Roy Rogers

Roy Rogers has been widely recognized as one of the world's finest practitioners and innovators of modern slide guitar. His current releases include: 'Split Decision' (2009) ; 'Translucent Blues' with Ray Manzarek of The Doors (out May 24th, 2011) ; and a rare classic vinyl release of 'Slidewinder' featuring duets with New Orleans great Allen Toussaint and a sweet acoustic duet with John Lee Hooker out June 24th, 2011 - all on Blind Pig Records.
Rogers has been nominated for 8 Grammy's as producer, songwriter and performer. An exciting live performer, he has performed with Carlos Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Steve Miller, Linda Ronstadt, Sammy Hagar and many others. Rogers' has appeared at the worlds most prestigious festivals including Montreux, North Sea, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Featival - and festivals in Norway, Australia, France & Italy. He has been covered by major media including NPR's Morning Edition, Rolling Stone, USA Today, Billboard & Guitar Player.
Born in Redding, California in 1950, he began playing guitar at twelve years of age. A year later at age 13, he was performing in a rock 'n' roll band that wore gold lame jackets with velvet piping (!) and played Little Richard and Chuck Berry tunes. He discovered the great blues players early on, especially when his older brother brought home an album by Robert Johnson. Thus began his love of the blues, slide guitar in particular - which had an immediate effect on Roy, who was indeed named after the King of the Cowboys. Through the years he developed a distinctive style of playing slide guitar that is instantly recognizable.
During the 1960's Rogers frequented the San Francisco rock clubs where he saw many of the blues greats who inspired him. He performed with various groups until 1976, when he and harmonica player David Burgin formed an acoustic duo and recorded an album Rogers And Burgin: 'A Foot In The Door'for Waterhouse Records. They also played on the "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" movie soundtrack before splitting up. Rogers then formed his own band in 1980, the Delta Rhythm Kings, hit the club and festival circuit and has been touring the globe consistently.
Shortly after returning from Europe, Rogers was asked to join John Lee Hooker's Coast to Coast Blues Band. During the four years he toured with Hooker as a featured guitarist/vocalist, Rogers established a strong personal and professional relationship with the venerated blues legend. Said Hooker, "I just can't say enough good things about Roy. He plays so good. Some of the best slide I've heard, best blues I've heard. He gets real deep and funky, and he masters whatever he plays." He then went on to produce a total of four recordings for John Lee Hooker which were all nominated for Grammy's - with two Grammy wins.
In 1985 he released his first solo album, Chops Not Chaps on his own label, which received widespread radio play and was nominated for a W.C. Handy Award. In 1987, Blind Pig released his second solo album, 'Slidewinder.' It included duets with Hooker and New Orleans piano great Allen Toussaint, as well as songs with his own band. The rave reviews in the national press and extensive radio play that followed further enhanced Roy's growing reputation. Roy's third solo release, 'Blues On The Range' was also issued on Blind Pig in 1989 and continued to win new fans to his incredible slide guitar and songwriting and arrangement skills.
Roy’s musical talents were featured on the soundtrack for the 1990 film “The Hot Spot,”
which he recorded with Miles Davis, John Lee Hooker and Taj Mahal and which also garnered a Grammy nomination.
In 1991, Rogers hooked up with another artist - harmonica virtuoso and vocalist Norton Buffalo to produce the highly acclaimed release 'R & B.' The album is a colorful array of acoustic tunes from blues to ballads capturing the incredible chemistry of these powerful performers. The cut "Song For Jessica" received a Grammy Award nomination and another track, "Ain't No Bread In The Breadbox" was made into a performance video which received airplay on many outlets, including The Nashville Network. Norton's passing from lung cancer in 2009 was a huge loss to all who knew him.
In the late 1990's Rogers' teamed up with National Medal of Arts recipient Ramblin' Jack Elliott - for two projects "Friends of Mine" and "The Long Ride' - both also nominated for Grammy's. Rogers' is currently working on a oral history project with Elliott.
Roy’s growing reputation led to his signing to a major label and the release of several albums including – 'Slide of Hand' (1993) and 'Slide Zone' (1994) on Capitol Records and 'Rhythm & Groove' (1996) and 'Pleasure and Pain' (1998) on Pointblank/Virgin Records. In 1999 he recorded with Shana Morrison and released the duet CD 'Everybody’s Angel.' His next band recording was the all-instrumental 'Slideways' (2002) on Evidence Records and he self- released his first live recording – 'Live at the Sierra Nevada Brewery Big Room' in 2005. The video-taped concert received wide television exposure on PBS stations as part of the “Sierra Center Stage” series. In 2006 Roy and Norweigian pianist Reidar Larsen recorded and released 'The Crossing' in Norway - now available on I Tunes. Finally, in 2008 Rogers recorded “Ballads Before the Rain” with the renowned Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek.
This multi talented recording artist and producer continues to have his own unique musical vision.
Always eclectic in approach, Rogers is constantly stretching the boundaries of slide guitar.

Press Quotes:

"Rogers is both a sensational and a sensitive blues guitarist - certainly among the finest slide guitarists playing today. His wailing slide guitar sound (and churning rhythms, when needed) mark him and his work as of the highest caliber." - San Francisco Chronicle

"Rogers is an exceptionally articulate slide guitarist, either he's scorching Robert Johnson's 'Ramblin' Blues' or taking a lovely, lyrical journey...or rockin' it out. One of the rare guitar heroes who values feeling over flash." - Rolling Stone

"Many guitarists dabble in slide guitar, but the number of modern masters can probably be counted on one hand - Roy Rogers is surely one of them..." - Guitar Player

"Pundits who bemoan the scarcity of guitar gods haven't laid ears on Roy Rogers, whose slide riffs could peel a crawfish." - USA Today

"The legendary co-founder of The Doors, keyboardist and member of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Ray Manzarek, and the critically acclaimed slide guitarist Roy Rogers have put their artistic minds together and created a captivating new concert experience." - Sacramento 365