#6 - Billy Rogers, you will be sadly missed. I wish you could've stayed around just a little longer, just for you to know how much you meant to us. Rest in Peace, Billy.
#5 - I now have most of it again, although not in stereo anymore but still sounds great. I checked the internet for years and couldn't find any mention of Billy Rogers anywhere. Then today, just for the heck of it, I tried again. And I found this site and couldn't believe my luck. I am so sorry to hear that he passed away back in 1987 from the same type of problem that plagued so many of our generation.
#4 - In 1975, I lost the tape recording of that "Soundstage" show and was devastated. I had been one of those unfortunate musicians that struggled with heroin addiction on and off for many years and never really did anything with my life. Luckily though, I was still alive. Years later, after having finally beat my addiction for years (been clean now for 17 years), I ran into a friend of mine who I had given a copy of some of the songs on that Soundstage show.
#3 - I had been playing jazz-rock funk type music for a few years already and was living in Boston, going to Berklee College of Music. Everybody I played the tape to (mostly guitarists at Berklee) was blown away by Billy's playing. They just loved him and there were some guitarists in the bunch that went on to do a lot of things, people like Jamie Glasser, Mick Gaffney, Michael Thompson, Kevin Eubanks, and many more that I can't even remember their names.
#2 - The next day at I couldn't stop listening to his solo's. His style was so very original and just hit a chord in me. I had been an extremely good guitarist, studied mostly Hendrix and Zappa and Santana and Larry Carlton and so many other guitarists of the day. I had grown up with the Beatles and 60's Rock and also loved 60's Jazz. Stuff like Miles and Coltrane, etc. And of course the Crusaders.
#1 - I first heard Billy Rogers on TV during a "Soundstage" show featuring The Crusaders and Roy Ayers. I was shocked to see that Larry Carlton, who I loved as a guitarist, was not there and was replaced by a guitarist I had never heard of named Billy Rogers. But then he started his first solo..., and I couldn't stop listening to it. Here was this guy just blowing away Larry Carlton. A different style, but still blowing him away. I was very lucky that I had taped the whole TV show that night.
Saw Billy play solo back in the early 80's at Julio's in West Omaha. My bro-in-law who owned Brown's music at the time took me to hear him play. Billy was sitting on a little chair with an amp next to him. He just closed his eyes and tilted his head back and made sweet music. A very gifted musician to say the least. R.I.P. Billy.
I heard him play in '69 or 70, I had just moved to Omaha in Jan '69 and went to Pratt school also. I believe Billy went there in the mid 60's. I never got the jazz thing but played in a rock and country rock bands around Omaha in the 70's. He sure could play that jazz.
Billy Rogers and John Maller were my two closest friends. To all of the people that knew them I was known as "John and Billy's Karen". I love them and miss them both and think about them every day, and will always for the rest of my life.
@johnandbillyskaren , well I knew John and was married to Bill, stayed and lived in Johns house for a while while living in Omaha, I thought Johns wifes name was Karen, crazy times back then. Hey there was no better guitarist then Bill, he could blow that is for sure, been gone 24 yrs, seems hard to believe, John also was a great musican, we had a blast back in those days going to the clubs to hear them play.
How nice to hear him and see his gift shared with everyone in this digital era. I knew Billy very well and have endless stories I could share. It's great to see others appreciate his musical accomplishments. Believe me, Billy was very gifted in ways that extended beyond his guitar playing. The one thing that always struck me was his technical control of the guitar was effortless. He was able to get his ideas expressed without any limitation.
Saw Billy Rogers twice in '78 (both time with the Crusaders). First time was Memorial Day Weekend at an event called "Disneyland and All that Jazz." My best friend drug me there (I was more of a rocker at heart). There were acts all over the park but at the Space Mountain area the Crusaders were sharing the stage with Sea Wind. Each band played 3 sets so we stayed for all 6. Incredible musicianship! Then later that year, my family took me to the old Universal Amphitheater to see them there, too
I studied guitar with Don Archer in Des Moines back in the early seventies; Don mentioned Billy often - he said he had shown Billy some harmony in the 60s, so Billy must have been in his teens. I never heard him play though and this is the very first time I ever heard anything by him. I hear a lot of Pat Martino but also very some licks that I swear Metheny stole from him i.e. octave displacement, Joe Diorio kind of stuff.
