William Henry Marcus Miller Jr. (born June 14, 1959) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for his work as a bassist. He has worked with trumpeter

Miles Davis Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Davis adopted a variety of musi ...

, pianist Herbie Hancock, singer Luther Vandross, and saxophonist

David Sanborn David William Sanborn (born July 30, 1945) is an American alto saxophonist. Though Sanborn has worked in many genres, his solo recordings typically blend jazz with instrumental pop and R&B. He released his first solo album ''Taking Off'' in 19 ...

, among others. 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 "I Really Didn't Mean It" is an 1987 song by American recording R&B/soul artist Luther Vandross. The track was the fourth and final single released from his ''multi-platinum'' album '' Give Me the Reason.'' The song was a top ten R&B hit on ''Bill ...

", " Any Love", "

Power of Love/Love Power "Power of Love/Love Power" is a single by American singer-songwriter Luther Vandross. It was released on April 9, 1991 as the lead single from his 1991 album of the same name. The hit song spent two weeks at number one on the US R&B chart, and ...

" and "

Don't Want to Be a Fool "Don't Want to Be a Fool" is a song by American recording artist Luther Vandross, released in June 1991 as the second single from his seventh album, '' Power of Love'' (1991). The song peaked at No. 4 on the US ''Billboard'' R&B Singles chart on ...

". He also co-wrote the 1988 single "

Da Butt "Da Butt" is a single released in 1988 from the original soundtrack to the film '' School Daze''. The song was written by Marcus Miller and performed by the D.C.-based go-go band E.U. The song reached number one on the Billboard's Hot Black ...

" for

Experience Unlimited Experience Unlimited (also known as simply E.U.) is a Washington, D.C.-based go-go/funk band that enjoyed its height of popularity in the 1980s and early 1990s. Fronted by lead singer/bassist Gregory "Sugar Bear" Elliot, the group has had a fl ...

Early life

William Henry Marcus Miller Jr. was born in the

Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

borough of

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

on June 14, 1959. 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 Wynton Charles Kelly (December 2, 1931 – April 12, 1971) was an American jazz pianist and composer. He is known for his lively, blues-based playing and as one of the finest accompanists in jazz. He began playing professionally at the age of ...

. He became classically trained as a

clarinet The clarinet is a musical instrument in the woodwind family. The instrument has a nearly cylindrical bore and a flared bell, and uses a single reed to produce sound. Clarinets comprise a family of instruments of differing sizes and pitches ...

ist and later learned to play keyboards, saxophone, and guitar.

Career

Miller began to work regularly in New York City, eventually playing bass and writing music for jazz flutist

Bobbi Humphrey Barbara Ann "Bobbi" Humphrey (born April 25, 1950) is an American jazz flautist and singer who plays jazz fusion, funk, and soul-jazz. She has recorded twelve albums and founded the jazz label Paradise Sounds Records. In 1971, she was the first ...

and keyboardist

Lonnie Liston Smith Lonnie Liston Smith Jr. (born December 28, 1940) is an American jazz, soul, and funk musician who played with such jazz artists as Pharoah Sanders and Miles Davis before forming Lonnie Liston Smith and the Cosmic Echoes, recording a number of ...

. Miller became a

session musician Session musicians, studio musicians, or backing musicians are musicians hired to perform in recording sessions or live performances. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a recording artist on a ...

. Miller's earliest influences include

James Jamerson James Lee Jamerson (January 29, 1936 – August 2, 1983) was an American bass player. He was the uncredited bassist on most of the Motown Records hits in the 1960s and early 1970s (Motown did not list session musician credits on their releases u ...

and

Larry Graham Larry Graham Jr. (born August 14, 1946) is an American bassist and baritone singer, both with the psychedelic soul/funk band Sly and the Family Stone and as the founder and frontman of Graham Central Station. In 1980, he released the single "O ...

. He spent approximately 15 years performing as a

. During that time he also arranged and produced frequently. He was a member of the ''

Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (often abbreviated to ''SNL'') is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC and Peacock. Michaels currently serves a ...

'' band between 1979 and 1981. He co-wrote Aretha Franklin's "Jump To It" along with Luther Vandross. He has played bass on over 500 recordings, appearing on albums by such artists as

Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...

Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to ...

, Herbie Hancock,

Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Referred to as the " Songbird Supreme", she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style and signature use of the whi ...

