Stan Rogers (1949-1983) - Birthday 29 Nov

Subject: Stan Rogers' 50th Birthday
From: Willie-O
Date: 29 Nov 99 - 06:10 PM

I just mentioned this in the Thought for the Day thread, being Stan's birthday today, but I figure it deserves a thread of its own.

For folkies everywhere, hearing about the disaster that took his life is an awful moment that we can all recall, but that's not what this day is. Just gives one pause to think of the Stan that might still be with us, a mature fellow who could undoubtedly still hit those low notes at full volume, and think of what his catalogue of songs would have been.

Instead he's perpetually 33, an intense, sometimes overbearing, brilliant man who practically reinvented the craft of songwriting through sheer dedication to quality.

Heard Garnet Rogers wonderful song "Night Ride" today, a bittersweet haunted recollection of his brother, which evokes for me the first time I heard it, three years ago on a sultry Winnipeg night, Garnet playing softly, imaged on a huge video screen as thunderclouds rolled over the festival again and again but didn't rain. Like much of Stan's best work, the song's inextricably linked for me to that spot.

Almost twenty years before, the last time I had been to Winnipeg until '96, I was there to see Stan playing the main stage on what had been a horribly soaking rainy day. He shoved his guitar behind his back and bellowed "DID YA KNOW CANADA ONCE HAD PIRATE SHIPS?", then launched into you-know-what. During his set, the sun finally came out below the clouds right at the horizon, bathing the stage in a red glow, to a huge roar of applause, only to set no more than forty-five seconds later. I bet some of you were there.

I'd love to hear some other memories of the big bald guy with the voice that Nancy White said "you could take a bath in." Anybody see his last performance at Kerrville?

Who knew? Who the hell knew?

Bill C.

Subject: RE: Stan Rogers' 50th Birthday
From: Willie-O
Date: 29 Nov 99 - 08:35 PM

I thought this is a big deal, myself, doesn't anyone else?

Or is it just too much of a downer?

Bill
Trying Again.

Subject: RE: Stan Rogers' 50th Birthday
From: Grubby
Date: 29 Nov 99 - 09:46 PM

Subject: RE: Stan Rogers' 50th Birthday
From: grubby
Date: 29 Nov 99 - 09:57 PM

Willie O I had heard a bit of Stans work a few years ago, but it has only been in the last year I have puchased all his work and really studied the man and his songs.Hard There for a time, it was hard to find his material in Australia. Found it all in Canada though when I was there last year. Met up with James Keelaghan in Calgary now there is another great Canadian singer songwriter and I am sure he is influenced by Stans work. It's erie,I have just come in from a car trip where I was listening to his Fogartys Cove CD and I happened to see this thread. What a great talent lost to us all.But at least we still have his music and songs. Regards Grubby

Subject: RE: Stan Rogers' 50th Birthday
From: Mbo
Date: 29 Nov 99 - 10:30 PM

Sorry for been unlearnt but, who was Stan Rogers, and what happened to him?

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Stan Rogers' 50th Birthday
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 29 Nov 99 - 10:59 PM

Mbo,

Stan Rogers was a young Canadian singer and songwriter who died in a plane accident at the age of 33. For more information try these past threads Stan Rogers and Of Stan Rogers songs.

There are a few more threads. If you want 'em, type in Stan Rogers in the filter and set the age for two or three years.

And of course, you can search the DT for [Stan Rogers] and view some of his lyrics.

If you love traditional based song writing, give a listen. He also had a wonderful deep baritone and played decent twelve string guitar. His brother, Garnet Rogers (with similar attributes) used to perform with Stan and still performs solo across Canada and the US.l

Enjoy the music!

