...texas truck by Randy Miles

Listen for songs that tell the truth about human relationships."

-Marc Bristol, Blue Suede News

"Everyman's Poet! What a great CD! Randy writes songs about real emotions for real people. This isn't another Nashville CD. Pure Texas, through and through! Rating: 10"

-JJ@cdstreet

"Raw, edgy and real. Outstanding...strongly written. Randy Miles writes strong songs about real human emotions that range from tender ballads, bittersweet resignation, raw soul baring pain to playful attempts at getting to the truth. This is an honest reflection of those traits."

-Laurie Joulie, Take Back The Country

"Randy's voice is pretty smooth and his songs are well written. Strong tracks. "

-Texas Music Movement

ABOUT THE MAN:

RANDY MILES SINGER/SONGWRITER NO BOUNDRIES

"Music has always been my life. It has been my anchor."

Randy Miles is the oldest of five brothers and sisters. As the son of a career Navy officer, Randy always felt that home was where you hung your hat. Randy was born with a musical gypsy spirit and a deep bond with its power. Music got serious for Randy at the age of nine, when he was given a ukulele and his mother bought an old upright piano. While excelling at the uke, an instrument he still loves and plays, Randy set the piano aside in favor of the guitar. Self-taught, he started writing songs as soon as he could play.

"I had to write my own songs because I couldn't play the ones on the radio."

Randy quickly embraced the budding Folk scene of the early 60's and began performing at local hootenannies and Sunday Schools. At the age of sixteen, while hanging out at Arlington Music in Virginia, Randy was introduced to The Country Gentlemen and soon after was joining them in impromptu jams at the store. It was during this period that Randy began playing banjo with Lamar Greer and formed his first Bluegrass band, The Country Gazette. The British invasion hit America and Randy found himself embracing The Beatles, as well as Bob Dylan, so he was quick to start adding electric pickups and making other modifications to his band's instruments. This shocked many, but others just chalked it up to youthful exuberance.

But being a Navy Brat meant you were always on the move. Randy's family next landed in Southern California where he was naturally drawn to Folk Rock and Country. Soaking in everything from the Byrds, Zappa and the Mothers, to Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, and Lefty Frizzell, Randy realized that good music was good music, was good music, no matter what. He started a modern string band that was the beginning of his blending of musical styles, something that continues to this day.

Then it was two tours in Vietnam with the Air Force, the GI Bill to study Economics in New York City, and a number of different bands playing every thing from Folk to New Wave. In the midst of all this 'hippness', Randy as a 'cool guy' just wasn't meant to happen. After ill-fated adventures with edgy bands, a dissolved marriage, and a lot of debt, Randy decided modern rock wasn't for him. He happily returned to his folk and country roots with a strong emphasis on advancing his song writing.

In the early nineties Randy released two albums of his own songs, "folkabilly" and "Crow Pie", and returned to performing mostly at ski resorts and dude ranches throughout the Rockies. It was then, that the Texas band, Snake Eyes recorded his song, "Missing You" and encouraged him to go to Texas where the audience was more inclined to his style of writing and eclectic pickin' and grinnin'. That was all he needed to hear.

Since the mid-nineties, Randy has called Texas his home and he's not looking back. The past makes Randy what he is today and for Randy Miles the future is bright. Randy's music is filled with bittersweet poetry covering the human condition. The meshing of musical styles (folk, bluegrass, traditional country, rock, blues, and reggae) is easily accessible and connects with every man. It's real and it's personal. Randy's voice is a voice from the soul. Listen to it.

Average Customer Review: 4