Charles William Miller (June 2, 1939 – June 4, 1980)[1] was an American musician best known as the saxophonist and flutist for the multicultural California funk band War. Notably, Miller provided lead vocals as well as sax on the band's Billboard R&B #1 hit "Low Rider" (1975).
Miller was born in Olathe, Kansas. Two years after his birth, Miller moved with his family to Los Angeles and settled in Long Beach, California. His father was a musician who featured with organist Paul Bryant.
Miller had a passion for music and played the woodwinds, piano, and guitar in school bands and orchestras. Miller's interest in music was secondary to football until he sustained an injury in 1967 at Long Beach City College.
Careeredit
Miller recorded with various groups such as Señor Soul on Señor Soul Plays Funky Favorites[2] (1968), and It's Your Thing (1969), both on Double Shot Records.[3] He participated in recording sessions with The Ray Charles Band, and toured with the Debonaires, Brenton Wood, Señor Soul, and Afro Blues Quintet + 1.
In the summer of 1969, Miller was in Hollywood at the first Studio Instrument Rentals (located on Santa Monica and Vine) when he met Harold Brown, Howard E. Scott, and Papa Dee Allen. Together, they formed the band Night Shift.[4]
Eric Burdon and Lee Oskar later joined the band after watching Miller and the Night Shift play at the club Rag Doll in North Hollywood.
Miller’s deep voice is heard on the War song "Low Rider", and he is credited by many sources as the dominant and initial songwriter of "Low Rider". It was recorded at Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco in 1975 and has been sampled by many artists such as Flo Rida, who used it for his song "G.D.F.R."). The song is also used in the movies Up in Smoke and Beverly Hills Chihuahua, and is the theme song for the television sitcom George Lopez.
Deathedit
On June 4, 1980, two days after his 41st birthday, Miller was stabbed to death in Los Angeles during a botched street robbery.[5] To this day, no one has been arrested or prosecuted for his murder. At the time of his death, he was living in Hollywood with his wife, Eddy Miller, daughters, Annette and Laurian, and his sons, Donald and Mark. He also had a son, Joseph Charles Newton, with another woman.
^"Died on This Date (June 4, 1980) Charles W. Miller / War". 14 June 2010.
^Ruggiero, Bob (2008-04-23). . Houston Press. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
External linksedit
allmusic
themusicsover
war reference
January 01, 1970
charles, miller, musician, other, people, named, charles, miller, charles, miller, disambiguation, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, chall. For other people named Charles Miller see Charles Miller disambiguation This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Charles Miller musician news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2024 Learn how and when to remove this message Charles William Miller June 2 1939 June 4 1980 1 was an American musician best known as the saxophonist and flutist for the multicultural California funk band War Notably Miller provided lead vocals as well as sax on the band s Billboard R amp B 1 hit Low Rider 1975 Charles William MillerBorn 1939 06 02 June 2 1939Olathe Kansas U S DiedJune 4 1980 1980 06 04 aged 41 Los Angeles California U S GenresFunk rockOccupation s MusicianInstrument s Saxophone flute clarinet vocalsYears active1969 1980Formerly ofWar Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Death 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editMiller was born in Olathe Kansas Two years after his birth Miller moved with his family to Los Angeles and settled in Long Beach California His father was a musician who featured with organist Paul Bryant Miller had a passion for music and played the woodwinds piano and guitar in school bands and orchestras Miller s interest in music was secondary to football until he sustained an injury in 1967 at Long Beach City College Career editMiller recorded with various groups such as Senor Soul on Senor Soul Plays Funky Favorites 2 1968 and It s Your Thing 1969 both on Double Shot Records 3 He participated in recording sessions with The Ray Charles Band and toured with the Debonaires Brenton Wood Senor Soul and Afro Blues Quintet 1 In the summer of 1969 Miller was in Hollywood at the first Studio Instrument Rentals located on Santa Monica and Vine when he met Harold Brown Howard E Scott and Papa Dee Allen Together they formed the band Night Shift 4 Eric Burdon and Lee Oskar later joined the band after watching Miller and the Night Shift play at the club Rag Doll in North Hollywood Miller s deep voice is heard on the War song Low Rider and he is credited by many sources as the dominant and initial songwriter of Low Rider It was recorded at Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco in 1975 and has been sampled by many artists such as Flo Rida who used it for his song G D F R The song is also used in the movies Up in Smoke and Beverly Hills Chihuahua and is the theme song for the television sitcom George Lopez Death editOn June 4 1980 two days after his 41st birthday Miller was stabbed to death in Los Angeles during a botched street robbery 5 To this day no one has been arrested or prosecuted for his murder At the time of his death he was living in Hollywood with his wife Eddy Miller daughters Annette and Laurian and his sons Donald and Mark He also had a son Joseph Charles Newton with another woman See also editList of unsolved murders 1980 1999 References edit Died On This Date June 4 1980 Charles W Miller War The Music s Over 14 June 2010 Retrieved 2019 11 19 Senor Soul plays Retrieved 30 March 2021 Senor Soul discography at Discogs com Died on This Date June 4 1980 Charles W Miller War 14 June 2010 Ruggiero Bob 2008 04 23 The Lowrider Band Houston Press Archived from the original on 12 March 2018 Retrieved 2019 11 19 External links editallmusic themusicsover war reference Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Charles Miller musician amp oldid 1219859851, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
