Roger Miller

In Erick, Oklahoma there is a road named Roger Miller Boulevard, testimony to the high regard held for the town's most famous son. Miller was born in 1936 and after growing up in Oklahoma joined the US Army prior to starting his career as a singer-songwriter. During the 1950s he wrote hits such as 'Billy Bayou' and 'Home' for the legendary Jim Reeves and began a successful songwriting career which finally came to an end in 1982 when he wrote his final top 20 hit 'Old Friends', recorded with Willie Nelson. A winner of eleven Grammy Awards, Miller continued to tour and record almost until his death ten years after the success of 'Old Friends'. He is usually classified as a country singer but closer examination of his songs reveals them to be written in a style almost entirely of Miller's creation. Many of his songs were whimsical or humorous but due to his vocal style and reliance on acoustic guitar means he was often seen as a country artist. Although he wrote hit songs for many artists he is perhaps best known for two early 1960s hits released under his own name, 'King of the Road' and 'England Swings'. A lifelong smoker, Miller died in 1992 from lung and throat cancer at just 56-years-old.

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