An arrangement of the evergreen top hit song from 1964 ''King of the Road'', set for classical Brass Quintet.

"King of the Road" is a song written by country singer Roger Miller, who first recorded it in November 1964. The lyrics tell of the day-to-day life of a hobo who, despite being poor (a "man of means by no means"), revels in his freedom, describing himself humorously and cynically as the "king of the road". It was Miller's fifth single for Smash Records.


The popular crossover record hit No. 1 on the US Country chart, No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, and No. 1 on the Easy Listening surveys. It was also No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart, and in Norway. Miller recalled that the song was inspired when he was driving and saw a sign on the side of a barn that read, "Trailers for sale or rent".[6] This would become the opening line of the song.

The song has been covered by many other artists, including George Jones, Dean Martin, Val Doonican, Jack Jones, James Booker, The Fabulous Echoes, Boney M., R.E.M., Johnny Paycheck, Glen Campbell, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Boxcar Willie, Randy Travis, Rangers, James Kilbane, John Stevens, the Statler Brothers, Rufus Wainwright and Teddy Thompson, Giant Sand, Peligro, The Proclaimers, Ray Conniff Singers, The Reverend Horton Heat, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Jim White. James "The King" Brown (an Elvis impersonator) performed the song for a 2001 Audi commercial on German TV.[7] Of R.E.M.'s version, a shambolic, drunken, offhand rendering, guitarist Peter Buck would later comment, "If there was any justice in the world, Roger Miller should be able to sue for what we did to this song."

"King of the Road" was performed live by Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Marty Stuart, Dwight Yoakam and Dolly Parton during Miller's posthumous induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame at the 1995 CMA Awards ceremony.

The song is featured in Wim Wenders' 1976 film Im Lauf der Zeit (In the Course of Time; English title Kings of the Road). It is also played at the beginning of Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Brokeback Mountain, Into the Wild (2007), Traveller (1997), and Swingers (1996). Miller performs it in the concert film The Big T.N.T. Show. The recording by The Proclaimers is included in the film The Crossing (1990). Near the end of their official music video, the pair are shown reading a newspaper whose headline is "Roger Miller, King of Plugs".

Miller's recording appears in an episode of the Super Dave TV show, where Super Dave Osborne (Bob Einstein) sings along while sitting at a piano mounted on top of his tour bus. The bus eventually goes into a low tunnel, slamming into the piano and Osborne and pushing them off the bus and onto the ground.

A send-up version by English entertainer Billy Howard was a British chart hit in 1976.

A German take by the band Wise Guys exists, the parody referring to speeding on the Autobahn.

A classical arrangement of the popular Journey ballad, "Open Arms", blended with classical phrases of a Debussy favorite, "Reverie". This classical pop cover, arranged by Kawai Artist Christine Brown, is a solo piano arrangement from the popular piano cover album"Timeless", part 2 of a collection of classic rock/pop hits that are blended seamlessly with classical nuances, appealing to generations young and old, being introduced to the iconic classics in a new way. Christine is a distinguished Kawai Piano Artist and award-winning composer of contemporary classical solo piano. Christine?s music is a unique blend of new age, contemporary and classical sounds. With her graceful, elegant touch, Christine paints a colorful landscape with thoughtful musical interpretations of life's emotions and experiences. Since the young age of three, she has been fascinated by the piano. Christine's childhood classical training is evident in her melodic and thematic compositions, while rich harmonies reflect her background in accompanying various choral groups. From Chopin to Joplin, her influences were varied and many, and she also enjoyed creating her own arrangements of popular songs. While attending the University of Colorado, Christine was inspired by George Winston's new age genre of solo piano, yet for many years the piano remained only a hobby. Christine rediscovered her passion for the piano, immersing herself in her music after the loss of her mother in 1990. She began composing, using the piano to voice her emotions, releasing heartfelt compositions that captured listeners.

This classical pop cover, arranged by Kawai Artist Christine Brown, is a solo piano arrangement from the popular piano cover album"Timeless", part 2 of a collection of classic rock/pop hits that are blended seamlessly with classical nuances, appealing to generations young and old, being introduced to the iconic classics in a new way. Christine is a distinguished Kawai Piano Artist and award-winning composer of contemporary classical solo piano. Christine?s music is a unique blend of new age, contemporary and classical sounds. With her graceful, elegant touch, Christine paints a colorful landscape with thoughtful musical interpretations of life's emotions and experiences. Since the young age of three, she has been fascinated by the piano. Christine's childhood classical training is evident in her melodic and thematic compositions, while rich harmonies reflect her background in accompanying various choral groups. From Chopin to Joplin, her influences were varied and many, and she also enjoyed creating her own arrangements of popular songs. While attending the University of Colorado, Christine was inspired by George Winston's new age genre of solo piano, yet for many years the piano remained only a hobby. Christine rediscovered her passion for the piano, immersing herself in her music after the loss of her mother in 1990. She began composing, using the piano to voice her emotions, releasing heartfelt compositions that captured listeners.

