Get to know The Millers with their “Five Answers” to our “Fast Five Questions.”
1. Introduce us to the group….
You could say The Millers began many years ago when Randy Miller was a kid singing with his dad, mom and brothers in east Tennessee. They would sing at Homecomings, Revivals and Saturday night sings, often appearing with another local family group from their hometown called The McKameys.
In the late 1990s, The Millers were then formed as a male trio by current group members Randy Miller and Randy Simpson. After a few years off the road, Randy Miller and his wife, Becky, felt the calling to return to traveling and singing gospel music in 2010 as The Millers. Randy & Becky Miller are joined in the group by Randy Simpson and Renee Settles. The Millers are based in Winchester, VA, which Randy & Becky call home, although Randy Simpson lives in Carlisle PA and Renee Settles calls Fredericksburg VA home.
2. You have a new radio single!! Tell us all about it and why you chose the song.
We are SO excited about our new single “I’ve Got A Lot to Thank the Lord For”. We were first introduced to this song about 4 years ago, when we met the writer, Lana Chandler of The Chandlers. We had never met The Chandlers prior to ending up on the same southern gospel cruise together. We became fast friends and have a great appreciation for this family, their music and ministry. When we were reviewing material for this latest project “Glad”, we presented this song to Renee and it has fast become a concert favorite for us and for the audience. Truly we all have something to be thankful for every day. The song says “He puts food on my table, shoes on my feet, I’m telling you the Lord makes my life complete. How could I ever ask for more, I’ve got a lot to thank the Lord for!”
3. When the group is out traveling the highways, what is the group’s favorite place to eat?
Now we do love to eat! We try to find something local if possible. For example, there is a seafood restaurant in Kent Narrows, MD, just over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, called Fisherman’s Inn, that is one of our favorites and we always make sure we incorporate enough time in our travel schedule to eat there when we are traveling through that area. We also love “Cook-Out” for some fabulous burgers and shakes.
4. Share your testimony? (Each member)
Randy Miller:
I grew up in a small Baptist church in Lake City, TN (just outside Knoxville). My dad was a deacon and the choir director. My mom was the pianist. My mom had me right after playing the piano for the Wednesday night “prayer meeting†and I was beside the piano in a small crib the very next Sunday morning as she played. In just a few years, I was standing on the piano bench singing for the congregation.
I was saved at the age of 8. One Sunday morning as my pastor was preaching, I began to realize, despite my young age, that I was a sinner and needed to invite Jesus Christ into my life, which I did. As the old song says, “I never shall forget the day.â€
My family and I went to church every time the doors were open. We were usually the first ones there and the last to leave. I am so thankful for Godly parents who instilled in me a love for God and the Church at an early age.
I used to feel bad because I did not have a “great†testimony to share. God hasn’t miraculously healed me from a disease or rescued me from drug addiction, although I thank Him for those he has. I now realize my testimony is how God has blessed me. I’ve had lots of failures, disappointments and heartaches in my life, but God has always been faithful. It would take me forever to describe all my blessings from God, although one blessing I am extremely thankful for is my family. Becky and I are blessed with 6 wonderful children and 6 grandchildren. I can truly say God’s been good in my life.
Becky Miller:
I grew up in a small country church in Alexandria, VA where my grandfather was the Pastor and my grandmother taught Sunday School and played the piano. My mom and dad took me to my first gospel concert when I was only 3 weeks old…and I have loved gospel music for as long as I can remember. We sang out of the “Red Book” at our church. Every time the church doors were open we were at church and my dad was one who did NOT want to be late, so he told us what time we were leaving for church and if you weren’t ready by that time…. you went NOT ready. There wasn’t an option in my house whether you were going to church or not – you were going. I’m so thankful for my parents and grandparents who instilled in me a love for church, a love for the Word and a love for music.
I remember during our annual homecoming service, which was a big dinner on the ground, afternoon singing, and the beginning of a spring revival, that the preacher was preaching that night and at 11 years old I knew that my parents and grandparents weren’t able to guarantee me salvation but it was something I had to accept for myself. That night I walked down the aisle of our church and knelt at an old wooden altar and asked the Lord to come into my heart. I’ll never forget that day, I’ll never forget that feeling, and I’ll never forget the moment that God wrote my name in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
A lot has happened since I was 11 years old. Life has not always been easy and things that I thought would never change, they did. I have experienced many emotions both happy and heartbreaking, but through the constant changes life has presented one thing has remained constant – Jesus Christ. He promised me that He would not leave me alone, promised that He would be faithful even when I wasn’t, promised to supply all my needs, promised that He is always working in my life, and when I thought the song in my heart was gone forever somehow managed to break through the hurt and pain and began gathering my shattered life pieces and began to work and mold me into a vessel He could still use. My vessel may have a few cracks and scars, but He filled it with a song I can’t quit singing. God has blessed me beyond my wildest expectations and I’m so thankful to be singing for Him.
