[[Browne Sugar]]''


<ref name="Billboard" />
'''With [[The Crusaders]]'''
![[Billboard Independent Album chart|US]]
*1991: ''Healing the Wounds''
[[Billboard Independent Album chart|Indie]]


<ref name="Billboard" />
'''With [[Miles Davis]]'''
![[Official Charts Company|UK]]
*1981: ''[[The Man with the Horn]]''
[[Official Charts Company|Jazz]]
*1982: ''[[We Want Miles]]''
!Label
*1983: ''[[Star People]]''
|-
*1986: ''[[Tutu (album)|Tutu]]''
|1983
*1987: ''[[Music From Siesta]]''
*1989: ''[[Amandla (album)|Amandla]]''
|''[[Suddenly (Marcus Miller album)|Suddenly]]''
|
*2002: ''[[The Complete Miles Davis at Montreux]]''
|
|
|
|
|
| rowspan="2" |[[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
|-
|1984
|''[[Marcus Miller (album)|Marcus Miller]]''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|1993
|''[[The Sun Don't Lie]]''
|
|93
|10
|7
|
|
| rowspan="2" |[[Dreyfus Records#Jazz|Dreyfus Jazz]]
|-
|1995
|''[[Tales (album)|Tales]]''
|
|
|12
|7
|
|2<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marcus Miller - Tales |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/marcus-miller-tales |access-date=July 13, 2023 |website=[[Official Charts]]}}</ref>
|-
|2001
|''[[M² (album)|M²]]''
|
|
|2
|1
|27
|6<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marcus Miller - M2 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/marcus-miller-m2 |access-date=July 13, 2023 |website=[[Official Charts]]}}</ref>
|[[Telarc International Corporation|Telarc]]
|-
|2002
|''[[The Ozell Tapes]]''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|Dreyfus Jazz
|-
|2005
|''[[Silver Rain]]''
|
|
|5
|2
|15
|
|[[Koch Records|Koch]]
|-
|2007
|''[[Free (Marcus Miller album)|Free]]''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|Dreyfus Jazz
|-
|2008
|''[[Marcus (album)|Marcus]]''
|191
|29
|7
|3
|
|
|[[Concord Records|Concord]]
|-
|2008
|''[[Thunder (SMV album)|Thunder]]'' with [[SMV (band)|SMV]]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|[[Heads Up International|Heads Up]]
|-
|2012
|''[[Renaissance (Marcus Miller album)|Renaissance]]''
|170
|
|1
|1
|
|17<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marcus Miller - Renaissance |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/marcus-miller-renaissance |access-date=July 13, 2023 |website=[[Official Charts]]}}</ref>
|Concord
|-
|2015
|''[[Afrodeezia]]''
|
|
|3
|1
|
|6<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marcus Miller - Afrodeezia |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/marcus-miller-afrodeezia |access-date=July 13, 2023 |website=[[Official Charts]]}}</ref>
| rowspan="2" |[[Blue Note Records|Blue Note]]
|-
|2018
|''[[Laid Black]]''
|
|
|1
|1
|
|12<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marcus Miller - Laid Black |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/marcus-miller-laid-black |access-date=July 13, 2023 |website=[[Official Charts]]}}</ref>
|}


=== Live Albums ===
'''With [[Donald Fagen]]'''
{| class="wikitable"
*1982: ''[[The Nightfly]]''
|+
!Year
!Title
![[Jazz Albums|US]]
[[Jazz Albums|Jazz]]


<ref name="Billboard" />
'''With [[Aretha Franklin]]'''
![[Billboard charts|US]]
*1983: ''[[Get It Right (album)|Get It Right]]''
[[Billboard charts|C. Jazz]]


<ref name="Billboard" />
'''With [[Dizzy Gillespie]]'''
![[Official Charts Company|UK]]
*''[[Closer to the Source (Dizzy Gillespie album)|Closer to the Source]]'' (Atlantic, 1984)
[[Official Charts Company|Jazz]]


