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Dang Me. I got to have the King of the Road, Roger Miller’s son Dean on the show! Do-Wacka-do is that exciting to me. In 2002 Eve and I saw the Deaf West Production of Big River in LA. The production and the music (though I already knew it from the album) changed my live theater experience for life. I was a fair weather fan of Roger’s until that night. Since then, River in the Rain is probably one of my favorite songs of all time.
Dean responded to a social media message about being a guest, which I’m finding is rare (Dang it). He was game right off the bat and we caught him in the car on the way to his office. Our second in car interview. See Matt Axton episode #38
He has lived a fascinating life, from learning to make his own music and path in the music business. to being a renowned dog trainer. Yeah, dog training was news to me and a fun topic to chat about. I was, “wait, wait a minute you’re a dog trainer? I thought you were a singer, songwriter and producer?” Oo-De-Lally it seemed like he was pranking me at first. He wasn’t.
He talks about how his dad wouldn’t just make a call to the record labels for him, so he had to hustle and prove his talent in order to earn his record deals. Dean is also candid about how if there was a bad deal or move in the record business not to make, or just bad timing and luck, he lived it.
I googled him after our show and Dean is a very talented singer songwriter, yet still honors his father’s legacy and memory by doing some heartfelt covers of his dad’s songs. I also suggest you google Dean Miller songs…
Spending time with Dean is like Walkin in the Sunshine and by the end of the conversation, you feel like Old Friends.
Ok, Dean, I’m sorry about all the corny uses of your dad’s songs in the show notes, but man, they just lend themselves to the great and fun time I had chatting with you! Dean, I can tell ya in This Big Town you’re a Super Star!
