"Music is life -there is music everywhere, not just in the concert halls with instruments, but on the street corners, and certainly in nature - but you just have to listen for it...With that said, not everyone is cut out to be in the music business as a profession and doing your 'artistic thing' -AND- trying to make money, which is not easy and not for everyone (no matter how talented you are!). Whatever you do--enjoy the music above all."

Roy Rogers: A Slide Time Machine to Past and Future of American Roots Music

Roy Roger, born in Redding, California in 1950, Roy 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 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 not only emerged, but one 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. THE 70S: Roy 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 the duet ran it's course. Rogers then formed his own band in 1980, the Delta Rhythm Kings, hit the club circuit, played a few more movie and television gigs, and toured Europe with the 1982 San Francisco Blues Festival Revue (recording an album with that Revue in Paris).               (Photo: Roy Rogers)

THE 80S: 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 includes fantastic duets with Hooker and New Orleans piano great Allen Toussaint, as well as songs with his own band. Shortly after returning from Europe, Rogers was asked to join John Lee Hooker's Coast to Coast Blues Band. THE 90S: 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. The 2000's have been a VERY productive recording period for Roy, greatly expanding his collaborations with other artists, as well as his own solo recordings. Roy's latest release Into the Wild Blue (June 2015) proves he and The Delta Rhythm Kings are at the top of their game.

Interview by Michael Limnios        Special Thanks: Gaynell Rogers & Roy Rogers

How has the Blues and Rock n Roll Counterculture influenced your views of the world and the journeys you’ve taken?

First and foremost, The Blues is the basis for most of the music that I love. It is THE foundation - and the honesty of feelings and expression goes as deep as you want to take it or to explore as a player. It is, of course, a never-ending journey - and you have to be willing to take risks with yourself, as well as with the music - that I believe. The inspiration is there, but everyone has to decide for themselves what risks they wish to take, which is part of living in this world. The Blues can help define that, especially when you think about the conditions that the music came from. That certainly needs to be acknowledged to appreciate its profound influence on our culture in so many ways.

How do you describe your sound and music philosophy? What's the balance in music between technique and soul?

Everyone must figure out their own way, listening and learning - not just for technique, but learning to define 'what you want to say' musically. A good solo is like a good conversation. To me - the joy of playing and improvising is not only communicating to the listener, but stretching the boundaries when possible. I have had the pleasure of performing and/or recording with many great artists over the years. But certainly, my friendship and longtime association with John Lee Hooker, as producer, must be at the top of the list, for sure.

"First and foremost, The Blues is the basis for most of the music that I love. It is THE foundation - and the honesty of feelings and expression goes as deep as you want to take it or to explore as a player. It is, of course, a never-ending journey - and you have to be willing to take risks with yourself, as well as with the music - that I believe." (Photo: Roy Rogers & John Lee Hooker)

Which meetings have been the most important experiences for you? What was the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Playing in the Coast-to-Coast Blues Band backing up JLH, and then becoming his producer a few years later -seeing him win a Grammy Award also was wonderful - I cherish the memory. When I think back, some of the performances the band played with JLH were unbelievable - almost spiritual sometimes, I would say!...The audience was spellbound--truly inspiring stuff! 

Best advice:  Be yourself and find your OWN sound and groove - and stick with it!