<ref name="Billboard" />
'''With [[Dave Grusin]]'''
!Label
*1980: ''Mountain Dance''
|-
|1994
|Dreyfus Night in Paris
with [[Michel Petrucciani]], [[Biréli Lagrène]], [[Kenny Garrett]] and [[Lenny White]]
|
|
|
|[[Dreyfus Records#Jazz|Dreyfus Jazz]]
|-
|1996
|''[[Live & More (Marcus Miller album)|Live & More]]''
|8
|6
|10<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marcus Miller - Live and More |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/marcus-miller-live-and-more |access-date=July 14, 2023 |website=[[Official Charts]]}}</ref>
|[[GRP Records|GRP]]
|-
|2002
|''[[The Ozell Tapes|The Ozell Tapes Live: The Official Bootleg]]''
|
|
|26<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marcus Miller - The Ozell Tapes |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/marcus-miller-the-ozell-tapes |access-date=July 14, 2023 |website=[[Official Charts]]}}</ref>
|[[Telarc Records|Telarc]]
|-
|2009
|''A Night in Monte Carlo – Live 2009''
|16
|10
|
|Dreyfus Jazz
|}


=== Singles ===
'''With [[Jamaica Boys|The Jamaica Boys]]''' (1986–1990)
{| class="wikitable"
*1987: ''The Jamaica Boys''
|+
*1989: ''The Jamaica Boys II: J. Boys''
!Year
!Title
![[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|US]]
[[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B]]
<ref name="Billboard" />
![[Smooth Jazz Songs|US]]
[[Smooth Jazz Songs|Jazz]]

<ref name="Billboard" />
![[Dance Club Songs|US]]
[[Dance Club Songs|Dance]]

<ref name="Billboard" />
![[Adult R&B Songs|US]]
[[Adult R&B Songs|Adult]]

[[Adult R&B Songs|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 DVDs ===
''Tutu Revisited – Live 2010''

=== As a member ===
'''The [[Jamaica Boys]]'''
* ''The Jamaica Boys'' (WEA, 1987)
* ''J. Boys'' (Reprise, 1990)<ref name=":2" />

=== As sideman ===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''With [[Miles Davis]]'''
* ''[[The Man with the Horn]]'' ([[Columbia Records|Columbia]], 1981)
* ''[[We Want Miles]]'' (Columbia, 1982)
* ''[[Star People]]'' (Columbia, 1983)
* ''[[Tutu (album)|Tutu]]'' ([[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]], 1986)
* ''[[Music From Siesta]]'' (Warner Bros., 1987)
* ''[[Amandla (album)|Amandla]]'' (Warner Bros., 1989)
* ''[[The Complete Miles Davis at Montreux]]'' (Warner Bros., 2002) – rec.1973–91