Eric Clapton Eric Patrick Clapton (born 1945) is an English rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is often regarded as one of the most successful and influential guitarists in rock music. Clapton ranked second in ''Rolling Stone''s list of ...

, The Crusaders,

Wayne Shorter Wayne Shorter (born August 25, 1933) is an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Shorter came to prominence in the late 1950s as a member of, and eventually primary composer for, Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. In the 1960s, he joined Miles Davi ...

McCoy Tyner Alfred McCoy Tyner (December 11, 1938March 6, 2020) was an American jazz piano, jazz pianist and composer known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet (from 1960 to 1965) and his long solo career afterwards. He was an NEA Jazz Masters, NEA ...

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular ...

George Benson George Washington Benson (born March 22, 1943) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He began his professional career at the age of 19 as a jazz guitarist. A former child prodigy, Benson first came to prominence in the 1960s, pla ...

Dr. John Malcolm John Rebennack Jr. (November 20, 1941 – June 6, 2019), better known by his stage name Dr. John, was an American singer and songwriter. His music encompassed New Orleans blues, jazz, funk, and R&B. Active as a session musician from ...

Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Referred to as the " Queen of Soul", she has twice been placed ninth in ''Rolling Stone''s "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". With ...

Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, pianist and composer. Commonly nicknamed the "Rocket Man" after his 1972 hit single of the same name, John has led a commercially successful career a ...

Joe Walsh Joseph Fidler Walsh (born November 20, 1947) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. In a career spanning over five decades, he has been a member of three successful rock bands: the James Gang, Eagles, and Ringo Starr & His All-Starr B ...

Jean-Michel Jarre Jean-Michel André Jarre (; born 24 August 1948) is a French composer, performer and record producer. He is a pioneer in the electronic, ambient and new-age genres, and is known for organising outdoor spectacles featuring his music, accompanie ...

, Grover Washington Jr.,

Donald Fagen Donald Jay Fagen (born January 10, 1948) is an American musician best known as the co-founder, lead singer, co-songwriter, and keyboardist of the band Steely Dan, formed in the early 1970s with musical partner Walter Becker. In addition to his w ...

Bill Withers William Harrison Withers Jr. (July 4, 1938 – March 30, 2020) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He had several hits over a career spanning 18 years, including "Ain't No Sunshine" (1971), "Grandma's Hands" (1971), " Use Me" (1972) ...

Bernard Wright Bernard Wright (November 16, 1963 – May 19, 2022) was an American funk and jazz keyboardist and singer who began his career as a session musician and later released four solo albums. Biography Wright was born in Jamaica, Queens, New York. ...

Kazumi Watanabe is a Japanese guitarist. Other guitarists such as Luke Takamura and Sugizo have cited him as an influence. Career Watanabe learned guitar at the age of 12 from Sadanori Nakamure at the Yamaha Music School in Tokyo. He released his first album ...

Chaka Khan Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known by her stage name Chaka Khan (), is an American singer. Her career has spanned more than five decades, beginning in the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the funk band Rufus. Known as the " Qu ...

LL Cool J James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), known professionally as LL Cool J (short for Ladies Love Cool James), is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, along ...

and Flavio Sala. He won the "Most Valuable Player" award (given by

NARAS The Recording Academy (formally the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences; abbreviated NARAS) is an American learned academy of musicians, producers, recording engineers, and other musical professionals. It is famous for its Grammy A ...

to recognize studio musicians) three years in a row and was subsequently awarded "player emeritus" status and retired from eligibility. In the mid-80s, Miller attempted a solo career as a funk/R&B singer, with the albums '' Suddenly'' (1983) and ''

Marcus Miller William Henry Marcus Miller Jr. (born June 14, 1959) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for his work as a bassist. He has worked with trumpeter Miles Davis, pianist Herbie Hancock, singer Luther Vandros ...

'' (1984). He also served as 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. 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 The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...

, hosted by David Sanborn and Jools Holland. As a composer, Miller co-wrote and produced several songs on the

album '' Tutu'', including the title track. He also composed "Chicago Song" for

and co-wrote "'Til My Baby Comes Home", " It's Over Now", "

For You to Love "For You to Love" is a 1988 song by the American recording artist Luther Vandross. The single was released in 1989 in support of his hit album '' Any Love''. The song was a top five U.S. R&B hit that peaked to No. 3 on the R&B singles. Vandross' ' ...

