Stan Rogers

Stanley Allison Rogers (November 29, 1949–June 2, 1983) was a Canadian folk musician and composer. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, his life was cut short when he died in an airliner accident in Cincinnati at the age of 33. A larger-than-life figure, both figuratively and literally, his influence on Canadian folk music has been deep and lasting.

Related Topics:
November 29 - 1949 - June 2 - 1983 - Canadian - Composer - Hamilton, Ontario - Cincinnati

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Rogers was noted for his rich, baritone voice and his finely-crafted, traditional-sounding songs, which sometimes had a Celtic feel due to frequent use of DADGAD guitar tuning. His material was frequently based on Canadian history and the daily lives of working people, especially in the fishing villages of the Maritime provinces and, later, on the farms of the Canadian prairies. His best known pieces include "Northwest Passage", "Barrett's Privateers", "The Mary Ellen Carter", "The Idiot", "The Field Behind the Plow", "Lies", and "Forty-Five Years".

Related Topics:
DADGAD - Canadian history - Maritime provinces - Canadian prairies - Northwest Passage - Barrett's Privateers - The Mary Ellen Carter

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Rogers died of smoke inhalation when the flight he was travelling on, Air Canada Flight 797, caught fire on the tarmac at Cincinnati. Although firm evidence is lacking, legend says that Rogers could have gotten off the plane but stayed behind to help others.

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Stan Rogers's legacy includes his recordings, songbook, and plays. His songs are still being covered by other musicians, and are perennial favourites at Canadian campfires and song circles. Members of Stan's band, including his brother Garnet Rogers, continue to be active performers and form a significant part of the fabric of contemporary Canadian folk music. It can only be imagined how many more notable songs Rogers would have written had he lived longer.

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The Stan Rogers Folk Festival is held every year in Canso, Nova Scotia.

Related Topics:
Stan Rogers Folk Festival - Canso, Nova Scotia

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His song "Northwest Passage" was featured in the last episode of the TV show Due South; his song "Barrett's Privateers" had been previously featured. In the 2005 CTV made-for-TV movie on the life of Terry Fox, Stan's "Turnaround" is the music on the closing shot, linking the two Canadian icons.

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Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada 1999-2005 highlighted Stan's career in a CBC TV program called "One Warm Line"; she also quoted Stan in her inaugural address.

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