1. Roy Rogers (born Leonard Franklin Slye) (November 5, 1911 – July 6, 1998), was a singer and cowboy actor, as well as the namesake of the famous Roy Rogers Restaurants chain. He and his second wife Dale Evans, his golden palomino Trigger, and his German Shepherd Dog, Bullet, were featured in over one hundred movies and The Roy Rogers Show. The show ran on radio for nine years before moving to television from 1951 through 1957. His productions usually featured a sidekick, often either Pat Brady, (who drove a jeep called "Nellybelle") or the crotchety Gabby Hayes. Roy's nickname was "King of the Cowboys". Dale's nickname was "Queen of the West." For many Americans (and non-Americans), he was the embodiment of a cowboy.
2. “Roy Rogers means the modern master in the art of slide guitar…His versatility with the technique is nothing short of astonishing.” ~ All Music Guide
Roy Rogers is considered one of the world's premier slide guitarists performing today. With 8 Grammy nominations as producer and performer, he is also an internationally acclaimed producer, having produced recordings for John Lee Hooker (4 Grammy Nominations and 2 Grammy Awards) and Ramblin' Jack Elliott (2 Grammy Nominations). He has received numerous accolades for his songwriting (Grammy Nomination for ‘Song for Jessica’, Grammy nomination for Bonnie Raitt for Best Rock Female Vocal on ‘Gnawin’ On It which he co-wrote), as well as his work on movie soundtracks and television. Split Decision, is his latest studio recording with his band, The Delta Rhythm Kings which was released by Blind Pig in 2009. In May of 2011, Roy released a collaboration with The Doors Keyboardist, Ray Manzarek entitled ‘Translucent Blues’ also available on Blind Pig which debut #6 on the Billboard charts, and reached #1 on the American Roots Rock Chart this past summer. Ray and Roy are currently in the studio working on a new project - #3 for this rare collaboration. This year - with 5 countries on the radar screen and touring the U.S. and Canada - he continues to ignite and inspire audiences across the globe.
Born in Redding, California in 1950, he 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. He 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).
Shortly after returning from Europe, Rogers was asked to join John Lee Hooker's Coast to Coast Blues Band. During the four years he toured with Hooker as a featured guitarist/vocalist, Rogers established a strong personal and professional relationship with the venerated blues legend. Said Hooker, "I just can't say enough good things about Roy. He plays so good. Some of the best slide I've heard, best blues I've heard. He gets real deep and funky, and he masters whatever he plays." Near the end of his tenure in Hooker's band, Roy began to open shows as a solo act, giving him a chance to perform some of the classic country blues and original compositions he'd been perfecting for years. He then went on to produce the historically important four recordings for John Lee Hooker. "The Healer" "Mr. Lucky" "Boom Boom" "Chill Out" - some tracks involving co producer credits with Ry Cooder and Van Morrison.
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. The rave reviews in the national press and extensive radio play that followed further enhanced Roy's growing reputation. Roy's third solo release, Blues On The Range was also issued on Blind Pig in 1989 and continued to win new fans to his incredible slide guitar, arrangements and songwriting skills.
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.
In 1991, Rogers hooked up with another Bay Area artist, harmonica virtuoso and vocalist Norton Buffalo to produce the highly acclaimed release R & B. The album is a true American array of acoustic tunes from blues to ballads capturing the incredible chemistry of these powerful performers. The cut "Song For Jessica" received a Grammy Award nomination in 1991 and another track, "Ain't No Bread In The Breadbox" was made into a performance video which received airplay on many outlets, including The Nashville Network.
The duo came back in 1992 with the Blind Pig release Travellin' Tracks, featuring live performances as well as studio tracks where they are joined by a rhythm section on several cuts. The dynamic interplay between the pair is undeniable and the release furthered the artist's already outstanding reputations.
As a recording artist, as well as a producer and composer, Rogers’ has recorded not only on his own to critical acclaim, but with others including Carlos Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, Steve Miller, Sammy Hagar, Ray Manzarek and a slew of other great artists. He has been touring worldwide since 1982 and has performed in some of the world’s most prestigious festivals including Montreux, North Sea Jazz Festival, Pori, Pistoia, New Orleans Jazz Festival and more. He continues to tour worldwide with stirring live performances. His ability to electrify and move audiences is legendary. Always eclectic in approach, Roy Rogers is consistently stretching the boundaries of slide guitar.