'''With [[David Sanborn]]'''
'''With [[David Sanborn]]'''
* ''[[Hideaway (David Sanborn album)|Hideaway]]'' (Warner Bros., 1980)
*1980: ''Hideaway''
*1981: ''[[Voyeur (David Sanborn album)|Voyeur]]''
* ''[[Voyeur (David Sanborn album)|Voyeur]]'' (Warner Bros., 1981) – rec. 1980
*1981: ''[[As We Speak]]''
* ''[[As We Speak]]'' (Warner Bros., 1982)
*1982: ''[[Backstreet (album)|Backstreet]]''
* ''[[Backstreet (album)|Backstreet]]'' (Warner Bros., 1983)
*1984: ''[[Straight to the Heart (David Sanborn album)|Straight to the Heart]]''
* ''[[Straight to the Heart (David Sanborn album)|Straight to the Heart]]'' (Warner Bros., 1984) – live
*1986: ''[[Double Vision (Bob James and David Sanborn album)|Double Vision]]'' (with [[Bob James (musician)|Bob James]])
* ''[[Double Vision (Bob James and David Sanborn album)|Double Vision]]'' with [[Bob James (musician)|Bob James]] (Warner Bros., 1986)
*1987: ''[[A Change of Heart (album)|Change of Heart]]''
* ''[[A Change of Heart (album)|Change of Heart]]'' (Warner Bros., 1987)
* ''[[Close-Up (David Sanborn album)|Close-Up]]'' (Reprise, 1988)
*1988: ''Close-Up''
*1991: ''Another Hand''
* ''[[Another Hand]]'' (Elektra Musician, 1991)
*1992: ''[[Upfront (David Sanborn album)|Upfront]]''
* ''[[Upfront (David Sanborn album)|Upfront]]'' (Elektra, 1992)
*1994: ''Hearsay''
* ''Hearsay'' (Elektra, 1994)
*1995: ''Pearls''
* ''Pearls'' (Elektra, 1995)
*1995: ''[[Love Songs (David Sanborn album)|Lovesongs]]''
* ''[[Love Songs (David Sanborn album)|Lovesongs]]'' (Warner Bros., 1995)
*1996: ''Songs from the Night Before''
* ''Songs from the Night Before'' (Elektra Entertainment, 1996)
*1999: ''[[Inside (David Sanborn album)|Inside]]''
* ''[[Inside (David Sanborn album)|Inside]]'' (Elektra, 1999)


'''With [[Luther Vandross]]'''
'''With [[Luther Vandross]]'''
*1981: ''[[Never Too Much (album)|Never Too Much]]''
* ''[[Never Too Much (album)|Never Too Much]]'' (Epic, 1981)
*1983: "[[Busy Body]]"
* ''[[Busy Body (album)|Busy Body]]'' (Epic, 1983)
*1985: ''[[The Night I Fell in Love (album)|The Night I Fell in Love]]''
* ''[[The Night I Fell in Love (album)|The Night I Fell in Love]]'' (Epic, 1985)
* ''[[Give Me the Reason (Luther Vandross album)|Give Me the Reason]]'' (Epic, 1986) – rec. 1985–86
*1985: "'Til My Baby Comes Home"
* ''[[Any Love (album)|Any Love]]'' (Epic, 1988)
*1985: "It's Over Now"
* ''[[Power of Love (Luther Vandross album)|Power of Love]]'' (Epic, 1991) – rec. 1990–91
*1986: "I Really Didn't Mean It"
* ''[[Never Let Me Go (Luther Vandross album)|Never Let Me Go]]'' (Epic, 1993) – rec. 1992–93
*1986: "Give Me the Reason"
* ''[[This Is Christmas (Luther Vandross album)|This Is Christmas]]'' (Epic, 1995) – rec. 1994–95
*1987: "[[Stop to Love]]"
* ''[[Your Secret Love]]'' (Epic, 1996) – rec. 1995–96
*1987: "See Me"
* ''[[I Know (Luther Vandross album)|I Know]]'' (Virgin, 1998)
*1988: "Luther in Love – Megamix"
* ''[[Luther Vandross (album)|Luther Vandross]]'' (J, 2001)
*1988: "Any Love"
* ''[[Dance with My Father (album)|Dance with My Father]]'' (J, 2003) – rec. 2002–03
*1988: "She Won't Talk to Me"
*1989: "The Best of Love"
*1989: "Come Back"
*1991: "The Rush"
*1991: "Power of Love / Love Power" (Uno Clio & Colin and Carl Remix)
*1991: "Power of Love / Love Power"
*1991: "Power of Love"
*1993: "Never Let Me Go"
*1993: "Heaven Knows"
*1995: "This Is Christmas"
*1995: "Power of Love / Love Power" (The Frankie Knuckles Mixes)
*1996: "Your Secret Love"
*1996: "I Can Make It Better"
*1998: "I Know"
*2001: "Luther Vandross"
*2003: "Dance with My Father"
*2007: "Love, Luther"


