Musician, singer Buddy Miles dead at 60

AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Famed drummer, singer and songwriter Buddy Miles has died of congestive heart failure at his home in Austin, Texas. He was 60.

In addition to performing with Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, Muddy Waters, Ruby and the Romantics, the Delfonics, Electric Flag, John McLaughlin and Wilson Pickett, Miles also lent his distinctive voice to one of the California Raisins, the animated clay figures that were part of a wildly popular 1980s advertising campaign, the Los Angeles Times said Thursday.

The Omaha, Neb., native became interested in drums as a child and by 12 was playing in his father's jazz combo.

It wasn't long before he was a sought-after session player and sideman, the report said.