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Stan Rogers' 50th Birthday
From: Willie-O
Date: 29 Nov 99 - 11:38 PM

...and I thought it downright spooky that the Thought For the Day thread posted today (Nov 29) was:

"The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit."

because Stan is far better known today than when he was alive, because the quality and singability of many of his songs has enriched us all--you might not know his name but if you hang around folk clubs and the like its inconceivable you've never heard any--and inspired many to write, and rewrite, ballads that try to tell stories of peoples' real lives, contemporary or historical, but where the story is first and the writer takes a risk of trying to put him (her) self in someone else's shoes and sing about them. (Keelagan is certainly one of the most directly influenced, which is not to say he's derivative in any way--its his own voice and style he uses. But "Cold Missouri Waters" could be a song of Stan's--and I can hear him singing it in my mind's ear.)

Instead of, you know, the narcissistic self-absorption that is the standard fair of too many sensitive songwriters--cause they can't seem to make that leap outside themselves. But that's not what this thread is for, don't get me started

Bill C

Subject: RE: Stan Rogers' 50th Birthday
From: Jerry H
Date: 30 Nov 99 - 12:50 AM

I'll never forget the first time I ever heard Stan Rogers----I was entertaining in this great Irish pub 18 years ago, and one of the patrons gave me a cassette and told me to listen to his music. I played it that night when I got home after the gig---I had a bite to eat and played the cassette ------I played it 4 times that night I Have been a fan ever since. Once a year (in winter) we hold a Franklin Days Party---(play only celtic music). I can't imagine the great songs that Stan would have written (what with the celtic influence)would he still be alive today---My hat off to you for remembering him----

Jerry H

Subject: RE: Stan Rogers' 50th Birthday
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 30 Nov 99 - 01:16 AM

Thanks for starting this one Willie. I had Ariel and Paul Mills on my radio show two weeks ago and Garnet will be on next Monday. Quite the family eh? Still love those songs!
Rick

Subject: RE: Stan Rogers' 50th Birthday
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 30 Nov 99 - 11:16 AM

I missed that show Rick. Hope to catch it on the Mudcat archives.

Sad to say, I was unaware of Stan while he was with us. I'd been away from folk for many years (don't ask why, 'cause I sure don't know). One day I decided to tape the Saturday afternoon "Folkways" radio show on CJRT. Played the tape in my car, and with the intro cut off, the first thing I heard was "Northwest Passage". All I could think was, "My God, what have I been missing?" Took me 3 weeks to find out who wrote the song and now I'm in so deep, I'll never (& don't wanna) get out.

Stan, thank you for the music.

Subject: RE: Stan Rogers' 50th Birthday
From: Grubby
Date: 30 Nov 99 - 04:36 PM

600km to drive today Stan and James in the player will make it easy for me Grubby

Subject: RE: Stan Rogers' 50th Birthday
From: Peter T.
Date: 30 Nov 99 - 05:04 PM

Similar experience, Jeremiah, never heard of him, and then I heard Tex Koenig sing Northwest Passage at the St. Lawrence Market in Toronto (it is in the memorial thread). It reintroduced me to Canadian folk music, and Stan's stuff. We were wondering a bit what he might have turned out like with another 17 years under his belt. Maybe he would have mellowed: maybe he would have been even more pissed off at the way things are going in this country. Glad he was here this time around, anyway.
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Stan Rogers' 50th Birthday
From: Tiger
Date: 30 Nov 99 - 05:46 PM

Garnet is superb as a solo, sounds quite a bit like Stan, and has a similar approach, but leans towards the rock side.

No one could surpass Stan's ego, but Garnet has the family resemblance. Hell, it's in the DNA. But somehow, as with Stan, we don't seem to mind.

Subject: RE: Stan Rogers' 50th Birthday
From: Willie-O
Date: 30 Nov 99 - 07:30 PM

There were some legal complications when Garnet started his solo career--for reasons I won't get into, he was not legally permitted to perform most or all of Stan's songs. Possibly the best thing that ever happened to him, in a way--imagine what the pressure would have been to be a 'tribute act'. Since he had practically no original material then, all he had was good taste, good voice and good chops--and contacts. There's always room for someone like that in the scene, who's willing to expose the songs of new and little-known writers. (Used to be Tom Rush, and Gordon Bok has done it lately. No one else that I can think of has that kind of profile right now. Too bad.) Then all of a sudden, he turned his performing persona into a singer-songwriter--and a very fine one indeed. That was a long time coming. I don't know him personally to speak of but I think he's mellowed. Haven't we all?