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

Every generation needs to (and will) define the music for themselves as to what is happening at a particular time period. So, I am not nostalgic for past music, even though, in many cases, I may prefer it. We all have our preferences-especially for songs that mean something special to us individually at different points in our lives. There should be (and always will be) new music and/or a re-defining and re-discovering of past music --that is the way it works. I have my own preferences-but I try not to compare different generations of music. For example, I like all kinds of grooves, but if I had to pick just one - the groove would have to 'Swing'. For me, it was the Robert Johnson recordings that really 'blew me away' as a slide guitarist (he still does!), although I had heard and seen many of the blues greats - Muddy Waters, Howlin'Wolf, Jimmy Reed, JLH, B.B. King and others....In my research and listening, as a young man, I realized that there were so many players from the 1920' and 1930's that influenced the blues greats that I had seen  -and I wanted to listen to them. (i.e. Son House, Tampa Red, Charlie Patton, etc.)... But at the same time, as a teenager in the 1960's- I loved the classic Chuck Berry, Little Richard recordings - as well as Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Marvin Gaye, etc. Also, it is important to note that the early British bands -The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Animals, The Yardbirds) all covered many R&B songs as well as blues, which 'opened the doors' to new/old songs to many young guitar- players like me as well.

"Music absolutely affects people everywhere and in different ways.  Sometimes words just get in the way, right? (then all you need is the music!) It still amazes me how an artist can move 'you and me' - with a voice, an instrument playing a melody or lyrics through the music - may it always be so!" (Photo: Roy Rogers with Miles Davis, John Lee Hooker, Taj Mahal, Dennis Hopper, Tim Drummond and Earl Palmer / Hot Spot soundtrack's studio sessions)

Are there any specific memories by One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest & The Hot Spot sessions that you would like to tell us about?!

The 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' soundtrack was the first major recording session I ever did. It was 'trial by fire' and I was a 'total rookie'-but luckily, I played OK for the soundtrack-'sweating bullets' all the way through the sessions.  Those sessions were a great learning experience for me...The Hot Spot soundtrack was a totally different situation just about 20 years later- all really incredible sessions. The story that I 'heard' was that Dennis Hopper (the movie's producer) wanted his favorite blues musician (John Lee Hooker) and his favorite jazz musician (Miles Davis) to play on a soundtrack together for the movie. Taj Mahal and I were supporting players (Taj on National Steel and me on amplified slide guitar) with Tim Drummond on bass and the great Earl Palmer on drums. *Interesting to note that the same well-known music producer was on 'The Cuckoo's Nest' session 20 years earlier--Jack Nietzche, who had worked with Phil Specter and others. Indeed, it was a thrill to meet and talk with Miles Davis! I have had many folks tell me that 'The Hot Spot' soundtrack is one of their all-time favorite soundtracks.

What is the impact of music on the socio-cultural implications? How do you want the music to affect people?

Music absolutely affects people everywhere and in different ways. Sometimes words just get in the way, right? (then all you need is the music!) It still amazes me how an artist can move 'you and me' - with a voice, an instrument playing a melody or lyrics through the music - may it always be so! 

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

Music is life -there is music everywhere, not just in the concert halls with instruments, but on the street corners, and certainly in nature - but you just have to listen for it...With that said, not everyone is cut out to be in the music business as a profession and doing your 'artistic thing' -AND- trying to make money, which is not easy and not for everyone (no matter how talented you are!). Whatever you do--enjoy the music above all.

"Everyone must figure out their own way, listening and learning - not just for technique, but learning to define 'what you want to say' musically. A good solo is like a good conversation. To me - the joy of playing and improvising is not only communicating to the listener, but stretching the boundaries when possible."

(Photo: Roy & Gainell Rogers, 2014)

John Coltrane said "My music is the spiritual expression of what I am...". How do you understand the spirit, music, and the meaning of life?

Don't overthink and try not to overplay anything-just search for the groove you like and let 'it' flow. Not always, but generally - your first ideas are the best ones. (It may sound easy, but it ain't!) Also, music is a 2-way street (the player and the listener). Ultimately, the artist truly must play for him/ herself - but the music can and does 'transcend' and reach others in amazing ways. That's the beautiful thing - music can take you to another level (which cannot be defined!) when you hear it. (i.e. Aretha Franklin, Mahalia Jackson, Otis Redding, Billie Holiday, and so many others). I am not necessarily talking about how popular or successful a song is, but how much it moves people. And there is always something new to discover. Here's to the music --- Keep listening...

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