William Royce “Boz” Scaggs is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He began his career as guitarist and lead singer with the Steve Miller Band in the late 60’s and early 70’s before gaining fame with several top twenty singles and the critically acclaimed “Silk Degrees.”
Scaggs earthy baritone ranges wide across virtually any material he chooses to sing. His recordings run the gamut from earthy blues and R&B to pop standards, jazz and rock. His live appearances with the “Dukes of September Rhythm Revue” touring group is a special treat and included Michael McDonald and Donald Fagen among others.
Scaggs is a Canton, Ohio native, the son of a traveling salesman and grew up mostly in Oklahoma and Texas. After learning the guitar at twelve Scaggs met Steve Miller and the pair played together in several bands highlighted by Scaggs vocal stylings on the Steve Miller Band’s first two albums “Children of the Future” and “Sailor” in the late 60’s and early 70’s.
An early career highlight was Scaggs’ second solo album Boz Scaggs featuring the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and session guitarist Duane Allman. The album best remembered for Duane Allman’s slide guitar and dobro playing on “Loan Me a Dime”. The slow bluesy song finds Allman bending and sliding on his notes before erupting into one of rock’s greatest jams. As an aside the album’s producer was none other than Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner.
In 1976 Boz Scaggs launched himself into super stardom through his album Silk Degrees.” The record spawned four hit singles: “It’s Over”, “Lowdown”, “What Can I Say”, and “Lido Shuffle” eventually selling more than five million copies followed by a sold out tour.
More recently Scaggs received acclaim with his 2015 album A Fool to Care highlighted by a duet with Bonnie Raitt on “Hell to Pay.” The album eventually rose to number one on the Blues Album chart.
Boz Scaggs’ latest release Out of the Blues finds him in the midst of a musical renaissance with the versatile singer/songwriter creating a highly personal, soulful modern repertoire. The record finds Scaggs applying his iconic voice and gritty guitar skills to a set of vintage classics by such blues luminaries as Bobby “Blue” Bland, Jimmy Reed, and Magic Slim mixed with four original compositions.
The album opener “Rock and Stick” absolutely sparkles with the kind of groove that will satisfy fans of “Silk Degrees.” Penned by Jack ‘Applejack’ Walroth, Scaggs’ erstwhile collaborator who lends street-tough blues harp countering the ultra-coolness oozing from Scaggs’ croon. Another standout is “Radiator 110,” sounding like a bluesier re-imagining of Don Henley’s “Dirty Laundry.” Scaggs even takes on Neil Young’s “On the Beach” smoothing out its ragged edges with a down home guitar and stretches it out to a lengthy eight minutes. Scaggs’ only composing credit comes from the “Little Miss Night and Day” a tune brimming with 50’s rock n’ roll goodness and a sprightly piano.
Sacramento’s K-ZAP 93.3 FM is playing, “Radiator 110.” All part of 50 years of rock, blues and more, 24-7 on our station’s stream at K-ZAP.ORG/LISTEN/
Reference – https://www.bozscaggs.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boz_Scaggs
Boz Scaggs discography
Boz (1965)
Boz Scaggs (1969)
Moments (1971)
Boz Scaggs & Band (1971)
My Time (1972)
Slow Dancer (1974)
Silk Degrees (1976)
Down Two Then Left (1977)
Middle Man (1980)
Hits! (1980)
Other Roads (1988)
Some Change (1994)
Fade into Light (1996)
Come On Home (1997)
My Time: A Boz Scaggs Anthology (1997)
Dig (2001)
Sail on White Moon (2002)
But Beautiful (2003)
Greatest Hits Live (2004)
Speak Low (2008)
Memphis (2013)
The Essential Boz Scaggs (2013)
A Fool to Care (2015)
Out of the Blues (2018)
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