Route say: Roger Miller was born in Fort Worth, Texas on this day in 1936.
Trailer for sale or rent, room to let fifty cents.
Miller was one of those voices from American we first heard singing in the UK charts for reasons best known to someone else and I have said before I thought it was inescapably cool but didn’t know what some of the references were and always wanted someone to translate what things like a “broombazzah” was (sic!) . . . . . . wot?
We've had it before and it was released yesterday really but this is great for Sunday morning listening . . . . . .gosh, I used to love this song and loved the Americana of it, visions of motel rooms and sweeping up in bars and finding out what old stogies were, thus began my dream of America
On this day in music history: January 12, 1965 - “King Of The Road” by Roger Miller is released. Written by Roger Miller, it is the fifteenth single release and biggest hit for the country/pop music singer and songwriter from Fort Worth, TX. Born in 1936 during The Great Depression, Roger Miller grew up dirt poor on his aunt and uncle’s Oklahoma farm. He is sent to live there after his father dies suddenly, and Miller’s mother is unable to support the family. Developing a love of music, Roger grows up listening to The Grand Ole Opry on radio. While in high school, his cousin’s husband singer and actor Sheb Wooley (“The Purple People Eater) encourages Miller, teaching him guitar chords and buys him a fiddle. Unable to afford a guitar, he steals one in order to write songs. He turns himself in the next day, then enlists in the Army to avoid jail. After his military stint, Miller continues to pursue his goal of entering the music business. Moving to Nashville in 1956, he auditions for musician and A&R man Chet Atkins, but does not lead to a contract. After numerous false starts, he finally lands his big break in 1964 signing to Mercury subsidiary Smash Records. Given a $1,600 advance by the label, he cuts sixteen sides including his first two hits "Dang Me” and “Chug-A-Lug”. The inspiration for another song comes while traveling. While he notices a sign on the side of a barn that says “trailers for sale or rent”. Then after buying a hobo statuette in the Boise, ID airport, Miller finishes writing what becomes “King Of The Road” over a period of six weeks. Recorded at Mercury’s studio in Nashville in November of 1964 with producer Jerry Kennedy, it is released as a single in mid-January of 1965. The song’s cool, laid back jazzy swing is an immediate smash on the Country chart, spending five weeks at number one beginning on March 27, 1965. Crossing over and racing up the pop charts at the same time, it peaks at #4 on the Hot 100 on March 20, 1965, becoming a million seller. “King” sweeps the 8th Annual Grammy Awards in 1966 winning five awards including Best Contemporary Rock ‘N Roll Single, Best Contemporary Vocal Performance, Best Country & Western Recording, Best Country Vocal Performance, and Best Country Song. It also inspires the answer record “Queen Of The House” by Jody Miller (no relation) that also wins a Grammy Award. The huge success of “King Of The Road” turns Roger Miller into a country music superstar, and makes him one of the first major pop crossover acts of the genre. Over the years, the song becomes a standard and is covered by numerous artists including Glen Campbell, Dean Martin, Jack Jones, The Supremes, Connie Francis, Johnny Paycheck, Randy Travis, and R.E.M.. Miller’s original recording is inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 1999, and is later heard in the film “Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby” in 2006. “King Of The Road” is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.
Saturday, June 09, 2018
King of the Road
Roger Miller
I loved this song and was madly obsessed with it when it came out [No 1 in the UK charts in 1965 and I would have been 12). I was too young to buy it at the time but it was on the radio a heck of a lot over here and I loved that laconic exotic drawl and the style of it spoke of the exotica of America to these youthful ears. Miller is still an overlooked artist in general and worthy of greater inquiry IMHO. In the 47 years I smoked and especially cigars or cheroots I always called them old stogies . . . . this man is why!
I had no clear idea what a trailer was in the Americana style but knowing that you could get a room for fifty cents filled me with excitement . You couldn't buy a cheap American cigar for fifty cents now. I started my world of employment working in a motel on the outskirts of the village pushing brooms and this song was always playing in my head. I also hitch hiked the length and breadth of the country then and walking the lanes of the countryside with no money in my pocket I felt I too was a 'king of the road' as opposed to a white middle class student between educational establishments!
Thursday, August 10, 2017
Roger Miller - King Of The Road
Also whilst I didn't actually buy this when it came out and may even have been a bit young to do so I do recall vividly this song being on the radio and how it haunted me with it's exotic Americana sound, "Trailer for sale or rent . . . . . ." wow how exciting! Great singer and funny guy, that Roger Miller. This was the sound that enticed me towards the USA
