James Gamble Rogers IV
Encyclopedia
James Gamble Rogers IV was a folk artist known for the recurring theme in his songs and stories about characters and places in a fictional Florida county. He died a heroic death and was honored by his native state.
, Rogers was the namesake of two prominent architects. As a young man, he chose the path of a musician. While on his way to interview for a job at an architecture firm, he attended a Serendipity Singers audition in New York
. Rogers borrowed a guitar, tried out, and was admitted to the group.
Gamble Rogers began performing around Florida in the 1960s, often performing with other noted Florida singer-songwriters Paul Champion, Jim Bellew, and Will McLean. By the 1970s, he was a regular fixture at the Florida Folk Festival
, often as the headliner. He appeared in James Szalapski
's 1976 country music
documentary film Heartworn Highways
, performing an onstage comic monologue followed by "Black Label Blues." By the 1980s, he was often featured on public television and public radio
. As a self-described "modern troubadour," Rogers influenced musicians such as Jimmy Buffett
and David Bromberg
, with the former dedicating his album Fruitcakes
to him. In their tribute to him, "Song for Gamble," Steve Gillette and his wife Cindy Mangsen describe him: "He had the gift of innocence, and a fondness for the key of 'E'."
While Rogers was camping at Flagler Beach
, a frightened young girl ran to him, begging him to help her father, who was in trouble in rough surf. Compromised by spinal arthritis that had been worsening since childhood, Rogers nevertheless grabbed an air mattress
and headed into the ocean in a rescue attempt. Both men died in the surf. In honor of his heroism, the Florida Legislature
renamed the state park Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area at Flagler Beach
.
though his earlier works referenced characters of the same names residing in non-fictional Winter Park, Florida
and Habersham County
, Georgia
.
Through years of on-stage apprenticeship, Rogers refined and edited his one-man show into a single story line - a continuum he titled, Oklawaha County Laissez-Faire
.
to present this material. Steadham, has remastered and re-released most of Rogers' songs and stories, making them available through the website of the not-for-profit Gamble Rogers Memorial Foundation, Inc.
Biography
Born in Winter Park, FloridaWinter Park, Florida
Winter Park is a suburban city in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 24,090 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 estimates, the city had a population of 28,083. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Rogers was the namesake of two prominent architects. As a young man, he chose the path of a musician. While on his way to interview for a job at an architecture firm, he attended a Serendipity Singers audition in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Rogers borrowed a guitar, tried out, and was admitted to the group.
Gamble Rogers began performing around Florida in the 1960s, often performing with other noted Florida singer-songwriters Paul Champion, Jim Bellew, and Will McLean. By the 1970s, he was a regular fixture at the Florida Folk Festival
Florida Folk Festival
Florida Folk Festival is a long-running annual folk music festival in Hamilton County, Florida. -External links:**...
, often as the headliner. He appeared in James Szalapski
James Szalapski
James Szalapski was a professional screenwriter, cinematographer, producer, and director, born in St. Paul, Minnesota, but who worked in New York City. His works include many documentaries, most notably Heartworn Highways, a 1975 documentary on several country music artists...
's 1976 country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
documentary film Heartworn Highways
Heartworn Highways
Heartworn Highways is documentary film by James Szalapski whose vision captured some of the founders of the Outlaw Country movement in Texas and Tennessee in the last weeks of 1975 and the first weeks of 1976...
, performing an onstage comic monologue followed by "Black Label Blues." By the 1980s, he was often featured on public television and public radio
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
. As a self-described "modern troubadour," Rogers influenced musicians such as Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
James William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
and David Bromberg
David Bromberg
David Bromberg is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. Bromberg has an eclectic style, playing bluegrass, blues, folk, jazz, country and western, and rock and roll equally well. He is known for his quirky, humorous lyrics, and the ability to play rhythm and lead guitar at the...
, with the former dedicating his album Fruitcakes
Fruitcakes (album)
Fruitcakes is the 19th studio album by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. This album was released in May 1994, coming off a five year hiatus from the recording studio since 1989's Off to See the Lizard.-Chart performance:...
to him. In their tribute to him, "Song for Gamble," Steve Gillette and his wife Cindy Mangsen describe him: "He had the gift of innocence, and a fondness for the key of 'E'."