", and " Power of Love" for Luther Vandross. Miller also wrote "

", which was featured in

Spike Lee Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee (born March 20, 1957) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, has produced more than 35 films since 1983. He made his directorial debut ...

's ''

School Daze ''School Daze'' is a 1988 American musical comedy-drama film, written and directed by Spike Lee, and starring Laurence Fishburne (credited as Larry Fishburne), Giancarlo Esposito, and Tisha Campbell. Based in part on Spike Lee's experiences a ...

''. In addition, he composed and provided spoken vocals on "Burn it Up", which was featured on

Najee Jerome Najee Rasheed (born November 4, 1957, New York City), known professionally as Najee, is an American Jazz-Smooth Jazz saxophonist and flautist. Early life Najee was born in the lower west side of Manhattan in New York City and lived his te ...

's 1992 album ''Just An Illusion''. In 1997, he played bass guitar and bass clarinet in the

supergroup Supergroup or super group may refer to: * Supergroup (music), a music group formed by artists who are already notable or respected in their fields * Supergroup (physics), a generalization of groups, used in the study of supersymmetry * Supergroup ...

Legends, featuring

(guitars and vocals),

Joe Sample Joseph Leslie Sample (February 1, 1939 – September 12, 2014) was an American keyboardist and composer. He was one of the founding members of The Jazz Crusaders in 1960, the band which shortened its name to "The Crusaders" in 1971. He remained ...

(piano), David Sanborn (alto sax) and

Steve Gadd Stephen Kendall Gadd (born April 9, 1945) is an American drummer, percussionist, and session musician. Gadd is one of the best-known and highly regarded session and studio drummers in the industry, recognized by his induction into the ''Modern D ...

(drums). It was an 11-date tour of major jazz festivals in Europe. In 2008 Miller formed another supergroup, SMV, with fellow bassists

Stanley Clarke Stanley Clarke (born June 30, 1951) is an American bassist, film composer and founding member of Return to Forever, one of the first jazz fusion bands. Clarke gave the bass guitar a prominence it lacked in jazz-related music. He is the first jaz ...

and

Victor Wooten Victor Lemonte Wooten (born September 11, 1964) is an American bassist, songwriter, and record producer. He has been the bassist for Béla Fleck and the Flecktones since the group's formation in 1988 and a member of the band SMV with two other ...

, for a world tour lasting 18 months. He produced SMV's first release,

Thunder Thunder is the sound caused by lightning. Depending upon the distance from and nature of the lightning, it can range from a long, low rumble to a sudden, loud crack. The sudden increase in temperature and hence pressure caused by the lightning pr ...

. In the summer of 2011, Miller toured alongside Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter celebrating Miles Davis on the 20th anniversary of his passing. Miller hosts a jazz history and influences show called ''Miller Time with Marcus Miller'' on the Real Jazz channel of

Sirius XM Holdings Sirius XM Holdings Inc. is an American broadcasting company headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, New York City that provides satellite radio and online radio services operating in the United States. It was formed by the 2008 merger of Sirius Sat ...

satellite radio Satellite radio is defined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)'s ITU Radio Regulations (RR) as a ''broadcasting-satellite service''. The satellite's signals are broadcast nationwide, across a much wider geographical area than ter ...

system. In addition to his recording and performance career, Miller has established a parallel career as a

film score A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film. The score comprises a number of orchestral, instrumental, or choral pieces called cues, which are timed to begin and end at specific points during the film in order to ...

composer. He has written numerous scores for films, notably including films directed by

Reginald Hudlin Reginald Alan Hudlin (born December 15, 1961) is an American film screenwriter, director, producer, and comic-book writer. Along with his older brother Warrington Hudlin, he is known as one of the Hudlin Brothers. From 2005 to 2008, Hudlin was P ...

and

Chris Rock Christopher Julius Rock (born February 7, 1965) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and filmmaker. Known for his work in comic film, television and stage, he has received multiple accolades, including three Grammy Awards for best come ...

Awards and honors

Miller has been nominated for numerous

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...

s as a producer for Miles Davis, Luther Vandross, David Sanborn, Bob James,

and

, and has won two Grammys. He won a

Grammy Award for Best R&B Song The Grammy Award for Best R&B Song (sometimes known as the R&B Songwriter's Award) has been awarded since 1969. From 1969 to 2000, it was known as the Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Song. Beyoncé has won it a record four times, while Bab ...

in 1992, for Luther Vandross' " Power of Love" and in 2001 he won for

Best Contemporary Jazz Album The Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album was an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for works (songs or albums) containing quality ...

for his seventh solo instrumental album, '' M²''. His 2015 album ''Afrodeezia'' earned a

nomination for

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album The Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album (previously: Best Pop Instrumental Album) is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording arti ...