@taildragger51 This is Troy, when I knew him in Omaha, there was a big Jimmy Smith influence at the time, and the style of guitar that accompanied him. You can here that influence in Billy, only he took it to a bigger level. He was polished and terrific at 21. I just remembered I did see Billy in 71, and Mike Nelson and I talked to him. He seemed really happy to see us. I complimented him and Mike told him of a band I was in , in Hawaii, High Speed was the band.Mike was in Awe of Billy's guitar
My name is Troy Mize, I went toPratt High School with Billy Rodgers in 65 and 66. I play the drums.Billy,Mike Nelson and I played in a little combo for a school function.Billy was ahead of us musically even back then! But he didn't have an ego, he was one of the nicest, considerate guys I ever knew. He wanted to start a band with me. But I was engaged with a combo named The Continentals (Omaha) then. I never saw him again after Pratt High( Omaha, Ne.). I was happy for his success.
I had a guitarist friend who knew Billy personally. He told me awesome stories about his virtuosity on the instrument. He was my friend's favorite guitar player in the late 70s and early 80s.
@taildragger51 billy was my sifu,taught me the chromatic scales.on pico blvd WLA
the kindest guitarist you'd want to know. at the club the stage one ,he let me sit in
using his guitar, strings? heaviest known to man. but Bill played on them with joy in 1977, I was for a moment the student. a great master, a sorely missed friend.
I had the privilege of seeing Billy Rogers with The Crusaders when they played London's Hammersmith Odeon in 1977. As much as I would have liked to have seen Larry Carlton, I was blown away by Billy's playing and how well he fitted in with the band. I was not disappointed.
@muso247 Just saw this comment. Ah yes, i was at that same concert at Hammersmith. I went to see George Benson the following month and preferred Billy's playing. I couldn't hear GB at all (distortion).
Dave , I am sooo happy to see this on You tube, I was here tonight and found this, wow, so many never got to hear Bill(I called him Bill,lol) maybe caught him live, of course that would have had to have been before 1987, what a guy he was, always in my heart.
@hnyyes well, I wish you would not have removed your acct from here t
aildragger, I've had losts of stuff going on, and missed a cpl of your messages, well here tonight catching Billy,lol and see your comments, if you pass by here, I still have the same acct here, would love to hear from you, I also of course like "Tell me a bedtime story" for many reasons, I have the cd in the car and listen to it often, thanks Dave : )
@taildragger53 I tried to send you a message but it said I had to add you as a friend so I sent you a friend request, happy you happened by here and saw my message, been a crazy cpl yrs, good to hear you are better, and give me a holla
I can't believe that up to now I had never heard of this guy - what a great player - and I bet he must have been a 'gem' of a person as well - thanks for turning me on to this !
This is so great, I first heard of Billy when I was living in Calif. A Friend of mine made a tape for me, It knocked me out. So great to here him here.........Great post man, and many thanks for doing so............
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I'm a drummer that played with Billy off and on after he left the Crusaders. However, sometimes I get tired of telling Guitar players about how good and versatile BILLY ROGER was. What a wonderful Man and AWESOME MUSICIAN.
As always, Dave, nice job. I still use a couple things I learned from him back when we three were living for a short time on Whipple St, North Hollywood. Too bad there aren't more Vids of him playing live. He was a legend in his own time among the great musicians who knew. It's funny. He was the first person from whom I heard the joke; "A legend in his own mind." That was not the case with Billy though. Billy was the real deal.
#6 - Billy Rogers, you will be sadly missed. I wish you could've stayed around just a little longer, just for you to know how much you meant to us. Rest in Peace, Billy.
artjamz2 2 months ago
#5 - I now have most of it again, although not in stereo anymore but still sounds great. I checked the internet for years and couldn't find any mention of Billy Rogers anywhere. Then today, just for the heck of it, I tried again. And I found this site and couldn't believe my luck. I am so sorry to hear that he passed away back in 1987 from the same type of problem that plagued so many of our generation.
artjamz2 2 months ago
#4 - In 1975, I lost the tape recording of that "Soundstage" show and was devastated. I had been one of those unfortunate musicians that struggled with heroin addiction on and off for many years and never really did anything with my life. Luckily though, I was still alive. Years later, after having finally beat my addiction for years (been clean now for 17 years), I ran into a friend of mine who I had given a copy of some of the songs on that Soundstage show.
artjamz2 2 months ago
@artjamz2 #4 - (should read) In 1985, I lost the tape ..
artjamz2 2 months ago
@artjamz2 In 1985, not 1975
artjamz2 2 months ago
#3 - I had been playing jazz-rock funk type music for a few years already and was living in Boston, going to Berklee College of Music. Everybody I played the tape to (mostly guitarists at Berklee) was blown away by Billy's playing. They just loved him and there were some guitarists in the bunch that went on to do a lot of things, people like Jamie Glasser, Mick Gaffney, Michael Thompson, Kevin Eubanks, and many more that I can't even remember their names.
