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.
Early life.
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.
Career.
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 Blues Shakers. 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 Bertè, 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 on 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.
Miles lives in Orsenigo, near Como.