Boz Scaggs R&B singer Date of Birth: 08.06.1944 Country: USA

1. Early Life and The Marksmen
2. The Wigs and London
3. Joining the Steve Miller Band
4. Success with "Silk Degrees"
5. Later Career and Hits

Early Life and The Marksmen

Growing up in Dallas, Texas, Boz Scaggs formed a rhythm and blues band called The Marksmen with guitarist Steve Miller during their high school years. The pair later moved to the University of Wisconsin and started another band, The Ardells, before their eventual return to Texas.

The Wigs and London

In Texas, Scaggs established The Wigs, a rhythm and blues group with whom he sought a more receptive audience in London. However, their hopes were not met, and the band disbanded. Scaggs continued his career in continental Europe as a folk performer, finding success in Sweden and releasing a solo album, "Boz."

Joining the Steve Miller Band

Scaggs' exile ended in 1967 when he received an invitation from his former high school friend Steve Miller to join the Steve Miller Band. As part of this emerging group, Scaggs recorded two albums before embarking on a solo career in 1968.

Success with "Silk Degrees"

Recording under the Fame label, Scaggs released his self-titled debut album with the assistance of guitarist Duane Allman. Over the next five years, he showcased his soul and rock influences with critically acclaimed albums such as "My Time" and "Slow Dancer." However, commercial success only came in 1976 with the release of "Silk Degrees." Collaborating with session musicians who later formed the group Toto, Scaggs achieved several hit singles, including "Lowdown," "What Can I Say?," "Udo Shuffle," and the enduring standard "We're All Alone."

Later Career and Hits

Despite the critical and commercial success of "Silk Degrees," Scaggs' career trajectory remained somewhat unstable. He continued to release hit singles in the 1980s, but the gap between albums, such as "Middle Man," was extensive.