This classical pop cover, arranged by Kawai Artist Christine Brown, is a solo piano arrangement of Elton John's "Your Song", blended with classical phrases of Franz Liszt's "Liebestraum", from the popular piano cover album"Timeless", part 2 of a collection of classic rock/pop hits that are blended seamlessly with classical nuances, appealing to generations young and old, being introduced to the iconic classics in a new way. Christine is a distinguished Kawai Piano Artist and award-winning composer of contemporary classical solo piano. Christine?s music is a unique blend of new age, contemporary and classical sounds. With her graceful, elegant touch, Christine paints a colorful landscape with thoughtful musical interpretations of life's emotions and experiences. Since the young age of three, she has been fascinated by the piano. Christine's childhood classical training is evident in her melodic and thematic compositions, while rich harmonies reflect her background in accompanying various choral groups. From Chopin to Joplin, her influences were varied and many, and she also enjoyed creating her own arrangements of popular songs. While attending the University of Colorado, Christine was inspired by George Winston's new age genre of solo piano, yet for many years the piano remained only a hobby. Christine rediscovered her passion for the piano, immersing herself in her music after the loss of her mother in 1990. She began composing, using the piano to voice her emotions, releasing heartfelt compositions that captured listeners.

A beautiful arrangement of the pop ballad by Ed Sheeran, blended classically with nuances of the Moonlight Sonata. This "Classical Pop" cover, arranged by Kawai Artist Christine Brown, is a solo piano arrangement from the popular piano cover album"Timeless", part 2 of a collection of classic rock/pop hits that are blended "seamlessly" with other pop or classical songs, appealing to generations young and old, being introduced to the iconic classics in a new way. Christine is a distinguished Kawai Piano Artist and award-winning composer of contemporary classical solo piano. Christine?s music is a unique blend of new age, contemporary and classical sounds. With her graceful, elegant touch, Christine paints a colorful landscape with thoughtful musical interpretations of life's emotions and experiences. Since the young age of three, she has been fascinated by the piano. Christine's childhood classical training is evident in her melodic and thematic compositions, while rich harmonies reflect her background in accompanying various choral groups. From Chopin to Joplin, her influences were varied and many, and she also enjoyed creating her own arrangements of popular songs. While attending the University of Colorado, Christine was inspired by George Winston's new age genre of solo piano, yet for many years the piano remained only a hobby. Christine rediscovered her passion for the piano, immersing herself in her music after the loss of her mother in 1990. She began composing, using the piano to voice her emotions, releasing heartfelt compositions that captured listeners.

This classical pop cover, arranged by Kawai Artist Christine Brown, is a solo piano arrangement from the popular piano cover album"Timeless", part 2 of a collection of classic rock/pop hits that are blended seamlessly with classical nuances, appealing to generations young and old, being introduced to the iconic classics in a new way. Christine is a distinguished Kawai Piano Artist and award-winning composer of contemporary classical solo piano. Christine?s music is a unique blend of new age, contemporary and classical sounds. With her graceful, elegant touch, Christine paints a colorful landscape with thoughtful musical interpretations of life's emotions and experiences. Since the young age of three, she has been fascinated by the piano. Christine's childhood classical training is evident in her melodic and thematic compositions, while rich harmonies reflect her background in accompanying various choral groups. From Chopin to Joplin, her influences were varied and many, and she also enjoyed creating her own arrangements of popular songs. While attending the University of Colorado, Christine was inspired by George Winston's new age genre of solo piano, yet for many years the piano remained only a hobby. Christine rediscovered her passion for the piano, immersing herself in her music after the loss of her mother in 1990. She began composing, using the piano to voice her emotions, releasing heartfelt compositions that captured listeners.

Christine has released 13 CDs, including her original works, "a mixture of passion, exceptional playing chops and an abundance of grace consistently puts her music in a category of its own. . . the pieces express a wide range of emotions and experiences with depth, sincerity and an elegant touch." MainlyPiano.com. Her original music on ?Souvenirs" (2014) won Best Solo Piano Album of the Year by Whisperings Solo Piano Radio. Christine?s unique arrangements of holiday, pop/rock and children?s music have earned numerous awards. ?A Classic Christmas II? was awarded Best Holiday Album of 2018 by SoloPiano.com. ?Seamless? (2016), a creative mashup collection, was awarded SoloPiano.com's Pop/Rock Piano Album of the Year 2016 a unique fusion of popular cover songs and classical and new age pieces, a sophisticated and seamless musical tapestry with clever medleys of timeless melodies. Original albums, ?Ascend? (2017), ?The Wishing Well" (2011) and "Promise" ( 2009), were also nominated for Piano Album of the Year. Reviewers have noted Christine?s music as ?so stunning and full flowing, with wonderfully crafted compositions and magical and emotive performances. Her care and attention to detail while creating such incredibly powerful and moving pieces will not go unnoticed."

Christine?s style of playing has a unique classical influence with a new age sensitivity that evokes strong emotions. Inspired by her life experiences and emotions, Christine creates captivating music that tells a story, with depth and sincerity. Fans write, "Her music is vibrant, colorful and full of life. Skilled at the art of blending chords and note progressions into beautiful aural tapestries, her emotions come through her music ... and through her music she is able to reach out and touch the hearts of millions of appreciative piano music fans." Christine currently resides in San Diego, California.