Boz Scaggs

William Royce “Boz” Scaggs Bio

William Royce “Boz” Scaggs is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist whose work blends blues, blue-eyed soul, jazz, and soft rock. An early bandmate of Steve Miller, he was a member of the Steve Miller Band from 1967 to 1968 before beginning a solo career in 1969. Scaggs reached mainstream success with his 1976 album Silk Degrees, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and yielded the hits “Lido Shuffle” and the Grammy-winning “Lowdown”. He helped assemble the session lineup that led to the formation of Toto, opened the San Francisco nightclub Slim’s, and has continued recording and touring across subsequent decades, with recent albums including Out of the Blues (2018) and Detour (2025).

Early Life and Background

William Royce Scaggs was born on June 8, 1944, in Canton, Ohio, the eldest child to Royce and Helen Scaggs. His father was a traveling salesman who had flown in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Their family moved to McAlester, Oklahoma, then to Plano, Texas, just north of Dallas. He learned his first instrument, the cello, at age 9. At St. Mark’s School of Texas, a private school in Dallas that he attended on scholarship, he met Steve Miller, who helped him learn the guitar at age 12. A classmate wanted to give Scaggs a “weird” nickname, which started out as “Bosley,” then “Boswell” and “Bosworth,” before being shortened to Boz.

Path to Music

In 1959, Scaggs became the vocalist for Steve Miller’s band, the Marksmen. After graduation in 1962, Scaggs and Miller attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison together, playing in blues bands like the Ardells and the Fabulous Knight Trains. Scaggs left school in 1963 to pursue a career in music, signing up for the Army Reserve and forming a new band, the Wigs, with John “Toad” Andrews and Bob Arthur. By 1965, the band joined the burgeoning R&B scene in London but achieved little success and disbanded within months. Scaggs traveled throughout Europe, earning money by busking, and arrived in Stockholm, Sweden, where he recorded his first solo debut album, Boz, in 1965 with the Karusell Grammofon AB label, which failed commercially. He had a brief stint with the band the Other Side with Mac MacLeod and Jack Downing. Returning to the US, Scaggs headed for San Francisco in 1967 after receiving a postcard invitation from Steve Miller to join his band.

William Royce “Boz” Scaggs Career

Early Career (1963-1975)

Scaggs appeared on the Steve Miller Band’s first two albums, Children of the Future and Sailor in 1968. He left the band due to different music tastes and tension between himself and Miller at the time. Scaggs secured a solo contract with Atlantic Records in 1968, releasing his second album, Boz Scaggs, a year later. It was produced by Jann Wenner and features the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and session guitarist Duane Allman. Despite good reviews, this release achieved only moderate sales. Scaggs briefly joined San Francisco Bay Area band Mother Earth in a supporting role on their second album Make a Joyful Noise on guitar and backup vocals. Scaggs signed with Columbia Records releasing the albums Moments in 1971 and My Time in 1972. These first Columbia albums were modest sellers. Seeking a new more soulful direction, Columbia brought in former Motown producer Johnny Bristol for Scaggs’ next album, Slow Dancer (1974). Although the album only made No. 81 on the US Billboard Album Chart, it subsequently attained gold status.

Breakthrough (1976-1981)

In 1976, using session musicians who later formed the band Toto, Scaggs recorded Silk Degrees, with Joe Wissert on producing duties. The album received a Grammy nomination for album of the year and reached No. 2 on the US Billboard 200, spawning four hit singles: “It’s Over,” “Lowdown,” “What Can I Say,” and “Lido Shuffle.” “Lowdown” sold over one million copies in the US and won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song, which was shared by Scaggs and David Paich. A sellout world tour followed. His follow-up album in 1977 Down Two Then Left did not sell as well as Silk Degrees and neither of its singles reached the Top 40. The 1980 album Middle Man spawned two top 20 hits, “Breakdown Dead Ahead” (No. 15, Hot 100) and “Jojo” (No. 17, Hot 100); and Scaggs also enjoyed two more top 20 hits in 1980-81, “Look What You’ve Done to Me” and “Miss Sun,” both reaching No. 14 on the Hot 100.

Notable Works and Milestones

Silk Degrees stands as Scaggs’ signature work, establishing him as a major force in the music industry with its commercial success and critical acclaim. The album not only produced hit singles but also helped launch the careers of several musicians who would form Toto. His ability to blend blues, soul, and jazz elements created a distinctive sound that resonated with audiences and continues to influence artists today.

William Royce “Boz” Scaggs Award Nominations

Throughout his career, Boz Scaggs has received several award nominations recognizing his contributions to music. His 1976 album Silk Degrees earned a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year and another nomination for producer Joe Wissert as Producer of the Year. The album’s success also established Scaggs as a prominent figure in the blue-eyed soul and soft rock genres, with his unique musical style earning him recognition from both critics and industry peers.

William Royce “Boz” Scaggs Awards Won

Boz Scaggs has been recognized with significant awards during his music career. In 1976, he won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song for “Lowdown” shared with David Paich. In 2019, Scaggs was honored with the Texas Medal of Arts, recognizing his outstanding contributions to the arts and his impact on music. These awards reflect his enduring influence in the music industry and his ability to create timeless music that crosses genre boundaries.

William Royce “Boz” Scaggs Family

Scaggs has maintained a close connection to his family throughout his life. His parents were Royce and Helen Scaggs, with his father working as a traveling salesman who served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Scaggs married Donna Carmella Storniola in 1973, and they had two sons, Austin and Oscar. Scaggs and Carmella divorced in 1980, and he later won joint custody of their sons. Austin became a music journalist for Rolling Stone. In 1992, Scaggs married Dominique Gioia, and in 1996, they moved to Napa Valley, where they planted grapes and began making wine.

Personal Life

Boz Scaggs’ personal life has seen both triumphs and tragedies. In addition to his successful music career, he has ventured into winemaking in Napa Valley. Scaggs and his wife Dominique had their house burn down in the Northern California wildfires in October 2017 while they were on tour, resulting in the loss of their vineyard, cars, and personal items including decades worth of lyrics. Despite these challenges, Scaggs has continued to perform and record music, with his latest album Detour scheduled for release in 2025. His personal resilience mirrors his enduring presence in the music industry.