Marcus Miller - Leverkusener Jazztage 2017-7051

In 2012 Miller was appointed a

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

Artist for Peace, supporting and promoting the UNESCO Slave Route Project. In December 2021,

Bass Player A bassist (also known as a bass player or bass guitarist) is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass (upright bass, contrabass, wood bass), bass guitar (electric bass, acoustic bass), synthbass, keyboard bass or a low br ...

magazine awarded Miller a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Instruments

Miller is noted for playing a transparent blonde finish 1977

Fender Jazz Bass The Fender Jazz Bass (often shortened to ''J-Bass'') is the second model of Bass guitar, electric bass created by Leo Fender. It is distinct from the Fender Precision Bass, Precision Bass in that its tone is brighter and richer in the midrange a ...

that was modified by luthier Roger Sadowsky with the addition of a Stars Guitar and later a Bartolini preamp so he could control his sound in the studio. 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 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. Marcus Miller, Royal Festival Hall, london 7th May 2012

Marcus Miller, Royal Festival Hall, london 7th May 2012

As of 2015, Dunlop has begun producing Marcus Miller Super Bright bass strings which Miller has switched to. In 2015, Marcus began endorsing

Sire Guitars Sire is an archaic respectful Forms of address in the United Kingdom, form of address to reigning kings in Europe. In French and other languages it is less archaic and relatively more current. In Belgium, the king is addressed as "Sire..." in bo ...

, with whom he has a signature line of basses.Archived a
Ghostarchive
and th
Wayback Machine

Discography

As leader

Studio albums

* '' Suddenly'' (

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...

, 1983) – recorded in 1982 * ''

'' (Warner Bros., 1984) – recorded in 1983–84 * '' The Sun Don't Lie'' ( Dreyfus Jazz, 1993) * '' Tales'' (Dreyfus Jazz, 1995) * '' M²'' (Telarc, 2001) * '' Silver Rain'' (Koch, 2005) * '' Free'' (3 Deuces, 2007) * '' Marcus'' (Concord, 2008) * ''

'' (Heads Up, 2008) with SMV * '' The Ozell Tapes'' (Dreyfus Jazz, 2002) * ''

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas ...

'' (Dreyfus Jazz, 2012) * '' Afrodeezia'' (

Blue Note In jazz and blues, a blue note is a note that—for expressive purposes—is sung or played at a slightly different pitch from standard. Typically the alteration is between a quartertone and a semitone, but this varies depending on the musical co ...

, 2015) * ''

Laid Black ''Laid Black'' is a studio album by American recording artist Marcus Miller. It was released on June 1, 2018 by Blue Note Records. ''Laid Black'' was nominated for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards. The albu ...

'' (Blue Note, 2018)

Live albums

* '' Live & More'' ( GRP, 1997) – recorded in 1996 * '' The Ozell Tapes Live: The Official Bootleg'' (Telarc, 2002) * ''Dreyfus Night in Paris'' ( Dreyfus Jazz, 2003) with

Michel Petrucciani Michel Petrucciani (; ; 28 December 1962 – 6 January 1999) was a French jazz pianist. From birth he had osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic disease that causes brittle bones and, in his case, short stature. He became one of the most accomplish ...

Biréli Lagrène Biréli Lagrène (born 4 September 1966) is a French jazz guitarist who came to prominence in the 1980s for his Django Reinhardt–influenced style. He often performs in swing, jazz fusion, and post-bop styles. Biography Lagrène was born in ...

Kenny Garrett Kenny Garrett (born October 9, 1960) is an American post-bop jazz musician and composer who gained recognition in his youth as a member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra and for his time with Miles Davis's band. His primary instruments are alto and ...

and

Lenny White Leonard "Lenny" White III (born December 19, 1949) is an American jazz fusion drummer who was a member of the band Return to Forever led by Chick Corea in the 1970s. White has been called "one of the founding fathers of jazz fusion". He has won ...

