News

Buddy Miles Dies At 60

Band of Gypsys co-founder/drummer Buddy Miles died in Austin, TX, yesterday. He was 60. According to the The New York Times, Miles suffered from congestive heart failure, but an official cause of death has not been confirmed.

Miles first played with Wilson Pickett, the Delfonics and the Ink Spots, but is best known for his work with Jimi Hendrix beginning with his classic Electric Ladyland LP. The Band of Gypsys' only self-titled album—a disc chronicling a New Year's Eve concert from New York's Fillmore East—is considered one of the greatest live efforts of the late '60s and early '70s. Over the years, Miles has also played with David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana, Barry White, George Clinton, and the band that famously covered Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" for a California Raisins ad campaign. (Miles actually sang on that one.)

The last piece of Miles-related material was 2004's The Band of Gypsys Return, a live album revisiting the group's back catalogue.

—The ARTISTdirect Staff
02.28.08