From Laurie Joulie, head writer of www.takecountryback.com and Take Country Back Magazine:
I got the best book I've read in a long time in the mail this week -- Ain't Got No Cigarettes is a wonderful collection of interviews and memories about the life and music of Roger Miller. It's amazing - author Lyle E Style interviewed everyone from Merle, Waylon, Kris, Tompall, Dwight and many many many more!! 300+ pages!!! I am so impressed with it. I love the layout as well -- you can read it straight through or one interview at a time...
It's worth every penny and does great justice to the legacy of country's greatest genius!
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From Stacy’s Music Row Report in
Nashville :
http://www.roughstock.com/roughstock/report.html
Here's What's REALLY Happening On Music Row!
Thanks to Great Plains Publications’ Publicist JENNA YOUNG for sending me a review copy of LYLE E. STYLE’s new paperback, Ain’t Got No Cigarettes: Memories of Music Legend ROGER MILLER
Born in
Winnipeg, in 1971, the author admits he never heard of the King of the Road until 1998, six years after Miller’s passing.
But Lyle Style (Yes, that’s his real name.) makes up for lost time with this labor of love; a collection of interviews with people who knew Roger; some, (such as BILL ANDERSON and SHEB WOOLEY) better than others. (No need to name names, except perhaps that of TOBY KEITH, chosen to write the book’s Foreword. As for the others, just follow the “reminiscences” of those whose encounters with Miller were minimal and/or who talked more about themselves than of Roger.)
I knew Roger apparently better than Toby (who says he was “inspired” by Miller) and the others I suggest evidenced in their miniscule “memories,“ Had I been asked, I would have provided yellowing newsprint of interviews and photographic evidence of Roger’s time at the Grand Ole Opry, where, Style learned, Miller spent time, but only enough to underscore that Roger didn’t need the Mother Church to advance his career and was not harmed by his disinterest in membership.
As well as I thought I knew Roger, and GLEN CAMPBELL for that matter, I didn’t realize till I read Lyle’s book that the much of the razor-sharp wit with which I have always associated both was, according to those quoted in Style’s text, largely Roger’s.
Eminently quotable, Roger’s cleanest, familiar, original one-liners are repeated here, though Lyle suggests, in the words of those he interviews, that much of Miller’s humor was scatological.
While Lyle’s publisher doesn’t censor the profanity-laced conversations to which Roger was a party, about the least offensive of the off-color memories from Style’s book that I choose to recount is one from a STATLER BROTHERS’ 1985 Christmas special. During the taping, while another artist was onstage performing Deck the Halls, another of the special’s guests- Roger- was backstage reducing the program’s hosts- the Statlers- to giggles as he sang “Check the balls on that big collie, fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la.”
I wondered, at first, why this book included the following disclaimer: “Opinions expressed by interviewees are not necessarily the opinions of the Publisher or Author and as such assume no liability for the accuracy of stories, dates, names and/or memories shared by the interviewees.” However, I wasn’t long into the book before I found reasons beyond the obvious.
Not only do accounts of the same circumstances in Roger’s life differ, depending upon which of Lyle’s interviewees is telling any given story involving events at which more than two people (including Roger) were present, references to Nashville’s now-defunct Roger Miller’s King of the Road Hotel suggest its ownership (not Miller, whose involvement in what became a shady business venture- a hotel in which he rarely stayed when in Nashville- was probably limited to the money that changed hands when Roger agreed to lend his name and the title of signature song to the hotel) may have been Mob-controlled.
So what kind of a guy was this brilliant, comedic singer/songwriter? According to Style’s interviewees, Roger was caring, spontaneous and fun, but if you lent him money you’d never see it again. If you asked him to sign your guitar, he’d return it with your name on the ax, explaining it was your instrument, not his.
If you are GAIL DAVIES, he would ask you out and recruit you as a backup singer, when you really wanted to focus on your own career, before you’d discover his affection was really for the woman who would become his widow.
Everyone knows about the role drugs played in the demise of Miller’s eponymous network TV series. And, for anyone who might have otherwise missed how Roger’s habits and lifestyle contributed to the throat cancer and related ailments that eventually claimed him, Lyle’s interviewees leave few stones unturned.
Style’s perspective is that of a fan who readily admits he did not know one of his interviewees. (Though Lyle could distinguish between JIMMY DEAN and JIMMY DICKENS, JIMMY C. NEWMAN and JIMMY SNYDER, all of whom granted him interviews, it was up to another interviewee, JIMMIE RODGERS, of Honeycomb fame, to explain that it was not he, but rather ”The Singing Brakeman,” referenced in the title of TOM T. HALL’s Me and Jimmie Rodgers.)