Randy Simpson:
I was born and raised in a Christian home. My father, Terry, played piano for The Gabriels, a quartet well known in Pennsylvania for their unique style and harmony. As a young boy, I learned to love Southern Gospel Music, hoping to one day follow in my father’s footsteps of traveling and singing in music ministry. As a young teenager, I first chose to try other styles of music. As a result, I started playing drums and singing in heavy metal rock bands in bars and clubs. In July of 1985, shortly after my 16th birthday, I realized my need for salvation. I also realized that the real desire of my heart, and God’s call on my life, was one and the same, to sing Gospel Music. For over 30 years I have been traveling on a weekly basis singing praises to our Lord!
I love to have fun. People seem to connect with my sense of humor and my, sometimes unique, way of sharing the gospel. I first became acquainted with The Millers in the late 1990s and sang with the original Millers for about a year. In addition to singing with The Millers, I also have a solo ministry when our schedule allows. In January 2011, I was elected to serve as the vice-president of the Pennsylvania Southern Gospel Music Association. In March of 2011, for the second year in a row, I was voted and named Pennsylvania’s Favorite Male Gospel Singer. In August of 2012, I was given the Keystone Award of achievement for excellence in Gospel Music Ministry.
When I’m not traveling I enjoy spending time with my wife Jane, our 3 children and 7 grandchildren. A seed was planted in my life as a young child, and now I’m so thankful for a front row seat…watching as God uses me on a weekly basis to plant seeds in the lives of others as He allows me to share the Gospel through song.
Renee Settles:
I was born just outside Chicago, Illinois. I love my Lord, Jesus Christ! I was raised by two Godly, and Southern Gospel loving parents: Billy and Naomi McNure. My mother was an incredible pianist whose unique style was a combination of: Eva Mae LeFevre, Floyd Cramer and Jerry Lee Lewis. As a child, I traveled with my parents and our Pastor’s family, with a group called “The Glory Road Quartet.†My father was the song leader and hosted many Fourth Sunday Gospel Singings in my childhood church, Welcome Hill Missionary Baptist Church, in Lemont, IL. It was here I sang my first song at two years-old. I was saved at the tender age of 7. I began singing harmony at the age of 9, and sang with my parents and siblings in revivals and special services.
As a teenager, my family moved to East TN. Although I was completely devastated to leave Illinois, this was God’s purpose and ultimate direction for my future. Psalm 34:3-“Oh magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together,” (KJV), was my cry as I sought God for a mate. I wanted a man who loved the Lord and loved serving the Lord the way I did. I found that man and married him. Shannon Settles and I have been married for almost 20 years. We moved to Northern VA in 2000. He is an ordained Pastor. For 13 years, I helped him as he was the pastor to the children of our church. We have two beautiful children who know and love the Lord. Our son Bryce, is 19 and in his second year of college pursuing a degree in medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University. Our daughter Lauren just turned 13 and loves to sing for the Lord.
In May of 2014, the Lord placed a heavy desire to sing and be used for Him. I sat in my car one morning as I waited to go into work, pleading and asking the Lord to open a door so that I might leave a Southern Gospel music legacy for my children. Three days later, the Lord put me in contact with Randy & Becky Miller. It has been a complete honor and privilege to minister alongside them as we raise the name of our Almighty God and penetrate this nation with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
What are some goals for 2016 for the group?
We always want to be a blessing to people wherever we have the opportunity to sing. Naturally, we want to see more souls saved – we also want to remind audiences and congregations that God loves them. We feel a special calling to encourage Christians and the Church. Encourage them to not give up, remind them that through our struggles and trials, God is still there, God is faithful, and God can even use broken vessels. Life is hard sometimes and Christians are no exception. Times have evolved and have seemingly become more difficult than ever before. There are so many things in the world trying to discourage and steal our joy. We try to remind audiences that God’s peace is still present despite the circumstances swirling around us. Through Jesus Christ, we can have hope and peace.
5. Give us your website and booking information.
You can reach The Millers at 540-664-2470 or via our website www.millermusicgroup.org or email us at millermusicgroup@gmail.com
