The Greatest American Rock Band Bracket!
First Round, Funk/R&B/Blues Division

Sly and the Family Stone (1) vs. Steve Miller Band (16)

Funky peace and love-spreaders versus the Blues-rock hit parade
Sly and the Family Stone:
"Sly & the Family Stone harnessed all of the disparate musical and social trends of the late '60s, creating a wild, brilliant fusion of soul, rock, R&B, psychedelia, and funk that broke boundaries down without a second thought. The Family Stone was comprised of men and women, and Blacks and whites, making the band the first fully integrated group in rock's history. That integration shone through the music, as well as the group's message. Before Stone, very few soul and R&B groups delved into political and social commentary; after him, it became a tradition. The Family Stone's arrangements were ingenious, filled with unexpected group vocals, syncopated rhythms, punchy horns, and pop melodies."
​​--Allmusic.com

Popularity
  • Over 8 million records sold worldwide
  • Two Gold,  two Platinum albums
  • Four #1 singles
  • Five top-ten singles
  • 17 top-100 singles

Influence:
  • Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 1993
  • Ranked #41 on Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Artists"
  • Three albums on Rolling Stone's "Top 500 Albums"
Steve Miller Band:
"The Steve Miller Band encompassed two distinct stages: one of the top San Francisco blues-rockers during the late '60s, and one of the top-selling pop/rock acts of the mid- to late '70s. Ther first recordings established their early style as blues-rockers influenced but not overpowered by psychedelia. Then, in 1973, the band's reinvention as blues-influenced pop/rockers who wrote compact, melodic, catchy songs, led to platinum success."
--AllMusic.com

Popularity
  • Over 60 million records sold worldwide
  • One Gold, four Platinum albums
  • Three #1 singles
  • Five top-ten singles
  • 14 top-100 singles

Influence:
  • Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 2016

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