Eugene "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.

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. 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.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 23, 1917 (McMinnville), Died November 23, 1993

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1944 - 1953

Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar, vocalist, songwriter, violin, harmony vocal, composer, lyricist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-37 of 37 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca L 3312 10-in. 2/11/1944 You've got me wrapped around Texas Jim Lewis and his Lone Star Cowboys instrumentalist, violin  
Decca L 3313 10-in. 2/11/1944 The squaws along the Yukon Texas Jim Lewis and his Lone Star Cowboys instrumentalist, violin  
Decca L 5802 8/28/1950 Tamburitza boogie Eugene "Smokey" Rogers vocalist  
Decca L 5803 8/28/1950 Lose your blues Eugene "Smokey" Rogers vocalist  
Decca L 5804 8/28/1950 Oh how I cry about you Eugene "Smokey" Rogers vocalist  
Decca L 5805 8/28/1950 Catch me cheatin' Eugene "Smokey" Rogers vocalist  
Decca L 5806 8/28/1950 Tulsa trot Eugene "Smokey" Rogers vocalist  
Decca L 6060 2/12/1951 Steel guitar jubilee Eugene "Smokey" Rogers vocalist  
Decca L 6061 2/12/1951 Livin', laughin', lovin' Eugene "Smokey" Rogers vocalist  
Decca L 6062 2/12/1951 wear my ribbon Eugene "Smokey" Rogers vocalist  
Decca L 6063 2/12/1951 Irma is the name of my baby Eugene "Smokey" Rogers vocalist  
Decca L 7455 10/12/1953 Goodnight Eugene "Smokey" Rogers vocalist  
(Results 26-37 of 37 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Rogers, Eugene "Smokey"," accessed May 1, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/208732.

Rogers, Eugene "Smokey". (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 1, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/208732.

"Rogers, Eugene "Smokey"." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/208732

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