'''With [[Grover Washington Jr.]]''' (1980–1986)
'''With [[Grover Washington Jr.]]'''
* ''[[Skylarkin' (Grover Washington Jr. album)|Skylarkin']]'' (Motown, 1980) – rec. 1979
*1980: ''[[Winelight]]''
* ''[[Winelight]]'' (Elektra, 1980)
*1981: ''[[Come Morning (Grover Washington Jr. album)|Come Morning]]''
* ''[[Come Morning (album)|Come Morning]]'' (Elektra, 1981)
*1982: ''The Best Is Yet to Come''
* ''[[The Best Is Yet to Come (Grover Washington Jr. album)|The Best Is Yet to Come]]'' (Elektra, 1982)
*1984: ''Inside Moves''
* ''[[Inside Moves (album)|Inside Moves]]'' (Elektra, 1984)
*1986: ''[[A House Full of Love: Music from The Cosby Show|A House Full of Love]]''
* ''[[A House Full of Love: Music from The Cosby Show|A House Full of Love]]'' (Columbia, 1986) – rec. 1985
{{col-2}}
'''With others'''
* [[Tom Browne (trumpeter)|Tom Browne]], ''[[Browne Sugar]]'' ([[GRP Records|GRP]], 1979)
* [[Don Cherry (trumpeter)|Don Cherry]], ''[[Hear & Now (Don Cherry album)|Hear & Now]]'' ([[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]], 1977) – rec. 1976
* [[The Crusaders (Houston group)|The Crusaders]], ''Healing the Wounds'' (GRP, 1991)
* [[Donald Fagen]], ''[[The Nightfly]]'' (Warner Bros., 1982)
* [[Bryan Ferry]], ''[[Boys and Girls (album)|Boys and Girls]]'' (E.G., 1985) – rec. 1983–85
* [[Aretha Franklin]], ''[[Get It Right (album)|Get It Right]]'' (Arista, 1983)
* [[Dizzy Gillespie]], ''[[Closer to the Source (Dizzy Gillespie album)|Closer to the Source]]'' ([[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]], 1984)
* [[Dave Grusin]], ''Mountain Dance'' (Arista, 1980)
* [[Jean-Michel Jarre]], ''[[Zoolook]]'' ([[Dreyfus Records|Dreyfus]], 1984) – rec. 1982–84
* [[Toshiki Kadomatsu]], ''初恋 = Hatsu Koi'' (Air Records, 1985)
* [[Wayne Shorter]], ''[[High Life (Wayne Shorter album)|High Life]]'' ([[Verve Records|Verve]], 1995)
* [[Lonnie Liston Smith]], ''[[Dreams of Tomorrow]]'' ([[Doctor Jazz Records|Doctor Jazz]], 1983)
* [[Bernard Wright]], ''[[Nard (album)|Nard]]'' (GRP, 1981) – rec. 1980
{{col-end}}


== Film scores ==
'''With [[Bernard Wright]]'''
*1981: ''[[Nard (album)|Nard]]''

