View source for Roger Miller

It was a harsh beginning for '''Roger Dean Miller''', born in
Fort Worth, Texas, during the depression. Fatherless and
separated from his mother and two older brothers at the age
of one, it would be a difficult childhood.

Living with relatives in Oklahoma, Roger’s escape from a lonely
and unhappy childhood came from listening to the Grand Ole Opry
on the radio, learning to play a guitar and cultivating a talent for
songwriting. Joining the army at 17 years of age, after serving in
Korea he was discharged and headed straight to Nashville in
search of a career in music.

Taking a job as a hotel bellhop, the multi talented Roger Miller
began to open doors that would lead to his becoming a renowned
songwriter and a chart topping singer with scores of gold
records, a Tony and numerous Grammy awards to his credit.

As a songwriter, Roger wrote hits for dozens of recording artists
including, Ernest Tubb, Faron Young, Jim Reeves, Ray Price
and Andy Williams.

Signing a recording contract with RCA Victor in 1960, Roger had
limited success with three singles. His luck would change when
Nashville’s Mercury Records head, Shelby Singleton, would have
Roger sign with the company’s new Smash label.

Written by Roger, “Dang Me” was a country and pop chart
topper in 1964. Two more of his creations, “Chug-A-Lug” and
“Do-Wacka-Do” repeated his success in the same year.
In 1965 Roger Miller hit with his multi-million seller,
“King of the Road” and followed with “Engine, Engine #9” ,
“One Dyin’ And A Buryin”, “Kansas City Star” and “England Swings”.

Among other Roger Miller hits, “Husbands and Wives”, “Walkin” In 
The Sunshine”, “Little Green Apples” and “Me and Bobby McGee”.

In addition to eleven Grammy Awards, Roger also won
Broadway’s prestigious Tony Award for writing the score
of the musical “Big River”.

In 1973 he was voted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
The Academy of Country Music, presented him with the Pioneer
Award in 1988. Roger Miller was inducted into the Country Music
Hall of Fame in 1995.

A lifetime cigarette smoker, Roger died of lung and throat
cancer on October 25, 1992. He was 56 years of age.