Nancy Miller’s musical roots go deep. The seventh of ten children, she grew up on a farm in Hollywood, West Virginia, where her father, Fred Bostic, often sang as he worked the land. Her eldest sister, Connie, remembers that Nancy “had the music in her even as a baby.” She would sing and dance every time she heard a tune.
For many years, Nancy shared her love of music with those closest to her—her family, Head Start and preschool students, and church communities. At the encouragement of family and friends, she decided to record a CD, never imagining her songs would reach beyond her local circle.
A chance encounter during a road trip would soon change that. Nancy and her husband, Duane, a carpenter, traveled west each year to do mission work on an Apache reservation. One favorite stop along the way was The Big Texan restaurant in Amarillo, Texas. Shortly after finishing breakfast, a stranger handed Duane a coupon for a free meal. Since they had already eaten, they decided to pass the kindness along to someone else.
Their first two offers were turned down, but on the third try, a man named Ron Gentry and his wife accepted and struck up a conversation. As it turned out, Ron was a music producer. Nancy offered him one of her CDs, which he gladly purchased before they went their separate ways. Weeks later, Nancy received a call from Ron, who said he was “blown away” by her music. His industry connections led to her songs being played on several radio stations, invitations to perform began coming in, and Nancy was featured on gospel and country promoter Don Frost’s television show in Atlanta, and in his Christmas show at the Hendersonville Country Club near Nashville. She also had the opportunity to perform with Jim Vest, well known steel guitar player at the Bell Cove Supper Club in Nashville.
Today, Nancy is a celebrated country, gospel, and blues singer-songwriter. Her love for country comes from being “a country girl,” gospel “reaches to the depths of my soul,” and blues has always captivated her with its “distinct melancholic and somber tones.” She has recorded five albums: Wings as Eagles, Daddy’s Song, Jesus, I Hear You, Fields of My Mind, and her most recent, Hot Rod Woody, recorded in 2019 at Charlabois Studios in Nashville. The title track tells the story of her brother Steve restoring their father’s old car for a “joy ride,” reflecting Nancy’s knack for weaving family and memory into song.
Her husband, Duane, has also joined her as a songwriter on several albums. One of Nancy’s most cherished pieces, “Daddy’s Song,” from her second album, is dedicated to her father, who “…instilled the love of music within my heart with his joyous singing and with his harmonica and fiddle playing. His life was a melody of love to my mom and to each of his 10 children!”
During her Nashville recording sessions for Jesus, I Hear You with producer Don Frost at SMS Studios, Nancy and Duane visited the Ernest Tubb Record Shop. Nancy recalls, “A kindly gentleman approached us and introduced himself as Johnny Moore—the singer who wrote and recorded the song ‘Fifteen Acres of Peanut Land’ in 1962. As our conversation evolved he invited me to sing at the John A. R.O.P.E. event that night. It was a memorable experience, and Duane and I met some wonderful singers while there. We became good friends with the Moores: Johnny, his wife Susie, and son, Johnny G.” They remain in contact with Johnny G. today, following the passing of Johnny.
Nancy also befriended Nashville songwriter Elwood Parker, whose songs appear on her albums. “Since all of these encounters with these wonderful singers and songwriters in Nashville, I’ve had the opportunity to perform at several venues there as well, for which I am very thankful!” she says.
Although she has faced recent health challenges, Nancy remains optimistic about the future. She continues to share her music at local events and has been invited to perform in Tombstone, Arizona, during the winter months. She also hopes to spend this winter writing new songs.
Even with all her career highlights and the many stages she has graced, Nancy says her proudest moment came singing with her granddaughter, Destiny, who has also written several songs and began her journey in music at EG3 Recording Studios in Beckley.
“When I sing with Destiny, it’s something truly special,” Nancy says. “Even with all the places I’ve sung and career highlights, my best by far is the opportunity to sing with my granddaughter.”
When asked what advice she would give to aspiring musicians, Nancy says, “If you have a bent for the arts, particularly music, your heart will go on singing no matter what. My heart is content singing to an audience of thousands or to a babe in arms—makes no difference. My spirit will sing for time and eternity.”
For more information about Nancy’s music, email nmiller7@frontier.com or call 304-646-4293.