If you’re wondering what this last lesson has to do with Roger Miller, the answer is nothing. In fact, several of the anecdotes in this book have nothing to do with Miller.
And while another editor may have edited out these stories that are irrelevant to what otherwise seems to be the first book ever written about Roger, they seem to make sense. For in what other single source will you be able to read very different recollections straight from the mouths of WAYLON JENNINGS and TOMPALL GLASER about the feud that sadly ended their friendship?
My favorite quote from the book is Roger’s observation to (not about) DON BOWMAN: “If you get to thinking you’re really important, stick your finger in a glass of water and then take it out. If it leaves a hole, then we can’t do without you.”
Note from ACM: For the record: Style did know exactly who Jimmie Rodgers was, he just thought the song written by Tom T. Hall “Me and Jimmie Rodgers” was about Jimmie “Honeycomb” Rodgers since the other Jimmie died in the 1930’s and wouldn’t have know Tom T. Hall.
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From: http://countrymusic.about.com/od/bookreviews/gr/aintgotcigs.htm
Lyle E Style - Ain't Got No Cigarettes: Memories of Music Legend Roger Miller
from Kathy Coleman
Guide Rating - 
The Bottom Line
There are two things that characterize this book over everything else. One is Mr. Style's truly excellent, well, style, as he draws these memories out of some of the most famous and possibly intimidating people in Nashville and across the country; and secondly, Roger Miller was not only a remarkable genius, he had more people crazy about him than probably anyone else in the world.
| Pros |
- Memoirs from Mickey Newbury
- Memoirs from Willie Nelson
- Memoirs from Buck Owens
|
| Cons |
|
Description
- A solid collection of recollections on the life of Roger Miller by those who knew him best.
- Published by Great Plains Publications.
- Filled with wonderful anecdotes, jokes, as well as heartbreakingly honest and open stories.
Guide Review - Lyle E Style - Ain't Got No Cigarettes: Memories of Music Legend Roger Miller
The main thing I come away from in reading this book is that Roger Miller was pretty much universally loved by everyone who came in contact with him. Even those who just met him were charmed by him, or impressed by his intellect, or amused by his wit. The other thing is that it must be a universal truth that genius cannot be boxed in or pushed; invariably, it seems from every story in this book, every time Roger was doing very well it was when he was left on his own to record or film or write the way he wanted to. Any time some producer or executive put the strings on him, he failed spectacularly.
I laughed out loud several times reading this book; I felt a lump in my throat many more times. Here was a guy that absolutely no one disliked, and everyone had such wonderful things to say about him I wished I'd gotten the chance to meet him myself. He was funny, he was articulate, he was brilliant. He wrote songs like "When Two Worlds Collide" and "Husbands and Wives." He voiced a cartoon rooster for Disney so children from my generation and beyond will always know his unique voice. He made us laugh. His music still appears on TV in shows like "The Simpsons" or in commercials (and I think Roger himself would laugh at the use of "Chug-A-Lug" to sell milk). Everyone, and I mean everyone, loved him.
Roger Miller passed away far too young, at the age of 56, in October of 1992, of cancer. He left a gigantic void in country music and in the hearts of a lot of people.
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From www.truckersconnection.com
A True Story About My Friend, Roger Miller, The Prankster
By: Bill Mack
When searching for Christmas gifts, books always come to mind. Although they may not be on everybody’s wish-list, almost everyone I know enjoys reading a good book from time-to-time. I’m not into fiction, although I do have a few favorites in that category. Perhaps because I’m naturally nosey, I love to read biographies and autobiographies. I’m especially drawn to the unauthorized bios, although many of them are unfair works, rushed out for a fast buck or because of dislike for the subject. The worst thing a subject can do is threaten the writer with a lawsuit. Frank Sinatra filed suits against several authors, always dropping the cases just before a date in court had been set. All of the pending suits made the tabloids, grabbing lots of attention, and selling a ton of books.
A couple of books are set for release in the not-too-distant future; both focus, individually, on two of my favorite people, Roger Miller and Faron Young. Sadly, both of these old friends are deceased. The authors present them in forms of factual honesty.
The book on Faron Young, written by Diane Diekman, has not been firmly set for publishing yet. I’ve read the manuscript, and it’s going to be a winner. More on that book later.
