Arthur Miles (1949)
Arthur Miles (born November 14, 1949, in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States) is an American blues, jazz and R&B musician, based in Italy.
Miles was born in Indiana but moved to California at a very young age, where he started his career as a singer in Richmond, San Francisco. The influence of the music of his uncle, the great guitarist Wes Montgomery, and his father’s night club “Arthur’s”, allowed him to observe, absorb, and jam with some of the most famous blues, jazz and soul artists of the time, playing an important part in his musical education.
Since the age of 14 he has played as a professional musician with his own bands. He perfected his singing technique at the School of Natural Voice at Los Angeles tutored by Patricia Warner, and contemporarily completed his formal studies in musical theory. He also majored in journalism at the Pasadena City College.While in Los Angeles his bands included The Curb Feelers, Good Clean Fun, Hardworking, and The Bluesbreakers. In 1974 he spent several months in Japan, touring the entire country and performing in the principal cities with the Days Band.
He has subsequently worked as both an individual artist and vocalist supporting musicians such as Edwin Starr, José Feliciano, Big Joe Turner, Johnny Otis, Eddie "Clean-Headed" Vincent, Tina Turner, and Jimmy Bo Horn. He toured with The Blues Society performing all over California.
In 1984 Miles moved to Italy where he still resides. He started working with many Italian artists, including Paolo Conte, Loredana Berté, Pierangelo Bertoli, and Andrea Mingardi. He has participated in the festivals Carnevale di Venezia and Umbria Jazz Festival, and has made appearances in television shows such as "Festivalbar", “Torno Sabato”, “Domenica In”, “La Bella e la Bestia”, “Nonsolomoda”and “Cantagiro”.
Following a gig at the Scimmie Jazz Club in Milan, he was invited by Renzo Arbore to participate in his popular TV show “Quelli della notte” on Rai 2. His voice interpreted the Frank Raya Band hit “Eyah! Eyah!” featured in the album “The King Of Money”.
In 1987, Miles began to work with Zucchero, singing on his records Blue's, Oro incenso e birra, Spirito Divino and Shake. His is the Reverend’s introduction in “Un diavolo In me” (Devil In Me). Zucchero’s most successful hits like Senza una donna (Without a Woman), “Hey Man”, “Baila”, “Ahum” include Miles’ participation. He also performed in Zucchero’s LP “Fly” released in September 2006, which includes the single “Bacco Perbacco”.
In 1990 he toured with Gloria Gaynor in Italy, and re-recorded ”I Will Survive” and “Love Affair” with her.
In 1992 his hit “Helping Hand” reached number 2 in the London Top Ten and was followed by the hit “Trippin’ On Your Love”, “Ride on the Power” and “Oh Woman”.
Miles lives in Orsenigo, near Como.
Discography
Albums
- – A Love For All Seasons (New Music)
- – King Of Money/Frank Raya Band (Casablanca Records)
- – Arthur Miles Faces The Blues (Tring-Azzurra Records)
- – Arthur Miles And The Blues Shakers (Independent)**
- – Living The Blues (Delta Video)
- – Trust (Independent)
- – Flow (Independent)
- – BlueBoy (AIPS Assomusica)
- – Love And Joy (Independent)
- - Blue Avenue (Blue Avenue Productions)
- - " Live - Arthur Miles and Giorgio Khawam Band" (Blue Avenue Productions)
- - "Emotions Of Love" (Blue Avenue Productions)
Singles
- – "Ride On The Power" (Flying Records)
- – "We All Need Love" (New Music)
- – "Baby I Need Your Loving/She’s Back" (New Music)
- – "Never Give Up On" (TBA/Flying Records UK)
- – "Sunshine Day" (@rt Records)
- – "Talking That Trash" (Dance Factory/EMI Music)
- – "Be Thankful 8For What You Got)" (UMD Records/Dig It Int’l)
- – "Everybody’s Talking" (Dance Factory/EMI Music)
- – "Let Your Body" (Sunlite Records/Time srl)
- – "Living In Love" (UPD Records)
- – "Oh Woman" (Sony Music / Dance Pool)
- – "Gimme Your?" (Lupomannaro/Disco Magic)
- – "Italy’s Finest" (New Music)
- – "Don’t Listen To Your Heart/Wild" (World New Music)
- – "Tripping On Your Love" (New Music/Carrere Records)
- – "Move And Groove Your Body" (New Music)
- – "Never Stop The Action" (Expanded Music)
- – "Hey Mr. DJ" (New Music)
- – "Trippin’ On Your Love / Helping Hand" (New Music)
- – "Rhythm Machine" (Disco Magic)
- – "Jivetime Girl" (New Music)
- – "I Believe" (Disco Magic)
- – "Forever And Two Days/I’m Not In Love" (New Music)
- – "You’re My Woman" (Flying Records/UMM)
- – "Back Away" (D-Division)
- – "Victims Of Our Love" (New Music)
- – "HelpingHand" (FFRR/London Records)
- – "We Got A Love" (Disco Holidays Records)
- – "You Wanna Get Down" (Sounds Good)
References
- Soul and Jazz Plus -Anno 2 Numero 4 - Estate 1996 - Associazione Culturale Soul & Jazz Society Bologna
- Federic Messent - When the Blues hits the Groove - http://indamixworldwide.com/html/article1463.html