==Film scores==
*1987: ''[[Siesta (film)|Siesta]]''
*1987: ''[[Siesta (film)|Siesta]]''
*1990: ''[[House Party (film)|House Party]]'' (featuring Kid & Play)
*1990: ''[[House Party (film)|House Party]]'' (featuring [[Kid 'n Play]])
*1992: ''[[Boomerang (1992 film)|Boomerang]]'' (featuring Eddie Murphy)
*1992: ''[[Boomerang (1992 film)|Boomerang]]'' (featuring [[Eddie Murphy]])
*1994: ''[[Above the Rim]]'' (featuring Tupac Shakur)
*1994: ''[[Above the Rim]]'' (featuring [[Tupac Shakur]])
*1994: ''[[A Low Down Dirty Shame]]'' (featuring Keenen Ivory Wayans)
*1994: ''[[A Low Down Dirty Shame]]'' (featuring [[Keenen Ivory Wayans]])
*1996: ''[[The Great White Hype]]'' (featuring Samuel L. Jackson)
*1996: ''[[The Great White Hype]]'' (featuring [[Samuel L. Jackson]])
*1997: ''[[The Sixth Man]]'' (featuring Marlon Wayans)
*1997: ''[[The Sixth Man]]'' (featuring [[Marlon Wayans]])
*1999: ''An American Love Story''
*1999: ''An American Love Story''
*2000: ''[[The Ladies Man (2000 film)|The Ladies Man]]'' (featuring Tim Meadows)
*2000: ''[[The Ladies Man (2000 film)|The Ladies Man]]'' (featuring [[Tim Meadows]])
*2001: ''[[The Trumpet of the Swan (film)|The Trumpet of the Swan]]'' (featuring Reese Witherspoon)
*2001: ''[[The Trumpet of the Swan (film)|The Trumpet of the Swan]]'' (featuring [[Reese Witherspoon]])
*2001: ''[[The Brothers (2001 film)|The Brothers]]'' (featuring Morris Chestnut)
*2001: ''[[The Brothers (2001 film)|The Brothers]]'' (featuring [[Morris Chestnut]])
*2001: ''[[Two Can Play That Game]]'' (featuring Vivica Fox)
*2001: ''[[Two Can Play That Game (film)|Two Can Play That Game]]'' (featuring [[Vivica A. Fox]])
*2002: ''[[Serving Sara]]'' (featuring Matthew Perry)
*2002: ''[[Serving Sara]]'' (featuring [[Matthew Perry]])
*2003: ''[[Deliver Us from Eva]]'' (featuring LL Cool J)
*2003: ''[[Deliver Us from Eva]]'' (featuring [[LL Cool J]])
*2003: ''[[Head of State (2003 film)|Head of State]]'' (featuring Chris Rock)
*2003: ''[[Head of State (2003 film)|Head of State]]'' (featuring [[Chris Rock]])
*2004: ''[[Breakin' All the Rules]]'' (featuring Jamie Foxx)
*2004: ''[[Breakin' All the Rules]]'' (featuring Jamie Foxx)
*2005: ''[[King's Ransom (film)|King's Ransom]]'' (featuring Anthony Anderson)
*2005: ''[[King's Ransom (film)|King's Ransom]]'' (featuring Anthony Anderson)
*2006: ''[[Save the Last Dance 2]]'' (featuring Izabella Miko)
*2006: ''[[Save the Last Dance 2]]'' (featuring Izabella Miko)
*2007: ''[[I Think I Love My Wife]]'' (featuring Chris Rock)
*2007: ''[[I Think I Love My Wife]]'' (featuring Chris Rock)
*2007: ''[[This Christmas (film)|This Christmas]]'' (featuring Idris Elba)
*2007: ''[[This Christmas (2007 film)|This Christmas]]'' (featuring Idris Elba)
*2008: ''[[Thunder (SMV album)|Thunder]]'' (featuring Stanley Clarke and Victor Wooten)
*2009: ''[[Good Hair (film)|Good Hair]]'' (Chris Rock documentary)
*2009: ''[[Good Hair (film)|Good Hair]]'' (featuring Chris Rock and SMV)
*2009: ''[[Obsessed (2009 film)|Obsessed]]'' (featuring Beyoncé Knowles)
*2009: ''[[Obsessed (2009 film)|Obsessed]]'' (featuring Beyoncé Knowles)
*2012: ''[[Think Like a Man]]''
*2012: ''[[Think Like a Man]]''
*2014: ''[[About Last Night (2014 film)|About Last Night]]''
*2014: ''[[About Last Night (2014 film)|About Last Night]]''
*2017: ''[[Marshall (film)|Marshall]]''
*2017: ''[[Marshall (film)|Marshall]]''
*2017: ''[[Nice Evening]]''
*2020: ''[[Safety (2020 film)|Safety]]''
*2022: ''[[Sidney (film)|Sidney]]''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marcus Miller Scoring Reginald Hudlin's 'Sidney' {{!}} Film Music Reporter |url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2022/08/29/marcus-miller-scoring-reginald-hudlins-sidney/ |access-date=2023-10-06 |language=en-US}}</ref>
*2023: ''[[Candy Cane Lane (film)|Candy Cane Lane]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2023/10/11/marcus-miller-scoring-reginald-hudlins-candy-cane-lane/|title=Marcus Miller Scoring Reginald Hudlin's 'Candy Cane Lane'|website=Film Music Reporter|access-date=November 4, 2023}}</ref>