A Canadian named Lyle E. Style wrote the book on Roger Miller, titled “Ain’t Got No Cigarettes,” a line mentioned in one of Roger’s best selling hit recordings, “King Of The Road.” This book is available in Canada, and will be released in the United States shortly. It is already available in limited locations in this country. I received an advance copy a few months ago, and enjoyed it immensely. What makes this a true work of art is the author’s approach to the subject. He interviewed dozens of people who were close to Roger, quoting them in the exact manner they were utilizing when speaking with Lyle Style, not editing in order to present the contributors in an oh-so-proper form.
When I read the chapter where he quoted me, I was a bit embarrassed at my words, but realized they had been put to print exactly as I had presented them when I was interviewed about Roger.
Roger Miller was one of the most talented individuals in all of entertainment. He was also, unexpectedly, very hilarious at times.The contributors, made up of actors, songwriters, singers, musicians, music-publishers, etc., presented some favorite stories about the man, many of them I had never heard, although Rog became a close friend back in the 50s. He was raised within 30 miles of my hometown, Shamrock, Texas. His first wife was
from Shamrock.
Roger, who was heavy into the “pill” habit in the early 60s, would spend many nights at my place after his little wife locked him out of his house. It was a common practice, and my wife at the time, Jackie, was constantly in fear that Roger might overdose on the pills while boarding out with us. I informed him of this fact and he promised he would never swallow another pill in my house. He would “pop them before entering,” he said.
One morning my wife knocked on Roger’s bedroom door, asking him how he wanted his eggs cooked. There was no response. After knocking and calling his name several times and receiving no verbal reaction, she decided to walk into the bedroom and awaken him. Nudging him gently, she asked, “How do you want your eggs, Roger?”
Dead silence. She also noticed Roger’s forehead seemed cold, and one eye was partially open, although motionless. She ran into our bedroom where I was still crashed out between the sheets and screamed, “I can’t awaken Roger! My God! I think he’s dead!”
Naturally, this caught my interest and as I fumbled out of bed, Jackie ran back to Roger’s bedroom where she was about to call an ambulance. As she picked up the phone, she heard a growl: “Cook ‘em over easy.”
As mentioned, Roger had a very unique sense of humor.
While working in San Antonio, I booked a huge show into the municipal auditorium. The cast included Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves, George Jones, Ray Price and many others. Also on the bill was my pal, Roger Miller, who was just beginning his recording career with RCA Records. I had just purchased a Martin guitar, a top-of-the-line creation at the time, and was anxious to have all of the “stars” sign it. Backstage, I pulled my treasure from its case and handed it to Roger, who was sipping on a Coke in one of the dressing rooms. Handing him the guitar, I said, “Here, Rog. I want you to be the first to sign my new Martin.”
He took the Marks-A-Lot I had furnished him and began scribbling. Then, he handed the beautiful instrument back to me. It was then that I noticed he had marked, “Bill Mack” on the face of the new guitar. I shouted, “What did you think I asked you to do, Roger? Instead of writing your name, you wrote my name on my Martin!”
He burped, “It’s your guitar, not mine.”
I completely lost all control as Minnie Pearl and Grandpa Jones held me back from Roger, who was roaring with laughter.
For some reason, I allowed Roger to spend the night at my house, even though I was still fuming. Seated at my kitchen table, sipping on his Coke, he asked, “Are you mad at me, Bill?”
Before the night was over, he had me laughing, although I was still a bit ticked over the guitar-signing incident. It was simply something Roger couldn’t resist doing. He loved to laugh, regardless of the cost.
A few days later, I received a big parcel at my home in San Antonio. Opening it, there was a new Martin guitar, exactly like the one I had just purchased. On the face, scribbled in bold letters, was “Roger Miller.”
As he had done so many times before, Roger made my day.
Hear Bill Mack daily from 12:00 noon until 4:00 p.m. (ET) on XM Satellite Radios Open Road Channel (171). Shows are replayed evenings from 8:00 p.m. until Midnight. Weekends, hear The Best of Bill Mack at these times on XM Satellite Radio. Also see and hear Bill weekends on Country Crossroads, syndicated on over 800 radio stations and on FamilyNet Cable TV. Write Bill at P.O. Box 8777, Fort Worth, Texas 76124. Website: www.billmackcountry.com
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FROM Country Music Newswww.countrymusicnews.caBOOK REVIEWS
(by CMN’s Larry Delaney)
++++++++
Ain’t Got No Cigarettes
(Memories Of Music Legend Roger Miller)
by Lyle E Style
(Published by: Great Plains Publications)
(312 Pages - $24.95 (Cdn)
*********
Normally, when an author admits that he was not familiar or even aware of his subject just six years prior to writing a book about the person, you might expect a less than complete reading. Not so with Lyle E Style’s Ain’t Got No Cigarettes (Memories Of Music Legend Roger Miller); which covers the life and music career of the late country Hall of Famer, Roger Miller. This is a thoroughly enjoyable book…one you just can’t put down until you’ve read every page…and even then it leaves you wishing there was another 10 chapters.
