Photo by Will Smith
RANDY MILLER (1956-2013)
I met Randy Miller at the Las Cruces Inn in late 1975 or early 1976. He was drumming and Mark Coker and Ronny Hayes were playing guitars. I was new to town and was gratified to see that three-piece bands could get jobs in this college town. There were some other musicians who showed up from time to time and before I knew it I was one of the rotating band members. Soon we gravitated to a solid three-piece group with Randy Miller on drums and Mark Coker and me on bass and guitar. We all sang.
In the mid-20th century there was no MADD so more people used to drink a lot, almost every night. There was no internet so most people went out at night, especially on weekends. This meant that a small bar could have a small band and draw enough drunks week in and week out to pay the band, bartenders and waitresses. It was a good time to be a mediocre guitar player. Even we could get gigs.
Most bar musicians of the time traveled a bit. Some times a lot. They'd usually spend 2 or 3 weeks at a bar and then go to another town 100 or 200 miles away. Or more. Motels and diners. I had done a little traveling but in 1975 I was going to college and wanted to settle down and the Las Cruces Inn was the perfect place for that. Randy, Mark and I played there for about 4 years straight. It was called a "sit-down job". We were actually on the LCI payroll, with taxes taken out. Rarely do musicians get such a sweet situation.
As the 80s approached Randy was coming up with new songs almost every night. He'd quickly show us the chords and we'd try it. I wondered where he was finding these catchy songs about fools and dancing, perfect for playing in a bar. Well, recently my wife and I listened to Aces High, the first Amazing Rhythm Aces album and we both loved every song. That never happens with my wife and me. So I found many more ARA songs on YouTube and now I know where Randy came up with some of his songs. He had recognized that the Aces were EXACTLY the kind of band we wanted to be -- if we had more instruments and people to play them. The Aces played everything authentically, using appropriate instruments and melodies for country, blues, hillbilly, rock, island music, whatever.
I've put up