The elder brother of guitarist Phil Miller, Steve Miller began his musical career in the early sixties, gigging with numerous blues and R'n'B outfits, and sometimes backing visiting American musicians. By the end of the decade, he had become an in-demand session player, guesting on albums by the likes of Alexis Korner, John Dummer, Daddy Longlegs and Free.
Meanwhile, in 1966 Miller formed his own group, Delivery, in which he played keyboards and sang, alongside brother Phil on guitar, Pip Pyle on drums and Jack Monk on bass. In 1971, Delivery broke up. He was then asked by Caravan, a band he had been friendly with for some time, to fill the gap left by David Sinclair's recent departure. The line-up survived long enough to record one album, Waterloo Lily, which featured two of Miller's own compositions. Miller left Caravan in July 1972. Together with Phil Miller, who at the time was concurrently involved in Matching Mole, Pip Pyle, who had left Gong a few months previously and was now available, and Lol Coxhill, they reformed Delivery. This incarnation eventually, part of the line-up evolved to a different project, Hatfield and the North.
Steve Miller's activities subsequently became infrequent. He contributed a solo piano improvisation to the legendary Miniatures (1980) album compiled by Morgan Fisher. (VP159CD).
In the spring of 1998, it was announced that Steve Miller was ill with cancer. A benefit gig was arranged on June 28th of that year. The gig featured reformations of both Delivery and Miller's jazz quartet Needless to say, Miller played superbly that night.
Sadly, the illness couldn't be fought against anymore and on December 9th, 1998, it was announced that Steve had died in the morning.
Steve Miller's "K. Ostra ?it's out there" is one of the last things Steve recorded. It is a fitting album for him to be remembered by. This album will be sort out by fans of the Canterbury Scene and Jazz aficionados alike. May he rest in peace, but his music brings joy to all who listen to it!
