Steve Miller has been chosen as the fifth recipient of the prestigious Les Paul Spirit Award. The annual honor is presented to an individual “who exemplifies the spirit of [late inventor and musician] Les Paul through innovation, engineering, technology and/or music.”
Miller will receive the award on June 9 at a private, ticketed celebration at the Gibson Garage Nashville. The event coincides with the fourth anniversary of the Gibson Garage Nashville’s opening and what would’ve been Paul’s 110th birthday.
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The Les Paul Spirit Award is presented by the Les Paul Foundation in partnership with the Gibson guitar company’s charitable division, Gibson Gives. In conjunction with the honor, Miller will choose a charity that will receive a grant from the Les Paul Foundation.
Besides Miller’s many musical accomplishments and achievements, he also had a long, close relationship with Paul. Steve’s parents were best man and matron of honor at Les’ wedding to singer Mary Ford, and Paul and Ford were frequent visitors to the Miller home. Paul became Miller’s godfather, and encouraged Steve to pursue his passion for guitar when he was a child.
Statements from Les Paul Foundation and Gibson Executives
“I cannot think of anyone more deserving to be honored with the Les Paul Spirit Award than Steve Miller,” said Les Paul Foundation executive director Michael Braunstein in a statement. “Not only is he an extraordinary talent and a wonderful friend of the Les Paul Foundation, Steve holds the very distinct title of being Les’ godson. They had a very unique relationship which Les cherished. If anyone understands the ‘spirit’ of Les Paul, it’s Steve.”
Braunstein added, “If Les were still alive today, Steve and he would be jamming at his house regularly. I am personally thrilled to be able to present Steve with this award because I know he exemplifies everything Les was about and wanted to accomplish.”
Gibson Gives executive Erica Krusen also praised Miller in a statement.
“Steve Miller personifies the spirit of excellence through his musicianship and industry recognition,” she said. “Gibson Gives is proud to partner with the Les Paul Foundation to present the prestigious Les Paul Spirit Award to this legendary artist who not only embodies the innovative spirit of Les Paul himself and his landmark contributions to music but continues to entertain and inspire us through his music and talent.”
More About the Les Paul Spirit Award
Prior to Miller, the four Les Paul Spirit Award recipients were Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir, Nile Rodgers, U2’s The Edge, and Peter Frampton.
The actual award is made from acoustic boards hand-carved by Paul and that he used in his home studio.
More About Steve Miller
Miller’s music career dates back to the 1960s. As the frontman of the Steve Miller Band, he enjoyed his huge commercial success during the 1970s and early 1980s.
The group’s many hits include the chart-toppers “The Joker,” “Rock’n Me,” and “Abracadabra,” as well as such other classics as “Living in the U.S.A.,” “Take the Money and Run,” “Fly Like an Eagle,” “Jet Airliner,” “Jungle Love,” and “Swingtown.” The Steve Miller Band’s Greatest Hits (1974-1978) compilation has been certified 15-times platinum by the RIAA for sales of more than 15 million copies in the U.S.
Miller was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2022. Steve also is a member of the Visiting member of the board of directors at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City.
“Fly Like an Eagle” was recently chosen by the Library of Congress for induction into the National Recording Registry.
More About Les Paul
Paul was a successful jazz and pop guitarist who released many hit recordings during the 1940s and ’50s. He also was a pioneering inventor who developed the solid-body electric guitar, multi-track recording, various guitar effects, and many other innovations.
Paul died in 2009 at the age of 94.
About Miller’s 2025 Tour Plans
The Steve Miller Band has 30 U.S. tour dates lined up in 2025. The trek kicks off August 15 in Bethel, New York, and is mapped out through a November 8 show in Anaheim, California.
(Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/WireImage)
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