Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers (born Leonard Franklin Slye; November 5, 1911 – July 6, 1998), nicknamed the King of the Cowboys, was an American singer, actor, television host, and rodeo performer. Following early work under his given name, first as a co-founder of the Sons of the Pioneers and then as an actor, the rebranded Rogers then became one of the most famous and popular Western stars of his era. He appeared in almost 90 motion pictures, as well as numerous episodes of his self-titled radio program that lasted for nine years. Between 1951 and 1957, he hosted The Roy Rogers Show television series. In many of them, he appeared with his wife, Dale Evans; his Golden Palomino, Trigger; and his German Shepherd, Bullet. Rogers is also best remembered for his signature song "Happy Trails". His early roles were uncredited parts in films by fellow singing cowboy Gene Autry. His productions usually featured a sidekick, often either Pat Brady, Andy Devine, George "Gabby" Hayes, or Smiley Burnette. Rogers was the only country singer to be inducted twice into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Alongside Bob Hope, Mickey Rooney, and Tony Martin, he is the recipient of four stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the last of which was honored with the band mentioned above. In his later years, he lent his name to the franchise chain of Roy Rogers Restaurants. |
Birth and Death Data: Born Cincinnati (city in Ohio, United States; county seat of Hamilton County), Died July 6, 1998 (Apple Valley (incorporated town in San Bernardino County, California, United States) )
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1928 - 1951
Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, guitar, square dance caller, harmony vocal, composer, songwriter, yodeling
Notes: Also known as "King of the Cowboys."
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 1-25 of 160 records)
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor | E0VB-3547 | 10-in. | 2/8/1950 | Peter cottontail | Roy Rogers | Male vocal solo, with string band and vocal harmonies | vocalist | |
| Victor | E0VB-3589 | 10-in. | 3/30/1950 | He is so precious to me | Dale Evans ; Roy Rogers | Female-male vocal duet, with vocal ensemble and instrumental quartet | vocalist | |
| Victor | E0VB-3590 | 10-in. | 3/30/1950 | Love lifted me | Dale Evans ; Roy Rogers | Female-male vocal duet, with vocal ensemble and instrumental quartet | vocalist | |
| Victor | E0VB-3591 | 10-in. | 3/30/1950 | What a friend we have in Jesus | Dale Evans ; Roy Rogers | Female-male vocal duet, with vocal ensemble and instrumental quartet | vocalist | |
| Victor | E0VB-3592 | 10-in. | 3/30/1950 | The old rugged cross | Dale Evans ; Roy Rogers | Female-male vocal duet, with vocal ensemble and instrumental quartet | vocalist | |
| Victor | E0VB-3593 | 10-in. | 3/30/1950 | Since Jesus came into my heart | Dale Evans ; Roy Rogers | Female-male vocal duet, with vocal ensemble and instrumental quartet | vocalist | |
| Victor | E0VB-3594 | 10-in. | 3/30/1950 | In the garden | Dale Evans ; Roy Rogers | Female-male vocal duet, with vocal ensemble and instrumental quartet | vocalist | |
| Victor | E0VB-3595 | 10-in. | 3/30/1950 | I love to tell the story | Dale Evans ; Roy Rogers | Female-male vocal duet, with vocal ensemble and instrumental quartet | vocalist | |
| Victor | E0VB-3596 | 10-in. | 3/31/1950 | Where he leads me | Dale Evans ; Roy Rogers | Female vocal solo, with mixed vocal chorus and orchestra | vocalist | |
| Victor | E0VB-3597 | 10-in. | 3/31/1950 | No bed of roses | Dale Evans ; Roy Rogers | Female-male vocal duet, with vocal quartet and instrumental ensemble | vocalist, songwriter | |
| Victor | E0VB-3614 | 10-in. | 4/19/1950 | Me and my teddy bear | Roy Rogers | Male vocal solo, with male vocal quartet and string band | vocalist | |
| Victor | E0VB-3615 | 10-in. | 4/19/1950 | Buffalo Billy | Roy Rogers | Male vocal solo, with male vocal quartet and string band | vocalist | |
| Victor | E0VB-3720 | 10-in. | 7/20/1950 | Smiles are made out of sunshine | Dale Evans ; Roy Rogers | Female-male vocal duet, with string band | vocalist | |
| Victor | E0VB-3721 | 10-in. | 7/20/1950 | Easter parade | Dale Evans ; Roy Rogers | Female-male vocal duet, with male vocal quartet and string band | vocalist | |
| Victor | E0VB-3723 | 10-in. | 7/20/1950 | Yellow bonnets and polka dot shoes | Roy Rogers | Female-male vocal duet, with male vocal quartet and string band | vocalist | |
| Victor | E0VB-3728 | 10-in. | 7/20/1950 | Gabby the gobbler | Roy Rogers | Male vocal solo, with male vocal quartet and instrumental ensemble | vocalist | |
| Victor | E0VB-3729 | 10-in. | 7/20/1950 | Frosty the snow man | Roy Rogers | Male vocal solo, with male vocal quartet and instrumental ensemble | vocalist | |
| Victor | E0VB-3730 | 10-in. | 7/20/1950 | Peter cottontail | Roy Rogers | Male vocal solo, with male vocal quartet and instrumental ensemble | vocalist | |
| Victor | E0VB-3731 | 10-in. | 7/21/1950 | Ride son, ride | Roy Rogers | Male vocal solo, with male vocal quartet and instrumental ensemble | vocalist | |
| Victor | E0VB-3732 | 10-in. | 7/21/1950 | The story of Bucky and Dan | Roy Rogers | Male vocal solo, with male vocal quartet and instrumental ensemble | vocalist | |
| Victor | E0VB-3733 | 10-in. | 7/21/1950 | Cowboy's heaven | Roy Rogers | Male vocal solo, with male vocal quartet and instrumental ensemble | vocalist | |
| Victor | E1VB-0552 | 10-in. | 1/29/1951 | Katy (the hoppinest kangaroo) | Frank Worth Orchestra ; Roy Rogers ; Roy Rogers Riders ; Frank Worth | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist | |
| Victor | E1VB-0553 | 10-in. | 1/29/1951 | Yogy the dogie (with the ribbon on his tail) | Frank Worth Orchestra ; Roy Rogers ; Roy Rogers Riders ; Frank Worth | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist | |
| Victor | E1VB-0554 | 10-in. | 1/29/1951 | Pliney Jane | Frank Worth Orchestra ; Roy Rogers ; Roy Rogers Riders ; Frank Worth | Male vocal solo, with male vocal ensemble and instrumental ensemble | vocalist | |
| Victor | E1VB-0622 | 10-in. | 4/27/1951 | I wish I wuz | Frank Worth Orchestra ; Roy Rogers ; Roy Rogers Riders ; Frank Worth | Male vocal solo, with male vocal ensemble and instrumental ensemble | vocalist |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Rogers, Roy," accessed January 6, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102648.
Rogers, Roy. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 6, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102648.
"Rogers, Roy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 6 January 2026.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Roy Rogers
Discogs: Roy Rogers
Allmusic: Roy Rogers
Apple Music: Roy Rogers
Grove: Roy Rogers
RILM: Roy Rogers
IMDb: Roy Rogers
Britannica: Roy Rogers
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Rogers, Roy, 1911-1998 - https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n80001487
Wikidata: Roy Rogers - https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q367129
VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/100231037
MusicBrainz: Roy Rogers - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/5a2e5b57-b8d6-46d3-9b9b-1c7c575102ba
Fast: https://id.worldcat.org/fast/48314 - https://id.worldcat.org/fast/48314
Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license
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