== Media appearances ==
==References==
In 2017, Miller appeared on the Armenian talk show ''[[Nice Evening]]''.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
== External links ==

{{Commons category}}
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.marcusmiller.com/}}
* {{Official website|http://www.marcusmiller.com/}}
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[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Musicians from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Musicians from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:American jazz composers]]
[[Category:American jazz composers]]
[[Category:Male jazz composers]]
[[Category:American male jazz composers]]
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[[Category:American rock bass guitarists]]
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[[Category:EOne Music artists]]
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[[Category:21st-century American clarinetists]]
[[Category:SMV (band) members]]
[[Category:SMV (band) members]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of Cultural Merit (Monaco)]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of Cultural Merit (Monaco)]]
[[Category:Jamaica Boys members]]
[[Category:Jamaica Boys members]]
[[Category:African-American guitarists]]

Latest revision as of 03:07, 9 November 2024

This article is about the musician. For the football goalkeeper, see Markus Miller. For 19th-century General officer, see Marcus P. Miller.

Marcus Miller
Miller performing in July 2009
Miller performing in July 2009
Background information
Birth nameWilliam Henry Marcus Miller Jr.
Born (1959-06-14) June 14, 1959 (age 65)
New York City, U.S.
GenresJazz, jazz fusion, R&B, rock, funk, smooth jazz
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, record producer
Instrument(s)Bass, guitar, vocals, saxophone, clarinet, keyboards, recorder
Years active1975–present
Websitemarcusmiller.com

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.[1][2][3] 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 life

[edit]

William Henry Marcus Miller Jr. was born in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on June 14, 1959.[4] 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.[5] He became classically trained as a clarinetist and later learned to play keyboards, saxophone, and guitar.

Career

[edit]
Miller in 2007

Miller began to work regularly in New York City, eventually playing bass and writing music for jazz flutist Bobbi Humphrey and keyboardist Lonnie Liston Smith. Miller's earliest influences include James Jamerson and Larry Graham.[6] 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.[7] He co-wrote Aretha Franklin's "Jump To It" along with Luther Vandross.[7] 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.[2][8][9] 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.[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.[10][11]

As a composer, Miller co-wrote and produced several songs on the Miles Davis album Tutu, including the title track.[12][13] 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.[2][8] 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).[2] 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.[14] He produced SMV's first release, Thunder.[15] 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.[16]

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.[17] 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.[18][19]

Awards and honors

[edit]

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.[20] His 2015 album Afrodeezia earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.[21][22]

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.[23]

Instruments

[edit]

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 preamp[24] so he could control his sound in the studio.[25] 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.[26] Later, Fender moved the production of the four-string to their Mexico factory[27] 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.[28] In 2015, Dunlop began producing Marcus Miller Super Bright bass strings which Miller switched to.[29]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
Year Title US

Pop

[30]

US

R&B

[30]

US

Jazz

[30]

US

C. Jazz

[30]

US

Indie

[30]

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 2[31]
2001 M² 2 1 27 6[32] 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 17[33] Concord
2015 Afrodeezia 3 1 6[34] Blue Note
2018 Laid Black 1 1 12[35]

Live Albums

[edit]
Year Title US

Jazz

[30]

US

C. Jazz

[30]

UK

Jazz

[30]

Label
1994 Dreyfus Night in Paris

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

Dreyfus Jazz
1996 Live & More 8 6 10[36] GRP
2002 The Ozell Tapes Live: The Official Bootleg 26[37] Telarc
2009 A Night in Monte Carlo – Live 2009 16 10 Dreyfus Jazz

Singles

[edit]
Year Title US

R&B [30]

