Reno Nevada July 2005

People who recall that I paid my college tuition by working as a rock 'n' roll disk jockey often ask, "Do you still like Boz Scaggs?" The answer is a resounding "Yes!" and I am not alone. Scaggs, most often called a blues-rocker, is still singing. And I am still listening.

Now unabashedly gray haired, Scaggs has matured musically but still retains the fresh sound he offered to national audiences in the 1970's when "Lowdown," "Lido Shuffle" and other hits were blasting out of car radios and eight-track tape players. Scaggs embraces the past but lives in the present.

Several years ago, he recorded a collection of jazz standards, "But Beautiful," and is reportedly working on a follow-up CD. In 2004, a "Greatest Hits" CD and DVD were released. All are on Scaggs' own label, Gray Cat Records.

Paradoxically, Scaggs manages to take old material and give it an update while remaining authentic to the original rendition. Careful listeners will find that Scaggs pays great attention to detail and takes a thoughtful, almost academic approach to his music. He doesn't churn out CDs with great frequency but instead takes his time until he gets it the way he wants it.

Scaggs, who is still based in San Francisco and the Napa Valley, tours the West Coast for about three weeks every summer performing at clubs, festivals and winery venues.

A loyal fan base follows him, scheduling summer vacations around wine country get-togethers. Several different groups of fans -- most in their 40's and 50's now -- make it an annual event, using the Internet to communicate and issue invitations to other "Boz fans."

Scaggs is currently wrapping up a tour that began earlier this month.

At a July 9 concert at The Nugget's Rose Ballroom in Reno, Nev., he had the audience on its feet.

"This is my generation's music," said a 50ish fan as he took his seat before the show. Women, who react very favorably to Scaggs (that's putting it mildly), were dancing in their seats.

Scaggs himself is dignified and brings that dignity to the music. There are no props, no gimmicks, just an obvious love for singing.

Scaggs moves from an endearing earnestness when he performs ballads like "Harbor Lights" and "Slow Dancer," standing with his hands clasped, to a fierce concentration when he plays guitar. It's hard not to like the guy. It's clear he loves music and that it is both art and craft to him.

Born in Canton, Ohio, Scaggs was raised in Texas where he met former Milwaukeean Steve Miller. He followed Miller to UW-Madison, where the two played together in "The Ardells" and "The Fabulous Knight Trains" doing Langdon Street frat parties and other Madison-area gigs. Scaggs sang and played bass guitar.

After several semesters, Scaggs left Madison for Texas. He played in bands in Austin for a time and then moved to Europe for what he calls his "Dharma bum" period. Like Jack Kerouac himself, Scaggs drifted, working odd jobs and singing on the streets and in small clubs.

It was Miller who persuaded Scaggs to return to the U.S. in late 1967. Scaggs joined Miller's band in San Francisco but a year later went out on his own.

Despite critical acclaim, Scaggs' solo career was slow to get off the ground, at least nationally. He developed a strong regional fan base, toured a lot and continued to draw praise from the critics, especially for his cover of "Loan Me Dime" and his breakthrough "Slow Dancer" album.

But it was the album "Silk Degrees" that won national attention for Scaggs in the late 1970's. He won a Grammy, enjoyed several years of fame, then retired to run a San Francisco restaurant and later a South-of-Market blues club.

Scaggs -- who always seemed to be one of the more grounded celebrities -- spent the 1980's rearing his sons, occasionally playing in the Bay Area and making one album, "Other Roads."

He re-emerged in the 1990's, turning out several flawless CDs, including a tribute to the rhythm and blues he loved so much as a kid. His fan base, still strong, seemed to grow with each new release. It has remained especially solid in Japan.

"Dig," Scaggs' most recent CD of new material, illustrated his ability to grow and stretch his musical abilities. Sadly, it was released on Sept. 11, 2001, and while garnering good reviews, never got the attention it deserved. But it shored up Scaggs' fan base and brought old admirers back to the fold.

What do fans like?

Eileen Moresi, an Oregonian who rediscovered Scaggs about the time "Dig" was released, likes that Scaggs seems unafraid to move on but has worked at maintaining quality in both performances and recordings. Her friend, New Zealander Fiona Stones, is drawn to Scaggs' charisma.  Stones says she appreciates Scaggs' subtle ability to "tell a story" through music.

Luanne Baldwin, a Chicago admirer, notes that Scaggs "has redefined himself in so many ways over the years."  But, adds Baldwin, "He always remains true to himself."

Indiana fan Marlene Smeltzer has followed Scaggs' career since 1972.  "He still shows the passion and creativity for music that he had all those years ago," says Smeltzer.

Each year, Scaggs assembles a group of musicians, some new to his tour and some veterans. Among them are Eric Crystal, an accomplished San Francisco saxophonist, and David Scott, an ex-Ann Arborite and Interlochen Center for the Arts veteran who plays trumpet. The two are academically trained jazzmen who are serious about music.

On stage, Scaggs lets his band and backup singers take the spotlight, listening intently as they play and sing and making sure they are recognized.

"Boz surrounds himself with good people," says Eric Crystal's mother, Abby. "I've never met more likable people. All they want to do is play. There's very little ego here."

One backup singer, who calls herself Monet, shows an amazing range that runs from guttural blues to ethereal pop. Her duets with Scaggs draw thunderous applause.

Scaggs himself maintains a low profile, appearing at charity events in the San Francisco area and growing grapes on his Napa Valley property. He reportedly plans to market his own wine in the fall. He retains ownership in Slim's, a blues club in San Francisco.

Scaggs rarely performs in the Midwest. His last Wisconsin appearance was Summerfest 1999; he played gigs in Chicago in 2002 and 2003.

He's been called a bluesman, a pop singer, a rocker and a crooner. But what Boz Scaggs does best is honor music. Rare interviews suggest that he is not only a singer and guitarist but a musicologist too ...Mimi.