BOZ SCAGGS

William Royce Scaggs, « Boz », being a childhood nickname, was born on June 8, 1944 in Canton, Ohio. He grew up in Texas. His father was a travelling salesman. He first learnt to play the cello before the guitar. He met Steve Miller on his way to high school , forming the Marksmen and later at university the Fabulous Knight Trains, first known as The Ardells, with Ben Sidran. In the end, Boz started his own band, The Wigs , which disbanded.

In the mid-sixties he moved to Europe, Scandinavia and India. In 1965 he recorded in Sweden a folk-blues collection called simply "Boz " In 1967 Steve Miller decided to call his old friend back for a new joint adventure in the name of The Steve Miller Blues Band . Boz settled in San Francisco, his permanent home, and imposed himself as a major songwriter, vocalist and musician. His contribution to the band's first two albums, « Children Of The Future » and « Sailor » paved the way for what was to become a durable solo career.

«Boz Scaggs» well-deserved self-titled album highlights moaning blues « Loan Me a Dime » with a poignant guitar solo by Duane Allman. The LP soared him into a fruitful blues/rock period featuring three must-hear albums « Moments » (1970) ,« Boz Scaggs & Band » (1971) and « My Time » (1972).

Boz then turned to soul music with his fifth album « Slow Dancer »(1974). His major tour de force came with the worldwide release of «Silk Degrees » (1976), « Lowdown » and « We're All Alone » not only being two ever-lasting Boz signatures but testifying to a newly-born collaboration with Toto's David Paich.

« Down Two Then Left » (1977) and « Middle Man » (1980) proved Boz Scaggs' ability to make more hits, such as « Jojo » and « Breakdown Dead Ahead » as well as to gain a larger audience worldwide. In 1980 he went off the music road for eight years; he opened a restaurant The Blue Light Café and a club Slim's in San Francisco. « Other Roads » (1988) closed the eighties, and a six-year hiatus followed.

In 1994 he came back on the music scene with a new album « Some Change » a collection of blues/rock/soul songs heralding a new Boz era and sound, followed by « Fade Into Light » (1996) , a Japanese release including four unplugged versions of classic Boz songs.

In 1997 he paid tribute to his early R&B roots known as « Come On Home », featuring four blues Boz Scaggs songs. This compilation was nominated for a Grammy Best Contemporary Blues album.

His 2001 release « Dig » , featuring a number of famous musicians such as Danny Kortchmar and Robin Dimaggio, did not only show his renewed interest in guitar playing but also brings his former collaborator David Paich back home while showing his desire to keep up with both present-day musical trends and his R&B roots. The album was nominated for the California Music Awards.

Boz Scaggs is now back with a collection of jazz standards, “But Beautiful” (Gray Cat records, his own label), an album featuring an outstanding jazz quartet from the San Francisco Bay scene. A new direction for Boz Scaggs, testifying to his ability to turn to different music styles while asserting his talents as a jazz singer. The album debuted at #1 on the jazz charts.