Buddy Miles 1947-2008

In his song “Dreams”, Buddy Miles used to sing, “Just one more morning, I have to wake up with the Blues”. Well, not any more.  Big Buddy has passed.

After banging out a reputation for propulsive beats, backing the Wicked Wilson Pickett, and for blowin’ your mind with the Delphonics, Miles founded Electric Flag with Mike Bloomfield.  Buddy Miles dropped bombs everywhere, including the unforgettable snare of “Machine Gun”, written about American involvement in a far away war we didn’t understand 40 years ago.
 
Buddy was a member of the band of Gypsys with Jimi Hendrix, whom some call America’s first black rock band.

Never just jamming for jams sake, he and Jimi cared if our brothers and sisters listened, if they understood.  Back then, like now, black frustration was great and we were all going through dem changes…

And dem changes got to Buddy and he allegedly committed a couple big ole crimes, convicted of grand theft and auto theft. But being behind bars couldn’t stop the music.   While serving time in the California Institution for Men at Chino and at San Quentin State Prison, Miles formed bands at both prisons.

Miles then hooked up with Carlos Santana the bad boy, before his white-garbed Sri Chimnoy conversion to love, devotion, and surrender. And he played with everybody, David Bowie, Barry White, Stevie Wonder.  And we all heard him as the lead raisin in the California Raisins commercial, singing “I Heard It through the Grapevine”, Marvin Gaye style.

The ad was so popular it gave birth to an album,” The California Raisins sing the Hit Songs”.

Perhaps his most haunting performance was delivered in the lyrics describing a murderous lover who “shot my baby”.  Maybe it started with Them Changes, when she “stepped out” on him, but it ended Down by the River.  Be on my side, I’ll be on your side, Buddy.  Rock in Peace.