According to a press release, Marcus Miller started the project Legends by approaching Steve Gadd David Sanborn and Joe Sample to record an album. When planning a tour, Miller asked Eric Clapton to support the band on few dates, which resulted in Clapton becoming a part of the Legends himself. The all-star band played on ten dates all over Europe on huge festivals.
There are plans to record an album, but unfortunately it is very hard to get all five members into one studio at the same time.



The lineup of this unique band is (in alphabetical order):


Eric Clapton (guitar, vocals) -
Eric.Claptonborn in Surrey, England on March 30 in 1945 as the illegitimate son of an English woman and a Canadian soldier. He was raised by his grandparents. Through TV he discovered his love to Blues and American R&B and got his first guitar on his 13th birthday. Among others, Robert Johnson, Sonny Boy Williamson, Muddy Waters, Big Bill Broonzy, Jimmy Reed influenced his style. Clapton joined the Yeatbirds (at that time he earned his nickname "Slowhand" due to the forceful string-bending) and John Mayell's Bluesbreakers in 1965 and his cuccess grew. That was also the time when the graffity CLAPTON IS GOD appeared on a London wall. After leaving the band in 1966, Clapton founded his own band Cream and later Blind Faith. After overcoming his heroin addiction in the early 70s and 80s, Clapton recorded several soloalbums. He recieved six Grammys for his "Unplugged" album, on which "Tears In Heaven " can be heard - a song dedicated to his son, who died in a tragical accident. Clapton's latest album is "Pilgrim", the track "Father's Eyes" is nomitated for a Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.


Steve Gadd (drums) -
born on April 9 1945 in Rochester,New York was encouraged by his uncle - a drummer himself - to learn how to play the drums and had a gig with Dizzy Gillespie when 11. He studied music, played in an army band and later with Chick Corea, Chuck Mangione, Joe Romano, Frank Pullara, Steely Dan and Paul Simon. In 1979 he joined the band Stuff and now is one of the most popular drummers. He also recorded solo albums such as 'Gadd About', 'Gadd Gang' and 'Gadd Gang, Here And Now'.

Marcus Miller (bass) -
was born on the 4th of june in 1959 in Brooklyn. His father was a church organist and Marcus first contact with music, but this music seemed too serious to Marcus. But when Marcus was ten and saw Michael Jackson performing, who was just as old as Marcus himself, he realized, that music could be fun and learned to play the clarinet. Yet with 15 he had his firsts professional gigs. Drummer Kenny Washington brought Marcus into jazz and in the following years he was a demanded studio musican in New York. He worked with Lonnie Liston Smith, Lenny White, Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack, Joe Sample, Al Jarreau and The Crusaders. In 1980 he joined Miles Davis for two years, worked and produced with him even years later. His own debut album was called "Suddenly". In 1991 he won a Best R&B Song Grammy for "Power Of Love/Love Power". In 1994 he released "Tales", a CD that featured spoken words of legendary musicans like Miles Davis, Lester Young and Joe Sample.
Check out this groovy photo of Marcus and Eric: ECLEGEND.GIF

Joe Sample (piano) -
born om Feburay 1 1939, in Houston, Texas. From 1954 on, he played with his friend Stix Hooper, Wayne Henderson and Wilton Felder in the combo Crusaders. In 1967 he started a carrer as a Hollywood studio musican. He recorded with Motown greats such as Diana Ross and the Jackson 5 and others, in addition to that he worked and recorded with Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez and other pop singers.

David Sanborn (alto sax) -
David.Sanbornborn on July 30 1945 in Tampa Florida, picked up the sax at the age of 10 to strengthen his lungs after defeating polio. He played with Albert King and Gil Evans as a teenager, studied music. In the 60s he played with David Bowie, the Paul Butterfield Band, the Brecker Brothers and Stevie Wonder. In 1975 he releases his debut album Taking Off. He won two grammys in the for Double Vision and Voyeur, hosted Night Music on TV and a radio show, scored the music to several films (such as "Leathal Weapon", "The Mirror Has Two Faces") and appeared in the hit movie "Scrooged". David hosted also ABC's After New Years Eve in 1998 and 1999. On top of all that, he designed a mouthpiece for saxophones - SaxWorks. His most recent album is the Grammy-winning Inside.



LINKS
Crossroads
Slowhand Blues Guitar
Slowhand's Realm
Marcus Miller
The New Steve Gadd Page
Northsea Festival - The Legends

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