US

Jazz

[30]

US

Dance

[30]

US

Adult

R&B

[30]

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 DVDs

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Tutu Revisited – Live 2010

As a member

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The Jamaica Boys

  • The Jamaica Boys (WEA, 1987)
  • J. Boys (Reprise, 1990)[7]

As sideman

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Film scores

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Media appearances

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

References

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  1. ^ "Marcus Miller, Live In Concert: Newport Jazz 2013". NPR.org. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d "Marcus Miller". Hollywood Bowl. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  3. ^ "home". Marcusmiller.com. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  4. ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 1694. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  5. ^ "Paul Chambers/John Coltrane: High Step (1956)" (March 2009) Down Beat. p. 34.
  6. ^ Shepherd, Rob (February 24, 2021). "Moving Foward [sic]: A Conversation with Marcus Miller (Part One)". Postgenre.org. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c Hunt, Dennis (May 20, 1990). "Marcus Miller Is Flying High as the 'Superman of Soul'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Bio | Marcus Miller". Marcusmiller.com. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  9. ^ "The Crusaders – Healing The Wounds". Discogs. 1991. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  10. ^ Sunday Night episodes No. 104 (1988), No. 121 (1989)
  11. ^ thebeijinger (October 20, 2014). "Interview: Jazz Bassist Marcus Miller Maps His Musical History". Thebeijinger.com. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  12. ^ Larkin, Cormac. "Marcus Miller: 'I came of age during black power. I had no sense of inferiority'". The Irish Times. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  13. ^ Chinen, Nate (June 23, 2010). "Getting More From an Electric Miles Davis Model". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  14. ^ "Stanley Clarke/Marcus Miller/Victor Wooten: The Thunder Tour". LA Phil. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  15. ^ Jazz, All About (September 16, 2008). "S.M.V.: Thunder album review @ All About Jazz". All About Jazz. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  16. ^ "Common, Marcus Miller and Bobby Hutcherson tribute lead Playboy Jazz Festival lineup". Los Angeles Times. March 7, 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  17. ^ "Marcus Miller – Host". SiriusXM. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  18. ^ See also interview on ABC Radio National Music Show with Andrew Ford Nov 2010
  19. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  20. ^ "Marcus Miller". GRAMMY.com. November 19, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  21. ^ "UNESCO | Marcus Miller". Marcusmiller.com. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  22. ^ "Grammy Nominations 2016: See the Full List of Nominees". Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  23. ^ "Buy Bass Player UK Single Issue from MagazinesDirect".
  24. ^ Bradmanpublished, E. E. (January 8, 2020). "The story behind Marcus Miller's 1977 Fender Jazz Bass". guitarworld. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  25. ^ January 2020, Bass Player Staff08 (January 8, 2020). "Marcus Miller: keep 'em running". Bass Player. Retrieved February 26, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ Heckman, Don. "Marcus Miller: New York State of Mind". JazzTimes. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  27. ^ "Fender.com". Fender.com. Archived from the original on July 6, 2010. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  28. ^ Marcus Miller Fat Beams at Drstrings.com. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  29. ^ Marcus Miller Super Bright Strings and Dunlop.com Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Marcus Miller | Biography, Music & News". Billboard. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  31. ^ "Marcus Miller - Tales". Official Charts. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  32. ^ "Marcus Miller - M2". Official Charts. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  33. ^ "Marcus Miller - Renaissance". Official Charts. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  34. ^ "Marcus Miller - Afrodeezia". Official Charts. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  35. ^ "Marcus Miller - Laid Black". Official Charts. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  36. ^ "Marcus Miller - Live and More". Official Charts. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  37. ^ "Marcus Miller - The Ozell Tapes". Official Charts. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  38. ^ "Marcus Miller Scoring Reginald Hudlin's 'Sidney' | Film Music Reporter". Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  39. ^ "Marcus Miller Scoring Reginald Hudlin's 'Candy Cane Lane'". Film Music Reporter. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
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