Biscuit Miller

Born and raised on the south side of Chicago by his Grandmother; he was given his childhood nickname, Biscuit, after always being in the kitchen and underfoot while she was trying to cook. Growing up at Grandma’s house also gave Biscuit his love and appreciation for music, as gospel and soul were played in the home on a regular basis.

     While visiting his friend Datrick’s house one afternoon, Biscuit spotted a four-string electric bass sitting in a corner collecting dust and decided to check it out. The bass belonged to Datrick’s older brother, Darnell, who taught him a couple of songs. Biscuit took to it like a fish in water, “It was easy to play and I fell in love with it immediately”. So at the tender age of eleven years old, Biscuit Miller was born into the “Blues”. It didn’t take long until he formed his first band, Clever, with Ivan Wallace, his childhood friend. They moved to Minneapolis in 1982 where Sonny Rogers taught him a lot about playing basic blues. During his time with Rogers, they recorded “They Call Me the Cat Daddy”, which won Rogers a Handy Award for Best New Artist. Unfortunately, Sonny passed away before he was able to accept the award. Biscuit then went on to play with other respected blues artists such as, Mojo Buford (formerly with Muddy Waters) and Lady Blue (backup vocalist for Ike and Tina Turner).

 

     One day, Biscuit received a phone call requesting him to come back home to sub for Chicago’s own legendary Lonnie Brooks who needed a bass player for one night. That one night lasted for over ten years as Biscuit became the permanent bass player for the Lonnie Brooks Band. “The years I spent with Lonnie were invaluable to me as a musician. I learned so much about the music business and being on the road – we played some incredible gigs such as President Clinton’s inauguration and I met and performed with many of my own idols while traveling with Lonnie and the band. During the winter months, we didn’t tour as much, so I spent time sitting in with various musicians, and in 2000 I formed Biscuit and the Mix to fill up some of the downtimes”. During this time, he recorded a CD “Come Together”. One of the bands Biscuit frequently sat in with was the up-and-coming Anthony Gomes Band. During one of those sessions, he was asked to join the band full time and he decided to take Anthony up on his offer. During the five years with the Anthony Gomes Band, they released five CDs, Unity, Sweet Stringin' Soul, Long Way Home, Music is the Medicine, and the latest, Live at the Triple Door.

 

     A heavy touring schedule of over 250 gigs a year in the US and abroad has led to a dedicated fan base. In 2012 Biscuit’s fun and funky style of bass playing earned him the Blues Music Award for Bassist of the Year. He also took 2nd place in the bassist category in the Blues Matters International Writers Poll. Biscuit Miller and The Mix are once again on the road with his latest CD “BLUES WITH A SMILE” and ready to bring a smorgasbord of fun to your party. What’s better than a bowlful of Soulful, Funky Blues stew? A pipin’ hot Biscuit, of course!

 

Steve Arvey

​

Steve was born in Chicago Illinois and mostly raised in The Chicago area. Arvey re-located to Havana Cuba in 1958 where he lived with his family until 1961. His father Erwin B Arvey had a business in Cuba and had to leave after political pressure from the Castro Regime. Returning to Chicago Arvey grew up in Chicago and was surrounded by music due to his mother Celeste Ravel who was a former jazz singer in the Wayne King Orchestra. Steve's first exposure to music was from blues music that was played on Maxwell Street in Chicago. In 1978 Arvey moved to Florida where he met Delta Blues Guitar Player Ben Andrews and then started playing bass with Bo Diddley. Steve also worked around the Gainesville area of Florida with Saxophonist Robert Hunter. During summer months he would return to Chicago where he worked as a sideman playing bass behind such notable musicians such as Jr Wells, Jimmy Rogers, Hubert Sumlin, Big Smokey Smothers, Homesick James, Sammy Fender, Detroit Jr, Lucky Lopez and many others. In 1981 he formed his own band named West Side Heat and toured around the midwest. in 1984 he recorded his first record "Crazy Mixed Up World"

After the release of this Album Steve toured with the band both internationally and nationally until the band broke up in 1990. Steve then became active in a number of solo projects. From being in the Chicago group The Celtic Rovers, forming a rock cover band named Monkey Chow, and recording and playing with Kraig Kenning. In 1997 he recorded a CD with Kenning entitled Pass The Hat. During this time period Steve has appeared at The Chicago Blues Fest, either with his band or other members, ten times. The band West Side Heat reformed in 1997, and started doing reunion gigs. In the year 2001 Steve recorded his album Fine Line which got him major airplay in the U.K. and Australia. Steve did his first tour in Australia in 2002.

 Steve's Popularity in Australia got him a slot on the 2005 Byron Bay Blues and Roots Festival and was signed to Warner International and appeared on The compilation CD from that festival which included tracks from Dave Matthews, REM, Jack Johnson and other notable artists. In 2012 Steve formed a group named The Delta Swamp Rats which featured the Cigar Box Guitar. This groups Raw sound which was labeled "Mississippi Delta Funk" raised Steve Arvey's popularity in the Cigar Box Guitar/Americana World.

Recently, Steve has been touring in Europe performing classic blues roots songs from his history with many legendary Chicago blues artists. He is also an ambassador for the American Cigar Box Guitar Association, demonstrating Cigar Box Guitars and their link to American blues music.