– recorded in 1994 * ''Panther – Live'' (Jazz Door, 2004) – bootleg recorded in 1988 * ''Live in Lugano'' (Jazz Hour, 2012) – bootleg recorded in 2008 * ''A Night in Monte Carlo – Live 2009'' with

Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra The Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra (french: Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, OPMC) is the main orchestra in the Principality of Monaco. The orchestra gives concerts primarily in the Auditorium Rainier III, but also performs at the Salle ...

(Dreyfus Jazz, 2010) * ''Tutu Revisited – Live 2010'' (Dreyfus Jazz, 2011) VD-Video

As sideman

With Tom Browne * ''

Browne Sugar ''Browne Sugar'' is the debut album by Tom Browne (trumpeter), Tom Browne. It was released in 1979 on the GRP Records and reached number six on the Jazz Album chart in 1979. Track listing #"Throw Down" (Tom Browne (trumpeter), Tom Browne) – ...

'' ( GRP, 1979) With The Crusaders * ''Healing the Wounds'' (GRP, 1991) With

* ''

The Man with the Horn ''The Man with the Horn'' is an album released by Miles Davis in 1981. This was Davis's first new studio album since 1972’s ''On the Corner'', his first recordings of any kind since 1975 and his first activity following a six-year retirement. T ...

'' ( Columbia, 1981) * ''

We Want Miles ''We Want Miles'' is a double album recorded by jazz trumpeter Miles Davis in 1981, produced by Teo Macero and released by Columbia Records in 1982. The album combines recordings from the first live appearances by Davis in more than five years, a ...

'' (Columbia, 1982) * ''

Star People Star people may refer to: * Native American culture * Star people (Native American belief), name given to astral beings who visited various Native American tribes. * Extraterrestrial life * Star people (New Age belief), individuals who believe ...

'' (Columbia, 1983) * '' Tutu'' (

, 1986) * '' Music From Siesta'' (Warner Bros., 1987) * '' Amandla'' (Warner Bros., 1989) * ''

The Complete Miles Davis at Montreux ''The Complete Miles Davis at Montreux'' is a box set of twenty discs compiling the eleven sets Miles Davis performed at his nine appearances at the Montreux Jazz Festival between 1973 and 1991 released in 2002. Track listing References Ext ...

'' (Warner Bros., 2002) – recorded in 1973–91 With

* ''

The Nightfly ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' (Warner Bros., 1982) With

* '' Get It Right'' (Arista, 1983) With

Dizzy Gillespie John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (; October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer. He was a trumpet virtuoso and improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy Eldridge but addi ...

* '' Closer to the Source'' (

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...

, 1984) With

Dave Grusin Robert David "Dave" Grusin (born June 26, 1934) is an American composer, arranger, producer, jazz pianist, and band leader. He has composed many scores for feature films and television, and has won numerous awards for his soundtrack and record w ...

* ''Mountain Dance'' (Arista, 1980) With the

Jamaica Boys The Jamaica Boys was an American, Queens-based, funk trio, that existed in the late 1980s. Group member Mark Stevens was the brother of Chaka Khan, and also toured with her as a backup singer. One of their members, Marcus Miller, was Luther Vand ...

* ''The Jamaica Boys'' (WEA, 1987) * ''J. Boys'' (Reprise, 1990) With

* ''Hideaway'' (Warner Bros., 1980) * ''

Voyeur Voyeurism is the sexual interest in or practice of watching other people engaged in intimate behaviors, such as undressing, sexual activity, or other actions of a private nature. The term comes from the French ''voir'' which means "to see". ...

'' (Warner Bros., 1981) – recorded in 1980 * ''

As We Speak ''As We Speak'' is a studio album by David Sanborn, released in 1982 on Warner Bros. Records. The album reached No. 70 on the ''Billboard'' 200, number 32 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart and number 1 on Billboard's Jazz Albums chart. Track li ...

'' (Warner Bros., 1982) * '' Backstreet'' (Warner Bros., 1983) * '' Straight to the Heart'' (Warner Bros., 1984) – live * ''

Double Vision Diplopia is the simultaneous perception of two images of a single object that may be displaced horizontally or vertically in relation to each other. Also called double vision, it is a loss of visual focus under regular conditions, and is often v ...

