Former Bill Anderson drummer Snuffy Miller dies

Anderson gave Miller the nickname "because of his nervous habits when we would travel. In those days, we rode to our concert dates in cars, and Snuffy was always afraid we were going to have an accident. 'Look out!"' he would constantly yell at whomever was driving, 'that car's gonna pull out in front of us and we're all gonna be snuffed out'."

"I finally heard 'snuffed out' one too many times. 'Len, if you say that one more time, when we go onstage tonight I'm going to introduce you as 'Snuff Miller,' I threatened. He did' and I did, and from that moment on nobody ever called him Len again."

Anderson described Miller as a "a big fan favorite on our road shows because he was so animated and so naturally funny. The wacky nickname didn't hurt either. But Snuffy also possessed a good singing voice, and just when the audiences would think he was the funniest man they ever saw, he would launch into a serious song and leave them breathless."

Miller played with Anderson for six years. He played on his own and later drummed for Dottie West and Nat Stuckey. He also produced records, including comedy albums for the late Jerry Clower.

Miller left music and became a bus driver for the Nashville Sounds Triple A baseball team.