SHORT TAKES : Miller Credits Black Bluesmen

Entertainer Roger Miller says black blues guitarists and fiddlers were an important influence on white country musicians in the 1920s.

“I think we need to give black people more credit for their role in country music,” said Miller, who gained fame with his hit “King of the Road” in the 1960s.

Now a hint of rock ‘n’ roll can be found in today’s country music, he said.

“Country people used to be people who played music on the farms,” Miller said. “Now you’ve got younger listeners. The first rock ‘n’ rollers later went into country music and now you’re hearing a rock influence.”

Miller, who composed the music for the Broadway production “Big River,” is heading back to the New York stage. He’s now working on a musical version of “Shane,” based on the Jack Schaefer novel, which was also the basis for the 1953 movie starring Alan Ladd.