John Miles was a British rock singer, guitarist, and keyboardist, best remembered for his 1976 UK Top 3 hit single "Music." In recognition of his contributions to music, he received the "Outstanding Musical Achievement" award at the 2017 Progressive Music Awards.
Born John Errington on April 23, 1949, in Jarrow, County Durham, Miles grew up in the nearby town of Hebburn. As a student at Jarrow Grammar School, he began his musical journey with a local band called The Influence. The band included notable future musicians, such as Paul Thompson, who later became the drummer for Roxy Music, and Vic Malcolm, who went on to become the lead guitarist for Geordie. In 1969, The Influence released the single "I Want to Live" on Orange Records. Miles later formed his own group, The John Miles Set, before starting a solo career in 1971.
In 1975, Miles signed a recording contract with Decca UK and subsequently released four albums: Rebel (1976), Stranger in the City (1977), Zaragon (1978), and More Miles Per Hour (1979). However, he found his greatest success with singles. His best-known track, "Music" (1976), climbed to No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart and became his signature song. Other charting singles during this productive period included "Highfly" (1975), "Remember Yesterday" (1976), and "Slow Down" (1977). Many of his songs were co-written with bassist Bob Marshall, a member of his touring band.
During his peak years, especially between 1976 and 1977, Miles appeared regularly on the British television music program Supersonic. His debut album received a favorable response in the United States. "Highfly" reached No. 68 on the Billboard Hot 100, followed by "Music," which peaked at No. 88. His biggest American chart success came in June 1977 with "Slow Down," which rose to No. 2 on the Billboard Disco Chart and No. 34 on the Hot 100. The song was later featured in the 1979 film Players, starring Ali MacGraw and Dean Paul Martin.
Beginning in 1985, Miles became a regular performer at the Night of the Proms, a series of concerts blending pop and classical music. These annual events were held across multiple countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, Denmark, and the United States, with additional shows in France, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, and Sweden. At these concerts, Miles frequently performed "Music" and other selections. In 2009, a compilation titled The Best of John Miles at the Night of the Proms was released, featuring his original songs as well as covers like "All by Myself," "Bohemian Rhapsody," and "It Was a Very Good Year."
