MEMORABLE MONDAYS: Boz Scaggs

Do you like the Steve Miller Band? Then you probably have heard of William Royce Scaggs. More commonly known as Boz Scaggs, he also assisted with the formation of Toto, and helped out Steely Dan. So what more is there to know about this great musician? 

Scaggs was born in Canton, Ohio. His father Royce was a traveling salesman, and flew in the Army Air Corps during World War II. They moved to McAlster, Oklahoma, and then Plano, Texas. Scaggs first instrument was the cello, that he began at age 9. He went on to receive a scholarship to attend a private school in Dallas. At St. Mark's School of Texas, Scaggs met Steve Miller, who helped him learn guitar at age 12. A classmate desired to give Scaggs a weird nickname, which is how Boz came to be. 

In 1959, Scaggs became the vocalist of The Marksmen, a band Miller had made. After graduating in 1962, the pair attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison together. They played in blues bands like the Ardells and the Fabulous Knight Trains. Scaggs chose to leave school in 1963 to pursue a career in music. 

Scaggs signed up for the Army Reserve and formed a new band, the Wigs. By 1965, the band joined the growing R&B scene in London. With little success, the band disbanded within a few months. He travelled throughout Europe, earning money by busking. He recorded his first solo album, Boz, in 1965. It was recorded under William R. Scaggs. It never was released outside of Europe and Sweden, and went out of print soon after the initial pressings.  

He returned to the US and joined Steve Miller's band. He was on their first two albums, Children of the Future and Sailor. He left the band due to different music tastes and tensions with Miller at the time. He did obtain a solo deal with Atlantic Records in 1968, leading him to release his second album Boz Scaggs. Despite good reviews, it achieved only moderate success. He briefly worked with Mother Earth on their second album Make a Joyful Noise, playing guitar and offering background vocals. 

He went on to sign with Columbia Records and released albums Moments and My Time. They were modest sellers. They helped lay the foundation for his more soulful sound he drove toward. His next album, Columbia brought in former Motown producer Johnny Bristol. Slow Dancer was a modest seller, but got a boost later from Scaggs breakout album coming next. 

In 1976, using session musicians who later formed Toto, he recorded his next album Silk Degrees. It received a grammy nomination for album of the year and got Wissert nominated for Producer of the Year. It reached number two on the US Billboard 200 and got to number one in several other countries. A sellout world tour followed. He was playing at the Lincoln Center in New York during the infamous July 13th New York City Blackout in 1977. He told the audience to save their stubs so he could do a repeat concert. 

His follow up album Down Two Then Left did not perform as well. He continued working with Toto and additionally Ray Parker Jr., who later made the Ghostbusters theme song. His next release, Middle Man spawned 2 top 20 hits. Hea lso obtained another hit for his contribution to the Urban Cowboy soundtrack, and an unreleased Toto demo that was released on a greatest hits release. 

Scaggs began to feel music was more of a career than a passion. He tried to make a new album in 1983, but it did not feel right. He would not get another album released until 1988's Other Roads. He would also open the nightclub Slim's, and remain owner until the closure in 2020. 

From 1989 to 1992, Scaggs joined Donald Fagan, Phoebe Snow, Michael McDonald, and others in the New York Rock and soul Revue. He was also part of a tribute concert for Jeff Porcaro. His next solo album did not come until 1994s Some Change. He also released Come On Home, an album of R&B numbers, and an anthology of his work. In 1998, he opened for Stevie Nicks. 

In 2000, Scaggs began a new venture. He and his second wife had moved to Napa Valley in 1996. They had 2.2 acres and grapes. In 2000, they made their first wine. By 2006 this vineyard was certified organic. His next CD Dig for good reviews, but was released on a very unfortunate date which hurt publicity and sales. September 11th, 2001. In 2003, he released But Beautiful, a collection of jazz standards that debuted number one in the jazz chart. In 2008, Scaggs released Speak Low, which he feels went to the progressions that Gil Evans explored. 

With another release break, he went on tour and two years later joined Donald Fagan and Michael McDonald again for the Dukes of September Rhythm Revue. His next album Memphis came in 2013, it included some of his favorite compositions from other artists. He also released another mostly covers release, A Fool to Care. This reached number one in the blues charts in 2015. Out of the Blues, his 2018 blues release, also found its way to number one. 

In 2016, Scaggs sold his vineyard plots to Newfound Wines. Sadly in 2017, as a result of the Northern California wildfires, his home burned down. They were touring at the time, so he lost everything. The vineyard, cars, and sentimental objects including decades worth of napkins and legal pads with lyrics sprawled on them. 

If you like things a little on the bluesy side, then you may want to give Boz Scaggs some of your time!