While Rogers was camping at Flagler Beach
Flagler Beach, Florida
Flagler Beach is a city in Flagler and Volusia counties in the U.S. state of Florida. The population was 4,954 at the 2000 census, with an estimated population of 5,228 in 2004.Flagler Beach is part of the Palm Coast Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, a frightened young girl ran to him, begging him to help her father, who was in trouble in rough surf. Compromised by spinal arthritis that had been worsening since childhood, Rogers nevertheless grabbed an air mattress
Air mattress
An air mattress is an inflatable mattress/sleeping pad. Due to its buoyancy, it is also often used as a water toy/flotation device, and in UK is termed as a lilo .-For sleeping:...
and headed into the ocean in a rescue attempt. Both men died in the surf. In honor of his heroism, the Florida Legislature
Florida Legislature
The Florida State Legislature is the term often used to refer to the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Florida Constitution states that "The legislative power of the state shall be vested in a legislature of the State of Florida," composed of a Senate...
renamed the state park Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area at Flagler Beach
Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area at Flagler Beach
Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area is a Florida State Park located at Flagler Beach, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intra-Coastal Waterway on SR A1A. It is about north of Daytona Beach and about south of St. Augustine. The park is named for Gamble Rogers, a Florida folk singer....
.
Songs and stories
A recurring theme in Rogers' songs and stories are the characters and places in the fictional Oklawaha County, FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
though his earlier works referenced characters of the same names residing in non-fictional Winter Park, Florida
Winter Park, Florida
Winter Park is a suburban city in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 24,090 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 estimates, the city had a population of 28,083. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and Habersham County
Habersham County, Georgia
Habersham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 15, 1818, and named for Colonel Joseph Habersham. As of 2000, the population was 35,902. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 42,272. Clarkesville is the county seat.Chartered in 1823, the...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
Through years of on-stage apprenticeship, Rogers refined and edited his one-man show into a single story line - a continuum he titled, Oklawaha County Laissez-Faire
Oklawaha County Laissez-Faire
Oklawaha County Laissez-Faire is the fourth album from folk singer Gamble Rogers.-Track listing:#"Orange Blossom Special " - 2:04#"The Philosophers" - 2:30#"Nine Pound Hammer" - 6:07#"Dogs and Dawgs" - 3:54...
.
Oklawaha Records
During the years since Rogers' death, his agent and business manager, Charles Steadham, acquired the intellectual property rights to Rogers' work and founded Oklawaha Records in Gainesville, FloridaGainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
to present this material. Steadham, has remastered and re-released most of Rogers' songs and stories, making them available through the website of the not-for-profit Gamble Rogers Memorial Foundation, Inc.
| Catalog Number | Album/CD | Year | Originally published by | Original Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OK1001 | The Lord Gives Me Grace And the Devil Gives Me Style The Lord Gives Me Grace And the Devil Gives Me Style The Lord Gives Me Grace And the Devil Gives Me Style is the first album from folk singer Gamble Rogers.-Track listing:#"Blood Mountain" - 3:42#"The Great Maitland Turkey Farm Massacre of Nineteen and Fifty-Three" - 1:26#"Honky Tonk Heroes" - 3:43... |
1996 | Mountain Railroad Records, Inc | 1977 |
| OK1002 | Gamble Rogers Live: The Warm Way Home | 1996 | Mountain Railroad Records, Inc | 1980 |
| OK1003 | Sorry Is As Sorry Does Sorry Is As Sorry Does -Track listing:#"Troubador Emeritus" - 2:06#"Still Bill Trades his Dawg / "Old Jim Dog"" - 2:52#"Bovine Midwifery" - 2:34#"Sill Bill's Blind Walk" - 4:14#"Hell's Belles" - 1:48#"War Bunny" - 3:23#"Hard Times Don't Scare Me None" - 2:06... |
2001 | Flying Fish Records Flying Fish Records Flying Fish Records was a Chicago-based eclectic blues and country record label. It was founded in 1974 by Bruce Kaplan, former president of the University of Chicago's Folklore Society.... |
1986 |
| OK1004 | Oklawaha County Laissez-Faire Oklawaha County Laissez-Faire Oklawaha County Laissez-Faire is the fourth album from folk singer Gamble Rogers.-Track listing:#"Orange Blossom Special " - 2:04#"The Philosophers" - 2:30#"Nine Pound Hammer" - 6:07#"Dogs and Dawgs" - 3:54... |
1996 | Oklawaha Records | 1996 |
| OK1005 | Signs of a Misspent Youth Signs of a Misspent Youth Signs of a Misspent Youth is the fifth album from folk singer Gamble Rogers.-Track listing:#"Ramblin' Choke-Style - Part I" - 3:43#"I am a Pilgrim" - 2:49#"Rosewood" - 2:42#"Still Bill's Blues" - 1:28#"Careless Love" - 1:27... |
1999 | Oklawaha Records | 1999 |
| OK1006 | Good Causes Good Causes -Track listing:#"The Masterbuilders" - 2:09#"Good Causes" - 7:04#"Long Legged Woman" - 2:07#"Bed to Breakfast" - 5:13#"Home Grown Lucifer " - 3:01#"Blood Mountain" - 3:52#"Jury Man Blues" - 2:42#"Alabaster Sally" - 2:13... |
2003 | Oklawaha Records | 2003 |