George Allen Miles Jr.
aka...
Buddy Miles
-September 5, 1947-February 26, 2008...
a great boss, a great friend
My involvement in the 1960's San Francisco
Rock Music scene and eventual employment and friendship with Buddy laid
the threads and connections that would eventually make me a
participant of the early Silicon Valley rise of the "personal
computer revolution" and to IMSAI. I could write a book about the two years I
spent with Buddy and the adventures we had. I probably
will...
LEFT: Buddy Miles
and Carlos Santana at the Sunshine '71 Crater Festival in Diamond
Head Crater, Honolulu, Hawaii (late December, 1971)
Don't know anything about
Buddy Miles?
Do you remember the
California Raisins commercials that ran on radio and television
back in the late 1980's? If you do, that's Buddy singing
lead vocal on "I Heard It Through The Grapevine". Do
an internet search and you'll find plenty more about this
remarkable and understated performer who contributed so much to
pop music from the 1960's up until the time of his death.
Below are some available video clips on YouTube.com that
illustrate his talents as drummer, singer, and guitar player:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLLCTjIMmCs-
Buddy
performing with Carlos Santana (date and venue unknown, but
probably mid to late 1970's). I was with Buddy at his house
in Novato in late 1971 when he first called Carlos Santana and
proposed the idea of a surprise jam in Hawaii at the Diamond Head
Crater "Sunshine Festival". I was present for all prior
planning and efforts as well as the performance.
After the festival,
Buddy, myself, my cohort Richie, and Denise (Buddy's girlfriend at the time)
flew over to Maui where we happened to run into Barry Hilton
(Barron Hilton III) who subsequently invited us to join him in
sailing his 55-year old twin-masted yacht around the island. Absolutely unforgettable! I
still have a few photos that I took on stage during that jam.
Buddy's girlfriend at the time, Denise, later "borrowed" my 35 mm
slide photos, many taken during our memorable experience with
Barry Hilton for use in artwork for the cover of Buddy's upcoming "Chapter 7" album, but I never saw them again after that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMOFPV4hQ_U&feature=related-
Buddy performing c. 1969 with Jimi Hendrix at the old Carousel
Ballroom, San Francisco. I believe it was in late 1968 or
early 1969 when Buddy played there again, second on the bill to
"Cream", and was determined to outperform Cream's drummer Ginger
Baker. In a wild and exuberant performance, arms flailing
with tightly gripped drumsticks, Buddy ended up knocking, then
kicking over his drum kit, drum stool, and anyone even close, never missing a beat, and finally
ending up on his butt while pounding the remnant of his
bass drum with his fist. The crowd exploded with applause,
shouting, and whistling to affirm then and there the admiration
and acceptance for the explosive talent that this young performer
had so boldly exhibited!
®