Smokey Rogers

Eugene Rogers (March 23, 1917–November 23, 1993), known professionally as Smokey Rogers, was an American Western swing musician and songwriter active during the 1940s and 50s on the West Coast.

Born in McMinnville, Tennessee, Rogers joined Spade Cooley's band in the 1940s (who gave Rogers his stage name). Tex Williams, Rogers and other members of Cooley's band formed a group called The Western Caravan. Both groups featured Rogers on vocals for novelty songs.[1]

Rogers co-wrote "Spanish Fandango" with Bob Wills, released in 1947. In 1949, he had a modest hit with "A Little Bird Told Me". Rogers is best known for writing the ballad "Gone", first recorded by Ferlin Husky 1952. When Husky re-recorded the song in 1956, it reached No. 1 on the country chart. It remained there for ten weeks and crossed over to the pop chart.[2] He also wrote "My Chickashay Gal", popularized by Roy Rogers.

From 1947–50, Eugene Rogers appeared in at least 22 of Universal Studios' "musical featurettes" with Tex Williams. In 1950, he bought the Bostonia Ballroom in El Cajon, California near San Diego and started a daily live TV show from the facility. In 1958, he was also doing a radio show on 50,000 watt X.E.R.B. in Rosarita Beach, Mexico. He programmed both sides of a Zane Ashton (aka Bill Aken) record of 'The Wind Running Through" with the flip side being the same song in Spanish and called "El Viento." The resulting sales in Mexico gave Ashton his first gold record.

Rogers and his first wife, Madelene, had 6 children; Laura Jo, Carl, Harold, Ruth-Ann, and twin sons, Roy and Rex Rogers. Rogers and his second wife lived in Apple Valley, California for several years where he was a local radio personality and performed regularly at the Branding Iron Restaurant. He died in San Diego on November 23, 1993 at age 76. [3]

Discography
Year Part # Titles Notes
Four Star Records
19451019Shame On You // Please Give Me One More Chanceas 'Smokey Rogers & His Four Star Rangers'
19451020What It Means To Be Blue // Blues In My Mindas 'Smokey Rogers & His Four Star Rangers'
19461067Don't Try To Pretend // Turn My Picture Upside Downas 'Buck Rogers & His Texans'
19461068Are You Somebody's Darlin' // Double Troubleas 'Buck Rogers & His Texans'
19461136No Vacancy // I Let My Wife Support Meas 'Smokey (Buck) Rogers & His Texans'
19461137Tho' I Tried (I Can't Forget You) // Texas Tornadoas 'Smokey (Buck) Rogers & His Texans'
19471153Seven Come Eleven // Huggin' And Chalkin'as 'Smokey (Buck) Rogers & His Texans'
19471154Why, Oh Why, Did I Ever Leave Wyoming // I Ain't Gonna Cry No Moreas 'Smokey (Buck) Rogers & His Texans'
19471157Possum Song // I Can't Help The Way You Feelas 'Smokey (Buck) Rogers & His Texans'
19471158No She Don't – Yes She Does // Carry Me To Tucumcarias 'Smokey (Buck) Rogers & His Texans'
19471182Chime Bells (v: Texie Holle) // Flying Saucers [duet]as 'Texie Holle & Smokey Rogers'
19471183How Lonely Can Yo Get (v: Texie Holle) // Goin' Down The Road [duet]as 'Texie Holle & Smokey Rogers'
Capitol Records
194840080Spanish Fandango // Drinkin' And A-Thinkin'as 'Smokey Rogers with Tex Williams' Western Caravan'
194840098Chickashay Gal // Slap 'Er Down Agin, Pawas 'Smokey Rogers with Tex Williams' Western Caravan'
194840123Don't Come Cryin' To Me // Blue Bonnet Polkaas 'Smokey Rogers with Tex Williams' Western Caravan'
194815217Hair Of Gold, Eyes Of Blue (with The McCall Twins) // Ball Of Fireas 'Smokey Rogers with Tex Williams' Western Caravan'
194815326A Little Bird Told Me // Baby Me, Babyas 'Smokey Rogers'
194915406Sui Sin Fa // Ten More Milesas 'Smokey Rogers with Tex Williams' Western Caravan'
194940199A Kiss To Remember // The Spelling Song (I L-O-V-E U)as 'Smokey Rogers'
194940230Rich Man, Poor Man, Beggar Man, Thief // Make Believe Heartas 'Smokey Rogers with Tex Williams' Western Caravan'
195040284(Without Your) Wedding Ring // Dimples Or Dumplin'sas 'Smokey Rogers'
1950F864Bloodshot Eyes [duet] // Doin' Fine (v: Ann Jones)as 'Ann Jones & Smokey Rogers'
1950F986Rubber Knuckle Sam (v: Smokey Rogers) // The Dipsy Doodleas 'Cliffie Stone & His Hometown Jamboree Gang'
Coral Records
195064052Nine-Tenths Of The Tennessee River (Are The Tears I Shed Over You) // New Panhandle Ragas 'Smokey Rogers & His String Band'
195064057The Texas Song // Trouble Then Satisfaction (v: Jimmy Widener)as 'Smokey Rogers & His String Band'
195064063Lose Your Blues (v: Ferlin Husky) // Tamburitza Boogieas 'Smokey Rogers & His String Band'
195164077Catch Me Cheatin' // Oh How I Cry About You (v: Dean Eacker)as 'Smokey Rogers & His String Band'
195164088Irma Is The Name Of My Baby // Tulsa Trot (with Joaquin Murphey)as 'Smokey Rogers & The Western Caravan'
195164092Steel Guitar Jubilee (instrumental) (with Joaquin Murphey) // Wear My Ribbonas 'Smokey Rogers & His Western Caravan'
Western Caravan Records
1952901Gone // Blueas 'Smokey Rogers & The Western Caravan'
1953902Long Lost Love // Ragtime Accordion Joe (instrumental)as 'Smokey Rogers & His Western Caravan'
1953903Goodnight (with The Meyers Sisters) // John's Boogie (instrumental)as 'Smokey Rogers & His Western Caravan'
1954105Right Out of My Heart (v: Slim Dossy) // That's All (I Can't Forget You) (v: Slim Dossy)as 'Smokey Rogers & His Western Caravan'
1954106Even Tho' // Dissatisfiedas 'Smokey Rogers & His Western Caravan'
1955108Waltz of Texas (v: Bill Pray) // When (v: Bill Pray)as 'Smokey Rogers & His Western Caravan'
1955109The Chicago Song, Pt. 1 // The Chicago Song, Pt. 2as 'Smokey Rogers & His Western Caravan'
Caravan Records
19571957I Want My Gal // The Day You Left Meas 'Tommy Duncan with Smokey Rogers & His Band'

Notes
  1. DePasquale, Ron "Smokey Rogers - Biography" cmt.com
  2. DePasquale, Ron "Smokey Rogers - Biography" cmt.com
  3. Personal knowledge
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