'' with Bob James (Warner Bros., 1986) * '' Change of Heart'' (Warner Bros., 1987) * ''Close-Up'' (Reprise, 1988) * '' Another Hand'' (Elektra Musician, 1991) * ''

Upfront ''UpFront'' is a current affairs discussion, debate and analysis programme on Al Jazeera English. The show premiered on 4 September 2015 shortly after Al Jazeera moved into their new Washington D.C. hub. The show has a politics focus although othe ...

'' (Elektra, 1992) * ''Hearsay'' (Elektra, 1994) * ''Pearls'' (Elektra, 1995) * '' Lovesongs'' (Warner Bros., 1995) * ''Songs from the Night Before'' (Elektra Entertainment, 1996) * ''

Inside Inside may refer to: * Insider, a member of any group of people of limited number and generally restricted access Film * ''Inside'' (1996 film), an American television film directed by Arthur Penn and starring Eric Stoltz * ''Inside'' (2002 f ...

'' (Elektra, 1999) With

* '' High Life'' (

Verve Verve may refer to: Music * The Verve, an English rock band * ''The Verve E.P.'', a 1992 EP by The Verve * ''Verve'' (R. Stevie Moore album) * Verve Records, an American jazz record label Businesses * Verve Coffee Roasters, an American coffee ho ...

, 1995) With

* '' Dreams of Tomorrow'' (

Doctor Jazz "Doctor Jazz" is a popular tune and song written by Joe "King" Oliver in 1926. Publisher Walter Melrose got his name on it as co-composer, as was often his practice. It enjoyed its initial popularity in the 1920s. It continues to be played by Dixi ...

, 1983) With Luther Vandross * '' Never Too Much'' (Epic, 1981) * '' Busy Body'' (Epic, 1983) * '' The Night I Fell in Love'' (Epic, 1985) * '' Give Me the Reason'' (Epic, 1986) – recorded in 1985–86 * '' Any Love'' (Epic, 1988) * '' Power of Love'' (Epic, 1991) – recorded in 1990–91 * '' Never Let Me Go'' (Epic, 1993) – recorded in 1992–93 * '' This Is Christmas'' (Epic, 1995) – recorded in 1994–95 * ''

Your Secret Love ''Your Secret Love'' is the tenth studio album by American R&B recording artist Luther Vandross, released by Epic in October 1996. The album's title track won the Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and was nominated for Best R&B Song at the 39t ...

'' (Epic, 1996) – recorded in 1995–96 * '' I Know'' (Virgin, 1998) * ''

Luther Vandross Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. (April 20, 1951 – July 1, 2005) was an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Known for his sweet and soulful vocals, Vandross has sold over 40 million records worldwide. He achieved eleven consecutive P ...

'' (J, 2001) * '' Dance with My Father'' (J, 2003) – recorded in 2002-03 With Grover Washington Jr. * ''

Winelight ''Winelight'' is a 1980 studio album by jazz musician Grover Washington Jr. The record received the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Fusion Performance in 1982. The album was released by Elektra Records. It includes the Grammy Award-winning hit "Ju ...

'' (Elektra, 1980) * '' Come Morning'' (1981) * ''

The Best Is Yet to Come "The Best Is Yet to Come" is a 1959 song composed by Cy Coleman to lyrics by Carolyn Leigh. It is associated with Frank Sinatra, who recorded it on his 1964 album ''It Might as Well Be Swing'' accompanied by Count Basie under the direction ...

'' (1982) * ''

Inside Moves ''Inside Moves'' is a 1980 American drama film directed by Richard Donner. The film is based on the book of the same name by Todd Walton, with a script by then writing duo Valerie Curtin and Barry Levinson. Plot After a suicide attempt leave ...

'' (1984) * ''

A House Full of Love ''A House Full of Love'' (german: Ein Haus voll Liebe) is a 1954 Austrian-West German romantic comedy film directed by Hans Schweikart and starring Gertrud Kückelmann, Michael Cramer and Erni Mangold.Rentschler p. 106 It was shot at the Sieveri ...

'' (1986) With

* '' Nard'' (GRP, 1981) – recorded in 1980 With

Don Cherry Donald Stewart Cherry (born February 5, 1934) is a Canadian former ice hockey player, coach, and television commentator. Cherry played one game in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Boston Bruins, and later coached the team for five se ...

* '' Hear & Now'' (

, 1977) – recorded in 1976 With

* ''

Zoolook ''Zoolook'' is the seventh studio album by French electronic musician and composer Jean-Michel Jarre, released in November 1984 by Disques Dreyfus. Much of the music is built up from singing and speech in 25 different languages recorded and edited ...

