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Steve Miller Band with Joe Cocker play the Amphitheatre
Article published on Monday, May 12, 2008 |
TAMPA - One of the hottest concerts of the summer, the Steve Miller Band with special guest Joe Cocker is coming to the Ford Amphitheatre on Sunday, May 25, 7:30 p.m.
Reserve seat tickets are $75, $45 and $27.50; $20 for festival lawn. Tickets are available at the Ford Amphitheatre Box Office at the State Fairgrounds, all Ticketmaster Outlets, including FYE and Spec's Music; or charge by phone at 727-898-2100 or 813-287-8844.
Steve Miller's career has encompassed two distinct stages: one of the top San Francisco blues-rockers during the late '60s and early '70s, and one of the top-selling pop-rock acts of the mid- to late '70s and early '80s with hits like "Fly Like an Eagle," "Abracadabra," "Rock 'N Me," "Jungle Love," "Swingtown," "The Joker," "Take the Money and Run," and "Jet Airliner."
As an album The Joker was an instant success, going platinum and the title track hitting No. 1 on the pop charts. Miller then purchased a farm and built his own recording studio, at which he crafted the wildly successful albums Fly Like an Eagle and Book of Dreams at approximately the same time. Fly Like an Eagle eclipsed its predecessor in terms of quality and sales with more than four million copies sold. It also gave Miller his second No. 1 hit with "Rock'n Me," plus several other singles.
Book of Dreams was almost as successful, selling more than three million copies and producing several hits as well. All of the hits from Miller's first three pop-oriented albums were collected on Greatest Hits 1974-1978, which to date has sold more than thirteen million copies and remains popular to this day.
Joe Cocker is one of the truly great rock voices of all time. America loved him from his first television appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. The Press seized upon him. Life Magazine called Cocker "The voice of all those blind criers and crazy beggars and maimed men who summon up a strength we'll never know to bawl out their souls in the streets." However, Cocker wasn't singing in the streets. He was singing at all the major rock festivals of that summer, culminating in the filmed triumph of Woodstock before half a million people (a phenomenal rip-roaring testimony to Joe Cocker in his absolute prime). Of the ensuing "Mad Dogs and Englishmen” along with Leon Russell and a menagerie of musicians, managers, roadies, wives, girlfriends, hangers on, children, a spotted dog plus a film crew, Joe played forty-eight cities in fifty-six days, to rapturous receptions everywhere.
In 1970, Joe sold $3 million worth of records in America alone. His first three albums went platinum and Playboy voted him No. 1 vocalist in their annual jazz and rock poll. His duet with Jennifer Warnes on "Up Where We Belong," the theme from An Officer And A Gentleman, brought an appearance at the Oscars ceremony and a hit worldwide, including his first American No. 1.
Joe Cocker is a survivor, a star and a rock legend. He has had hit records in the 1960's, 70s, 80, and 90s. Success has brought with it a grueling schedule of recording and touring but he has no plans to take it easy.
"As long as being on stage is fun, as long as I enjoy that part and still get a buzz out of performing, then I'll keep going out there," Cocker said.
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Article published on Monday, May 12, 2008
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