George Allen Miles, Jr. , known professionally as Buddy Miles, was an American rock drummer, vocalist, composer, and producer. He was a founding member of The Electric Flag , a member of Jimi Hendrixs Band of Gypsys , founder and leader of the Buddy Miles Express and later, the Buddy Miles Band. In addition to Jimi Hendrix, Miles played and recorded with Carlos Santana, Mike Bloomfield, and others. In a lighter vein, he sang lead vocals on the popular California Raisins claymation TV commercials and recorded two California Raisins RampB albums.
Miles was born in Omaha, Nebraska on September 5, 1947. Buddys father played upright bass for the likes of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Charlie Parker, and Dexter Gordon and by age 12, Miles Jr had joined Miles sr in his touring band, The Bebops. Given the nickname Buddy by his aunt after the drummer Buddy Rich, he was often seen as a teenager, hanging out and recording at Universal Promotions Corporation recording studios, which later became Rainbow Recording Studios.
Source: Wikipedia