'' ( Dreyfus, 1984) – recorded in 1982–84

Film scores

*1987: ''

Siesta A ''siesta'' (from Spanish, pronounced and meaning "nap") is a short nap taken in the early afternoon, often after the midday meal. Such a period of sleep is a common tradition in some countries, particularly those in warm-weather zones. The ...

'' *1990: ''

House Party A house party is a type of party where people gather at the residence of the party's host. Organization A house party might be organized several months or just a few hours in advance. News of a party may be spread by personal invitations, ...

'' (featuring

Kid 'n Play Kid 'n Play is an American hip-hop duo from New York City that was most popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The duo was composed of Christopher Reid ("Kid") and Christopher Martin ("Play") working alongside their DJ, Mark "DJ Wiz" Eas ...

) *1992: ''

Boomerang A boomerang () is a thrown tool, typically constructed with aerofoil sections and designed to spin about an axis perpendicular to the direction of its flight. A returning boomerang is designed to return to the thrower, while a non-returning b ...

'' (featuring

Eddie Murphy Edward Regan Murphy (born April 3, 1961) is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and singer. He rose to fame on the sketch comedy show ''Saturday Night Live'', for which he was a regular cast member from 1980 to 1984. Murphy has als ...

) *1994: ''

Above the Rim ''Above the Rim'' is a 1994 American sports drama film co-written and directed by Jeff Pollack in his directorial debut. The screenplay was written by Barry Michael Cooper, adapted from a story by Benny Medina. The film stars Duane Martin, Tu ...

'' (featuring

Tupac Shakur Tupac Amaru Shakur ( ; born Lesane Parish Crooks, June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also known as 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper. He is widely considered one of the most influential rappers of all time. Shakur is among the Li ...

) *1994: ''

A Low Down Dirty Shame ''A Low Down Dirty Shame'' is a 1994 American action comedy film written, directed by, and starring Keenen Ivory Wayans. The film also stars Charles S. Dutton, Jada Pinkett, and Salli Richardson. Plot Former LAPD detective Andre Shame is a pri ...

'' (featuring

Keenen Ivory Wayans Keenen Ivory Desuma Wayans (born June 8, 1958) is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He is a member of the Wayans family of entertainers. Wayans first came to prominence as the host and the creator of the 1990–1994 Fox sketch comedy ...

) *1996: ''

The Great White Hype ''The Great White Hype'' is a 1996 American sports comedy film directed by Reginald Hudlin. It stars Samuel L. Jackson, Peter Berg, Damon Wayans, Jeff Goldblum, Jon Lovitz, Cheech Marin, John Rhys-Davies, Salli Richardson and Jamie Foxx. The f ...

'' (featuring

Samuel L. Jackson Samuel Leroy Jackson (born December 21, 1948) is an American actor and producer. One of the most widely recognized actors of his generation, the films in which he has appeared have collectively grossed over $27 billion worldwide, making him ...

) *1997: ''

The Sixth Man ''The 6th Man'', sometimes titled ''The Sixth Man'', is a 1997 American sports comedy film directed by Randall Miller, and starring Marlon Wayans and Kadeem Hardison. The film features real National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) schools ...

'' (featuring

Marlon Wayans Marlon Lamont Wayans (born July 23, 1972) is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. Wayans began his career portraying a pedestrian in ''I'm Gonna Git You Sucka'' (1988). He went on to regularly collaborate with his brother Shawn Wa ...

) *1999: ''An American Love Story'' *2000: ''

The Ladies Man ''The Ladies Man'' is a 1961 American comedy film directed by and starring Jerry Lewis. It was released on June 28, 1961 by Paramount Pictures. Plot Herbert H. Heebert is a young man who loses his girlfriend, swears off romance, and then takes ...

'' (featuring

Tim Meadows Timothy Meadows (born February 5, 1961) is an American actor and comedian. He was one of the longest-running cast members on ''Saturday Night Live'', where he appeared for ten seasons and for which he received a nomination for the Primetime Emm ...

) *2001: ''

The Trumpet of the Swan ''The Trumpet of the Swan'' is a children's novel by E. B. White published in 1970. It tells the story of Louis (pronounced "LOO-ee" by the author in the audiobook, a reference to trumpeter Louis Armstrong, a point that is made explicit in the ...

