These days State Representative Doug Miller pulls out his guitar as a way to relax after a challenging day as a legislator. But Miller got his start in the public eye 35 years ago as leader of his band, the Rhythm Ryders.

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Doug Miller & the Rhythm Ryders

by Phil Houseal
July 1, 2009

While not in quite the same way that W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel rode his fame with the Light Crust Doughboys to the Texas Governor’s office, State Representative Doug Miller may have started along his political path by playing guitar for the Rhythm Ryders.

Back in 1972, the Southwest Texas State student and New Braunfels native formed up a five-piece band, playing country-western music at honky-tonks and parties in the hill country. He even recalls picking out Fraulein one hot afternoon for Night In Old Fredericksburg back when it was held at the Old Fair Grounds (where HEB is now located).

“We’re lovers not fighters - we’re Doug Miller and the Rhythm Ryders.”

That’s the way Miller introduced his band, to differentiate it from another popular band whose crowds more often than not ended up in fights. The Rhythm Rydersplayed songs by Bob Wills, Merle Haggard, Charlie Pride, Johnny Rodriguez, and even some old rock ‘n’ roll “to give kids a chance to hop around.”

It might have been love that gave him the push to start the band.

“I enjoyed playing music, and I was dating a girl at the time whose father was our manager,” Miller recalled. “He encouraged me to get some guys together, and he would be our booking agent.”

The deal worked fine, although Miller discovered it was not the path to riches.

“I tell you what, every night when I got through playing, I would hand him the money (to pay off the PA system and trailer).” It took a lot of gigs, but Miller eventually satisfied the loan, and to this day still uses that Peavey amp with twin 12-inch speakers. He also has his ’64 Fender Mustang and ’67 Gold Top Les Paul.

Alas, unlike Pappy O’Daniel, Miller’s career in music came to an end because of politics. Miller majored in law enforcement, and picked up a job as a police officer in New Braunfels while he was still in the band.

“The chief told me it was not a good idea to be out playing in a honky-tonk encouraging folks to party, then an hour later be arresting them for public intoxication,” Miller said. So he set aside his Les Paul, and spent more than 30 years in the insurance business. But that taste of being in the spotlight might have influenced his future. Doug Miller served on the New Braunfels city council and as mayor, and is in his first term as State Representative from District 73, which includes Gillespie County.

“Being in a band was that first step out of high school. Being able to be with crowds of people, to entertain them, to enjoy them... that might have been part of the motivation for being in public service, and part of public life.”

Miller still enjoys playing, and even pulls out his acoustic guitar at his capital office to escape the stress of legislating. He also uses some of the lessons he learned on stage to help him in the political arena.

“Being up in front of the public, you need to be professional,” he said. “Sometimes you may not be feeling your best or in the greatest of moods, but that doesn’t make any difference. When you go speak to a group of people, you better be up.”

“I once asked a professional musician, don’t you ever get tired of having people ask for your autograph?” Miller recalled. “He said, how can I ever complain about something I asked God to give me? Like him, I feel very blessed. God has given me a lot of talent and a lot of friends. I just enjoy being with people.”