artjamz2 2 months ago
#2 - The next day at I couldn't stop listening to his solo's. His style was so very original and just hit a chord in me. I had been an extremely good guitarist, studied mostly Hendrix and Zappa and Santana and Larry Carlton and so many other guitarists of the day. I had grown up with the Beatles and 60's Rock and also loved 60's Jazz. Stuff like Miles and Coltrane, etc. And of course the Crusaders.
artjamz2 2 months ago
#1 - I first heard Billy Rogers on TV during a "Soundstage" show featuring The Crusaders and Roy Ayers. I was shocked to see that Larry Carlton, who I loved as a guitarist, was not there and was replaced by a guitarist I had never heard of named Billy Rogers. But then he started his first solo..., and I couldn't stop listening to it. Here was this guy just blowing away Larry Carlton. A different style, but still blowing him away. I was very lucky that I had taped the whole TV show that night.
artjamz2 2 months ago
Saw Billy play solo back in the early 80's at Julio's in West Omaha. My bro-in-law who owned Brown's music at the time took me to hear him play. Billy was sitting on a little chair with an amp next to him. He just closed his eyes and tilted his head back and made sweet music. A very gifted musician to say the least. R.I.P. Billy.
ABB3000 9 months ago
My Buddy, I miss Him, I was with Him about a week before his Passing..
Truly Missed one Of the Greats..
RICHIELOVESAXWORLD1 9 months ago
I was his roadie in the mid 70's with the Crusaders, He was a wonderful cat besides a great guitarist !
georgec2468 9 months ago
@georgec2468 - Hey, man. Tell us which Crusader albums he was on so we can You Tube them. Thanx.
aammirr 3 months ago
I heard him play in '69 or 70, I had just moved to Omaha in Jan '69 and went to Pratt school also. I believe Billy went there in the mid 60's. I never got the jazz thing but played in a rock and country rock bands around Omaha in the 70's. He sure could play that jazz.
garykcarpenter 9 months ago
Billy Rogers and John Maller were my two closest friends. To all of the people that knew them I was known as "John and Billy's Karen". I love them and miss them both and think about them every day, and will always for the rest of my life.
johnandbillyskaren 9 months ago
@johnandbillyskaren , well I knew John and was married to Bill, stayed and lived in Johns house for a while while living in Omaha, I thought Johns wifes name was Karen, crazy times back then. Hey there was no better guitarist then Bill, he could blow that is for sure, been gone 24 yrs, seems hard to believe, John also was a great musican, we had a blast back in those days going to the clubs to hear them play.
hnyyes 6 months ago
Billy is still a legend around here (Omaha-Lincoln, NE)...........just an amazing player.
ReubenAdkins 10 months ago
How nice to hear him and see his gift shared with everyone in this digital era. I knew Billy very well and have endless stories I could share. It's great to see others appreciate his musical accomplishments. Believe me, Billy was very gifted in ways that extended beyond his guitar playing. The one thing that always struck me was his technical control of the guitar was effortless. He was able to get his ideas expressed without any limitation.
Juewettb 11 months ago
Saw Billy Rogers twice in '78 (both time with the Crusaders). First time was Memorial Day Weekend at an event called "Disneyland and All that Jazz." My best friend drug me there (I was more of a rocker at heart). There were acts all over the park but at the Space Mountain area the Crusaders were sharing the stage with Sea Wind. Each band played 3 sets so we stayed for all 6. Incredible musicianship! Then later that year, my family took me to the old Universal Amphitheater to see them there, too
ipykipyk 1 year ago
smokin' : )))))
SIRONEDRAGON 1 year ago
I studied guitar with Don Archer in Des Moines back in the early seventies; Don mentioned Billy often - he said he had shown Billy some harmony in the 60s, so Billy must have been in his teens. I never heard him play though and this is the very first time I ever heard anything by him. I hear a lot of Pat Martino but also very some licks that I swear Metheny stole from him i.e. octave displacement, Joe Diorio kind of stuff.
filstfn 1 year ago
@taildragger51 This is Troy, when I knew him in Omaha, there was a big Jimmy Smith influence at the time, and the style of guitar that accompanied him. You can here that influence in Billy, only he took it to a bigger level. He was polished and terrific at 21. I just remembered I did see Billy in 71, and Mike Nelson and I talked to him. He seemed really happy to see us. I complimented him and Mike told him of a band I was in , in Hawaii, High Speed was the band.Mike was in Awe of Billy's guitar
MrOtiscriblecoblis 1 year ago 3
My name is Troy Mize, I went toPratt High School with Billy Rodgers in 65 and 66. I play the drums.Billy,Mike Nelson and I played in a little combo for a school function.Billy was ahead of us musically even back then! But he didn't have an ego, he was one of the nicest, considerate guys I ever knew. He wanted to start a band with me. But I was engaged with a combo named The Continentals (Omaha) then. I never saw him again after Pratt High( Omaha, Ne.). I was happy for his success.