'' (featuring

Reese Witherspoon Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon (born March 22, 1976) is an American actress and producer. The recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards, she ...

) *2001: '' The Brothers'' (featuring

Morris Chestnut Morris Lamont Chestnut (born January 1, 1969) is an American actor. He first came to prominence for his role as Ricky in the 1991 film ''Boyz n the Hood''. He has appeared in feature films and on television series, including the starring role of ...

) *2001: '' Two Can Play That Game'' (featuring

Vivica A. Fox Vivica Anjanetta Fox (born July 30, 1964) is an American actress, producer, and television host. Fox began her career on ''Soul Train'' (19821983). She eventually continued her career with roles on the daytime television soap operas ''Days of O ...

) *2002: ''

Serving Sara ''Serving Sara'' is a 2002 American romantic comedy film directed by Reginald Hudlin and starring Matthew Perry, Elizabeth Hurley, and Bruce Campbell. The story follows a process server given the assignment to serve a British socialite with divorc ...

'' (featuring

Matthew Perry Matthew Langford Perry (born August 19, 1969) is an American-Canadian actor. He is best known for his role as Chandler Bing on the NBC television sitcom ''Friends'' (1994–2004). As well as starring in the short-lived television series '' St ...

) *2003: ''

Deliver Us from Eva ''Deliver Us from Eva'' is a 2003 American romantic comedy film starring LL Cool J and Gabrielle Union, revolving around LL's character Ray being paid to date a troublesome young lady named Eva (Union). It is considered by many as a modern update ...

'' (featuring

) *2003: ''

Head of State A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and l ...

'' (featuring

) *2004: '' Breakin' All the Rules'' (featuring Jamie Foxx) *2005: '' King's Ransom'' (featuring Anthony Anderson) *2006: ''

Save the Last Dance 2 ''Save the Last Dance 2'' (also known as ''Save the Last Dance 2: Stepping Up'') is a 2006 dance drama film and a sequel to the 2001 film ''Save the Last Dance''. It was released to DVD on October 10, 2006, by Paramount Home Entertainment and MTV ...

'' (featuring Izabella Miko) *2007: ''

I Think I Love My Wife ''I Think I Love My Wife'' is a 2007 American romantic comedy film starring Chris Rock, Gina Torres and Kerry Washington. Rock co-wrote the film with Louis C.K. and also directed and produced it. It is a remake of the 1972 French film '' Love i ...

'' (featuring Chris Rock) *2007: '' This Christmas'' (featuring Idris Elba) *2009: ''

Good Hair ''Good Hair'' is a 2009 American documentary film directed by Jeff Stilson and produced by Chris Rock Productions and HBO Films, starring and narrated by comedian Chris Rock. Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2009, ''Go ...

'' (Chris Rock documentary) *2009: '' Obsessed'' (featuring Beyoncé Knowles) *2012: ''

Think Like a Man ''Think Like a Man'' is a 2012 American romantic comedy film directed by Tim Story, written by Keith Merryman and David A. Newman, and produced by Will Packer. It was based on Steve Harvey's 2009 book ''Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man''. The fil ...

'' *2014: '' About Last Night'' *2017: ''

Marshall Marshall may refer to: Places Australia * Marshall, Victoria, a suburb of Geelong, Victoria Canada * Marshall, Saskatchewan * The Marshall, a mountain in British Columbia Liberia * Marshall, Liberia Marshall Islands * Marshall Islands, an i ...

'' *2020: ''

Safety Safety is the state of being "safe", the condition of being protected from harm or other danger. Safety can also refer to risk management, the control of recognized hazards in order to achieve an acceptable level of risk. Meanings There are ...

Media appearances

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

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Miller, Marcus 1959 births Living people Musicians from Brooklyn American jazz composers American male jazz composers American jazz bass guitarists American rock bass guitarists American funk bass guitarists American male bass guitarists American rhythm and blues bass guitarists Jazz fusion bass guitarists American multi-instrumentalists American session musicians Bass clarinetists Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School alumni Grammy Award winners MNRK Music Group artists Miles Davis Smooth jazz bass guitarists African-American jazz musicians Guitarists from New York (state) 20th-century American guitarists Saturday Night Live Band members Jazz musicians from New York (state) 21st-century clarinetists SMV (band) members Officers of the Order of Cultural Merit (Monaco) Jamaica Boys members African-American guitarists