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Roger Miller

Roger Dean Miller Sr. (January 2, 1936 – October 25, 1992) was an American singer-songwriter, widely known for his honky-tonk-influenced novelty songs and his chart-topping country and pop hits "King of the Road", "Dang Me", and "England Swings", all from the mid-1960s Nashville sound era.

After growing up in Oklahoma and serving in the United States Army, Miller began his musical career as a songwriter in the late 1950s, writing such hits as "Billy Bayou" and "Home" for Jim Reeves and "Invitation to the Blues" for Ray Price. He later began a recording career and reached the peak of his fame in the mid-1960s, continuing to record and tour into the 1990s, charting his final top 20 country hit "Old Friends" with Price and Willie Nelson in 1982. He also wrote and performed several of the songs for the 1973 Disney animated film Robin Hood. Later in his life, he wrote the music and lyrics for the 1985 Tony Award−winning Broadway musical Big River, in which he acted.

Miller died from lung cancer in 1992 and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame three years later. His songs continued to be recorded by other singers, with covers of "Tall, Tall Trees" by Alan Jackson and "Husbands and Wives" by Brooks & Dunn; both reached the number one spot on country charts in the 1990s. The Roger Miller Museum — now closed — in his home town of Erick, Oklahoma, was a tribute to Miller.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 2, 1936 (Fort Worth), Died October 25, 1992 (Los Angeles)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1945 - 1959

Roles Represented in DAHR: trombone, vocalist, guitar

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 73123 10-in. 11/6/1945 Between the desert and me Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 73124 10-in. 11/6/1945 I want to go to Texas when I die Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 73341 2/4/1946 In a shanty in old shanty town Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 73342 2/4/1946 Blue skies Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 73379 2/18/1946 When I grow too old to dream Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 73380 2/18/1946 It's a sin to tell a lie Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca NA 10443 10/29/1958 Mine is a lonely life-1 Justin Tubb vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10444 10/29/1958 Almost lonely Justin Tubb instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10445 10/29/1958 Giveaway girl Justin Tubb instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10446 10/29/1958 Heart's command Justin Tubb instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10524 12/13/1958 A man like me Roger Miller vocalist  
Decca NA 10525 12/13/1958 The wrong kind of girl Roger Miller vocalist  
Decca NA 10693 4/16/1959 Buster's gang Justin Tubb vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10694 4/16/1959 I wish I could love that much Justin Tubb vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10695 4/16/1959 I know you do Justin Tubb vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10787 6/30/1959 Sweet Ramona Roger Miller vocalist  
Decca NA 10788 6/30/1959 Jason Fleming Roger Miller vocalist  
Decca N 3783 10-in. 11/20/1945 In the middle of May Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca N 3784 10-in. 11/20/1945 If I had a dozen hearts Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca N 3785 10-in. 11/20/1945 The desert and me Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca N 3786 10-in. 11/20/1945 I want to go to Texas when I die Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca N 3787 10-in. 11/20/1945 Live it up Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Miller, Roger," accessed April 16, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/206831.

Miller, Roger. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 16, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/206831.

"Miller, Roger." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 16 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/206831

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