“Thatʼs not a slide on Roy Rogersʼ pinky, itʼs a time machine. With it, Rogers transports you to the Mississippi Deltaʼs past and future. ......” ~ Guitar Player
US slide guitarist Roy Rogers plays blues, country and rock music. Aware of the inevitable confusion, Rogers named his publishing company "Chops Not Chaps Music." The discography of this profile contains the following albums which are from him and/or from Roy Rogers & Norton Buffalo:
Split Decision
Blues on the Range
Slideways
Pleasure and Pain
Rhythm & Groove
Slide Zone
Chops Not Chaps
Slidewinder
Slide of Hand
Live! At The Sierra Nevada Brewery Big Room (with the Delta Rhythm Kings)
Travellin' Tracks (with Norton Buffalo)
R&B (with Norton Buffalo)
Roots of Our Nature (with Norton Buffalo)
Official Website: Roy Rogers
3. Roy Rogers is a house producer who has released 2 records on the famous Vegas label.
A Four Legged Friend
Roy Rogers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He'll never let you down
He's honest and faithful right up to the end
That wonderful one-two-three-four legged friend
A woman's like cactus and cactus can hurt
'Cause she's just a tight-waisted winky-eyed flirt
She'll soon have your land and your pride and your gold
A four legged friend, a four legged friend
He'll never let you down
He's honest and faithful right up to the end
That wonderful one-two-three-four legged friend
A two legged hombre is worthless as sand
He'll smile like a saint with a gun in his hand
He'll promise to stick by your side like a pal
But he'll also promise the same to your gal
A four legged friend, a four legged friend
He'll never let you down
He's honest and faithful right up to the end
That wonderful one-two-three-four legged friend
Who carries your burden, who carries your load
On tumbleweed land or a long dusty road
Who asks you no questions, who tells you no lies
That four legged friend with the two honest eyes
A four legged friend, a four legged friend
He'll never let you down
He's honest and faithful right up to the end
That wonderful four legged friend
That wonderful one-two-three-four legged friend
The lyrics to Roy Rogers's song A Four Legged Friend are a tribute to the loyalty, honesty, and companionship of a dog. The chorus emphasizes the consistency and dependability of a four-legged friend. The singer contrasts the fickle and exploitative nature of human relationships with the steadfastness of a dog. The second verse compares a woman to a cactus, describing her as a flirt who will take everything from a man, leaving him with nothing. The third verse warns against trusting a man, referring to him as a two-legged hombre who is only loyal to his gun and his own interests, and who will not hesitate to betray a friend. In contrast, a dog is portrayed as a faithful companion who carries a person's burdens, without judging or deceiving them.
Overall, the lyrics celebrate the loyalty and honesty of dogs, contrasting them with human relationships that may be selfish, untrustworthy, or even harmful. The song suggests that a dog can be a better friend and companion than a person, offering an unconditional love and acceptance that is rare in human relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
A four legged friend, a four legged friend
A loyal animal companion with four legs
He'll never let you down
Always dependable and reliable
He's honest and faithful right up to the end
Displays loyalty and truthfulness till the end
That wonderful one-two-three-four legged friend
An affectionate reference to an animal friend with all four legs
A woman's like cactus and cactus can hurt
Women can be like prickly cacti and inflict emotional pain
'Cause she's just a tight-waisted winky-eyed flirt
A seductive, flirtatious woman who enjoys the attention of men
She'll soon have your land and your pride and your gold
A manipulative woman who may deceive men for her own gain
And bury you deep long before you grow old
A woman may cause irreparable harm and destroy a man's life
A two legged hombre is worthless as sand
A man without integrity is as useless as sand
He'll smile like a saint with a gun in his hand
A deceitful man who may act virtuous while holding a weapon
He'll promise to stick by your side like a pal
A man who may falsely claim to be a loyal friend
But he'll also promise the same to your gal
A man who may cheat and make false promises to a woman
Who carries your burden, who carries your load
A faithful animal who helps shoulder a person's responsibilities
On tumbleweed land or a long dusty road
A loyal companion in any terrain or situation
Who asks you no questions, who tells you no lies
An animal friend who does not judge or deceive
That four legged friend with the two honest eyes
A beloved animal companion with two sincere eyes
That wonderful four-legged friend
An endearing reference to a cherished four-legged companion
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HOPE ENTERPRISES, INC., JACK BROOKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Glenn Johnson
Glenn Johnson. Wonderful childhood memories of the great Western era.Love Roy,Gene,Tex and all those that have gone on but left behind marvellous recordings.Going to the USA for the first time on a tour,to Texas and onwards to Nashville in October.A lifetime dream come true!I sing this song in my stage act from time to time and it`s amazing how many Western fans are out there.So,many thanks for uploading this cowboy classic.
Earthling
Better left a lifetime dream, be prepared to be disappointed.
Glenn Johnson
Glenn Johnson Earthling,thanks for the tip! I am aware that the real country music is in Texas,these days,not in Nashville,so i am prepared for this.However,i shall enjoy just seeing the country.When i return home,i can say that i have done it.I hate rap so,if it comes up in Nashville amongst the country,i shall be the first to walk out and i have told my cousin(joining me on the trip),she will be right behind me.Hopefully,it won`t come to that.Thanks,Appreciate your comment.
Dawn Johnson
@Glenn Johnson well. How did it go!
Iona Downie
I love this song!x
Ian Haynes
Excellent, great song.
Buaile Bawns
My parents called me Roy after Roy Rogers. Thank goodness they didn't call me Trigger ot Bullet. My parents took me to the Roy Rogers show in Belfast in the 1950s and I remember Trigger doing counting tricks with his foreleg.
Dawn Johnson
Saw them live? Incredible
Timothy Morgereth
A horse has gotta do what a horse has gotta do...❤
Heather Thomson
I knew what it was about being a big western fan thanks to my Dad :)