Author Lyle E Style, a songwriter, alt-country singer, actor, etc., from Manitoba no less, apparently was introduced to the music of Roger Miller in 1998 (some six years after Miller’s untimely passing October 25, 1992; and about three decades after Miller’s incredible string of hit records). Like most who get exposed to the uniqueness and magic of Roger Miller’s songs, Style became enthralled with the Miller mystique. For the record, Roger Miller is best recognized for his 60’s novelty hits like King Of The Road, Dang Me, England Swings, You Can’t Roller Skate In A Buffalo Herd, Kansas City Star, Chug-A-Lug, etc.)…but in reality Roger Miller was a complete artist who also had a serious side, penning such sensitive country classics as When Two Worlds Collide, When Your House Is Not A Home, Walking In The Sunshine, Husbands & Wives, etc.
While Lyle E Style may not have been personally familiar with Roger Miller while the star was in his prime, which would have allowed a biographical book (incredibly no such book has ever been written about Miller – his life and music career would also make for a great movie); he does the next best thing by interviewing dozens of people who were associated to Roger Miller’s career, as well as his music peers and friends. Style is so thorough in reaching the right people and documenting their memories of Roger Miller, that the book becomes as interesting as any ‘biography’ would have achieved.
Most of the “interviews” are relatively brief and to the point, all containing special insights and background details on Roger Miller that are informative and interesting. Among the many pertinent interviews are reflections by Mel Tillis, Kris Kristofferson, Bobby Bare, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Buddy Killen, Tompall Glaser, Willie Nelson and dozens more, all of whom speak of personal memories of Miller, touching on both the good and the bad…and the previously unrevealed. The common thread throughout all of these reminisces is the incredible sense of humor, wit and zaniness that Roger Miller was blessed or cursed with, depending on the viewpoint of the story-teller.
While Ain’t Got No Cigarettes (the title is derived from lyrics in Miller’s classic song King of The Road) is exceptionally well researched (most of the pertinent people are interviewed) it would have been neat to have some ‘thoughts’ from Dean Miller, the son who inspired Roger Miller’s wonderful song Little Toy Trains; or from Ray Price, who gave Miller his early career training as a sideman in Price’s honky tonk band. Also missing here is a Roger Miller Discography” (or even a listing of his charted hits) which would provide a better appreciation to the reader of Roger Miller’s musical legacy.
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Take Country Back Magazine Article Winter 2005
OFF THE SHELF: Ain’t Got No Cigarettes:
Memories of Music Legend Roger Miller
Author: Lyle E Style
Go ahead – try it.
Say the name of Roger Miller out loud and don’t smile.
Impossible isn’t it?
The name instantly conjures up wonderful memories for those of us fortunate to have experienced country music when he was indeed ‘King of the Road.’
He had a rare magnetic personality that transcended the mediums of print and television. He reached out past the molded wax rings of his records and touched you. He made me you smile, made you think, made you laugh and sometimes shed a tear. He was complex and simple. You found in Roger Miller’s music just what you needed; depending how deep you needed to dig. The word genius simply pales beside his name.
It’s seems odd when you consider that no one has ever taken the time to write about Roger Miller at such length until now. Almost everyone in the business has a Roger Miller story – and now thanks to Canadian musician, songwriter and author, Lyle E Style, many of those stories are written down for posterity. Style discovered the magic of Roger Miller after the legend had passed on, but the impact was profound and reverberates to this day.
Ain’t Got No Cigarettes” (Great Plains Publishing) is an unexpected wealth of country music history coupled with the personal and intimate story of an eclectic genius told through the fond memories of his friends. We’re fortunate that someone’s taken the time to write it down to preserve it.
Style has a knack of being in the right place at the right time and taking full advantage of it. The book has almost one hundred ‘one on one’ interviews with many of the people Roger’s life impacted including memorable conversations with legends such as Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson.
“I believe you have to make things happen for yourself, I just decided this book needed to be written, I never had any doubt that I would get to talk to him or any others for that matter and I think that helped in making it a reality. I'll share the main secret to lining up interviews: I never asked if it would be possible to interview them, I'd respectfully ask when would be a good time to interview them.”
In fact, the first interview Lyle snagged for the book was a gem – Merle Haggard.
“I drove to
Grand Forks, North Dakota to see his concert just knowing I would meet him and at least talk to him about my book idea. I didn't have anything lined up in advance other than seeing it in my mind's eye. I introduced myself to his manager and then landed an introduction.”