Bill C

Bill C

Subject: RE: Stan Rogers (1949-1983) - 50th Birthday
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 13 Feb 11 - 01:12 AM

Willie-O, Garnet Rogers appeared at Stone Soup in Rhode Island on the Saturday after the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center. I am told the Stone Soup board considered canceling the concert that night because they thought nobody would come. I had been planning to go because I like Garnet but that night I wasn't sure how I felt about going after the recent disaster. I went thinking that I could leave if I wasn't up to it. In fact, a good-sized audience came, Garnet was wonderful, and I felt my spirit begin to heal during the concert. Others I spoke to felt the same way. Garnet has been back to SS since then and he has a special place in our hearts.

Subject: RE: Stan Rogers (1949-1983) - 50th Birthday
From: Willie-O
Date: 20 Apr 11 - 09:56 AM

I ran into Garnet in a certain music store a couple of months ago--turned out we both lust after the same guitar, a '52 Martin OOO-18 that's been hanging there for years...I'm not saying where, in case I stumble over a big bag of cash in the near future...it's always a pleasure to hear Garnet sing, and I was playing some of Stan's songs last weekend.

Funny to see this old thread pop up, I had quite forgotten it.

W-O

Subject: RE: Stan Rogers (1949-1983) - 50th Birthday
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 20 Apr 11 - 11:00 AM

Of course, Garnet's not the only hugely-talented member of the Rogers clan still performing - Stan's son Nathan is a real chip-off-the-old-block, both vocally and in his larger-than-life stage persona.

Mrs. Fenswoman and I had the pleasure of spending an evening in Nathan's company when he visited the UK a couple of years ago, and his sets were immensely powerful in both content and performance. He did a couple of his dad's songs, the best being 'The Field Behind The Plow', which was so uncannily like hearing Stan sing and play it, I was quite literally moved to tears. A lovely evening, and so nice to meet Stan's offspring and spend some time with him.

A talented family indeed.

Subject: RE: Stan Rogers (1949-1983) - 50th Birthday
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 20 Apr 11 - 04:22 PM

I was lucky with my chorus to back Garnet up in concert here in New Hampshire about a month ago, in a double bill with Lui Collins. He is a gracious man and completely comfortable inviting a strange (as in unfamiliar) all-woman chorus to join him on stage (and mid-program to look at me and say: "I know you know this song, so why don't you back me up on it?" and it turned out to be a song I had never heard before- but we caught on and had a fine time with it!).
Stan would be proud. He probably is!

Subject: RE: Stan Rogers (1949-1983) - 50th Birthday
From: ollaimh
Date: 20 Apr 11 - 06:55 PM

some one here remembers tex koenig? wow!cool! tex was one of the great toronto buskers and one who was always willing to help new commers. when i first moved to toronto i met"traditional" musicians who were the orneriest i have ever met.all threats and bluster and willing to do almost anything to make a few bucks. tex told me all the ins and outs of toronto and new york--he took me to new york for a trip years ago. he had a free place to stay and we busked the new york subways.

he died too young as well, although he was very overweight and i think his heart gave out.i really miss tex.

as to stan rogers i used to sing his "the idiot" when i worked out in north western canada on drilling and blasting. i never got to see him live. he opened the door to a lot od east coast musicians . he had two grandparents from guysborough county nova scotia and it showed in his music so he was "acceptable" to ontario folk while doing east coast influenced stuff. a sort of camadian elvis covering the black rhythym and blues so whites would listen to it.

his song writing was broadening before his death--with a western influence, not country but western, and he also had great side men, his brother foremost.

i found a copy of two cds the other day at the salvation army--snaped them up! safe in halifax and for the family. if you listen to cliffs of baccilieu you get a sense of what he was influenced by, early on.

a great song writer and a man full of heart

Subject: RE: Stan Rogers (1949-1983) - Birthday 29 Nov
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Apr 11 - 11:49 PM

So, Animaterra, what did you sing with Garnet Rogers?

-Joe-