A federal judge ruled last week that Mary Miller and Roger Miller Music, Inc. own the copyrights to the songs the artist published in 1964. Those songs also include: “Dang Me," “Chug-A-Lug and “You can't Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd." U.S. District Judge William J. Haynes also in said in a written order Thursday that the widow and the company are entitled to about $900,000 for royalties they should have received.
Miller died from cancer in 1992 at the age of 56. “King of the Road" was his biggest hit, topping both the country and pop charts. He also received critical acclaim for acting in and writing the lyrics and music to the Tony-award winning Broadway musical “Big River."
“We're thrilled," John Griffin, an attorney who represented the widow, said of the judge's decision. “It's been a long time coming." Mary Miller and Roger Miller Music sued Sony/ATV Publishing in 2004 claiming that the right of renewal of the original copyrights for songs from 1958-64 went to her. At the time of Miller's death, copyrights expired after 28 years and had to be renewed.
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