Steve Miller Expected to Receive 2025 Les Paul Spirit Award Nashville

Steve Miller, renowned musician and godson of the late guitar pioneer Les Paul, will receive the 2025 Les Paul Spirit Award on June 9 at a private event at the Gibson Garage Nashville, coinciding with what would have been Les Paul's 110th birthday. The award, presented annually by the Les Paul Foundation in partnership with Gibson Gives, honors individuals who embody Les Paul's spirit through innovation, engineering, technology, and music. Miller, celebrated for hits like "The Joker," "Rock’n Me," and "Abracadabra," has a longstanding personal and musical connection to Paul, who encouraged him to pursue guitar from a young age. The Steve Miller Band's legacy continues with recent recognition, including the induction of their album "Fly Like an Eagle" into the National Recording Registry and Eminem’s interpolation of "Abracadabra" in a top Billboard hit. Alongside the award, a charitable grant will be made in Miller's name, reflecting the philanthropic spirit of the Les Paul Foundation. Michael Braunstein, executive director of the Les Paul Foundation, praised Miller's unique relationship with Paul and his embodiment of the late musician's vision and spirit.