MrOtiscriblecoblis 1 year ago
I had a guitarist friend who knew Billy personally. He told me awesome stories about his virtuosity on the instrument. He was my friend's favorite guitar player in the late 70s and early 80s.
midiman51 1 year ago
I never heard of Bill. What an awesome guitarist. God bless his soul.
davidgrech1 1 year ago
@taildragger51 billy was my sifu,taught me the chromatic scales.on pico blvd WLA
the kindest guitarist you'd want to know. at the club the stage one ,he let me sit in
using his guitar, strings? heaviest known to man. but Bill played on them with joy in 1977, I was for a moment the student. a great master, a sorely missed friend.
bostonbrixx 1 year ago
I had the privilege of seeing Billy Rogers with The Crusaders when they played London's Hammersmith Odeon in 1977. As much as I would have liked to have seen Larry Carlton, I was blown away by Billy's playing and how well he fitted in with the band. I was not disappointed.
muso247 1 year ago
@muso247 Just saw this comment. Ah yes, i was at that same concert at Hammersmith. I went to see George Benson the following month and preferred Billy's playing. I couldn't hear GB at all (distortion).
taildragger53 6 months ago
Dave , I am sooo happy to see this on You tube, I was here tonight and found this, wow, so many never got to hear Bill(I called him Bill,lol) maybe caught him live, of course that would have had to have been before 1987, what a guy he was, always in my heart.
hnyyes 2 years ago
@taildragger51 , hey havent heard from you in a while, just tuning into the old mans music,lol,
hnyyes 2 years ago
@hnyyes well, I wish you would not have removed your acct from here t
aildragger, I've had losts of stuff going on, and missed a cpl of your messages, well here tonight catching Billy,lol and see your comments, if you pass by here, I still have the same acct here, would love to hear from you, I also of course like "Tell me a bedtime story" for many reasons, I have the cd in the car and listen to it often, thanks Dave : )
hnyyes 9 months ago
@hnyyes My apologies...i haven't been too well of late but i'm better now.
Sorry about the hiatus....i've gone up from '51' to '53'.
taildragger53 6 months ago
@taildragger53 I tried to send you a message but it said I had to add you as a friend so I sent you a friend request, happy you happened by here and saw my message, been a crazy cpl yrs, good to hear you are better, and give me a holla
hnyyes 6 months ago
The "Art Tatum" of the Guitar,.......After all these years, I still haven't heard any better.
Omaha, Who'd a thunk it?
Dan Papaila
papaila 2 years ago 3
@papaila Are you from Omaha? I know your name. You play guitar as well right?
myjazzvibes 1 year ago
I can't believe that up to now I had never heard of this guy - what a great player - and I bet he must have been a 'gem' of a person as well - thanks for turning me on to this !
bernieholland775 2 years ago
wonderful
perromanchado 2 years ago
Great guitar work !! His playing reminds me of Hank Garland... : )
SIRONEDRAGON 2 years ago
Dave Great job, Bout time ! Billy was the master. Miss you bro, next stop in Vegas give me a call. Your OLD buddy, Michael Miller
mgtm1012 3 years ago
This is so great, I first heard of Billy when I was living in Calif. A Friend of mine made a tape for me, It knocked me out. So great to here him here.........Great post man, and many thanks for doing so............
steveykeeffe 3 years ago
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I'm a drummer that played with Billy off and on after he left the Crusaders. However, sometimes I get tired of telling Guitar players about how good and versatile BILLY ROGER was. What a wonderful Man and AWESOME MUSICIAN.
Thanks..... Stephen Foster
sfoster911 3 years ago
Thx for posting this Dave....Billy finally gets his due
wantedbyeveryonellll 3 years ago 2
Comment removed
hnyyes 2 years ago
As always, Dave, nice job. I still use a couple things I learned from him back when we three were living for a short time on Whipple St, North Hollywood. Too bad there aren't more Vids of him playing live. He was a legend in his own time among the great musicians who knew. It's funny. He was the first person from whom I heard the joke; "A legend in his own mind." That was not the case with Billy though. Billy was the real deal.
NimbleFingrs 3 years ago