“He's never been approached to chat about Roger Miller before (as with most people I interviewed) so he was more than willing to share some stories.”
Style’s direct and confident approach worked more than well, and he recalls only one resistant interviewee.
“I'm a huge Lee Hazlewood fan. I knew Roger lived with him for a while in
California , I really wanted to chat with Lee about it and he pretty much told me off. Sometimes it's best not to meet your heroes or have any contact with them; I haven't listened to too much Lee Hazlewood music since. Overall though, most everyone I chatted with or approached to do an interview was very nice to me and accommodating.”
When I asked Lyle what makes Roger Miller so endearingly 'real' and iconic in the same breath, Style’s answer is quick and poignant.
“Roger Miller was himself all the time. I've been told that by many people. He was the same person on stage as he was offstage, which is unlike many celebrities who put on an act for the audience and media but aren't so nice in real life. I guess that could make Roger "iconic" because that's the same way Jesus was from what I've read: he practiced what he preached, and he was the same to people if he was preaching to mass crowds, hanging out with friends, even on the cross. You got to respect and admire that.”
Those of us who remember wouldn’t argue any of those points, and thanks to this heart-driven project perhaps many more will be converted.
Style believes strongly in the enduring pertinence that Roger’s legacy holds.
“I believe you can learn a lot from the past, be it from someone's successes or by learning from their mistakes. You can learn a lot from Roger's life and about the cost of fame. He was completely unique and a true artist. Too many people out there in my opinion are giving the public, media and record labels exactly what they want, and that's sad because we aren't seeing much that is unique these days. I think artists and people in general should be themselves like Roger was himself, he didn't edit himself in any situation and I think that's awesome.”
Ironically, Style considers the most compelling point of Roger Miller’s legacy to be how someone so talented could, in some circles, be so often overlooked, underappreciated and in some cases, forgotten.
“I think it opened my eyes to how someone with as much talent could almost be forgotten because he didn't fall into the traditional mold of country or pop artists. I feel Roger Miller, although he is no longer with us is still more interesting than anyone out there, and that his back catalog of music (that few people have dug into) is better than what's being released today. It's sad that Roger hasn't gotten the respect and attention he truly deserves; I hope this book helps spark more interest in him. He has so much material not re-released on CD and even some studio albums that weren't released, not to mention tons of television footage including his own series in 1966 on NBC. He was the most spontaneous, witty and creative performer out there and I think that material should be made available to his fans and just to the public in general as historic footage.”
During his four year literary journey Lyle made some personal discoveries about Roger that hadn’t been obvious to him at the onset. Although Roger’s public image was a relatively pristine one but there was another side to him that, although he didn’t try to hide, was relatively unknown outside of his circle of peers and friends.
“I would have never guessed that the clean-cut "King of the Road" was into the drug scene, although listening to some of his lyrics now, it's obvious: "Here I sit high getting ideas...", "The moon is high and so am I...". I guess I thought those were just sayings he used in his songs, I didn't think he was writing from experience. It was a side of him and the country music industry that I never knew existed to that degree.”
“Roger was country music's original outlaw. He was doing things his own way long before the outlaw movement in the 1970's and it seems that he was living the rock and roll lifestyle before anyone too. In fact, he may have invented it.”
“I also had no idea how intelligent, eccentric and complex Roger Miller was.” He continues, “He could rebuild a clock from scratch! And there was another side of him I didn't expect, I couldn't imagine going to see Roger Miller in concert and see him tell the crowd to "F--- off" and walk off stage halfway through a show, but it happened quite a few times in the 1970's when he was frustrated with his career.”
Now that the book is in print, published and available to the buying public Lyle’s concentrating on his music. “My next project is recording a new CD, it's been a long time coming. I have enough original material to do a boxed set but I believe the next release will be "Cutting Room Floor". It's going to feature songs I wrote and co-wrote, mixed in with my versions of unreleased tracks by Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Roger Miller, Waylon Jennings and a killer cover of Tompall's "Put Another Log On The Fire".”
But after spending four years on this project, Roger Miller’s still not out of his system. There is talk of a documentary of "Ain't Got No Cigarettes" and there may even be a follow-up book on Roger Miller. “I'm still collecting Roger stories, one-liners, photos and rarities. I've also been chatting with a few people about some other book concepts on artists that never quite got the attention I feel they deserved.”
TCB note: I’ve read this book through twice and I know I’ll pick it up again before too long. I can’t recommend this one highly enough. It’s a quintessential snapshot into the life of country music most charming genius.
Laurie Joulie
