Draft:James Rogers
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James Alvin Rogers (born December 22, 1949) is an American singer-songwriter, entertainer and serviceman from Chattanooga, TN. Recognized for his performances at the Chattanooga Choo Choo and Dollywood (formerly Silver Dollar City) in Pigeon Forge, TN, Rogers has performed with Suzy Bogguss, Roy Clark, Steve Martin, Ricky Skaggs and fellow Tennessee native and legend, Dolly Parton.[1]
Early Life
[edit]James Rogers was born into a humble family in Chattanooga, TN, where his parents taught him to respect hard work and music. Using music as an escape from the textile mill, James' father played the steel guitar, and his mother sang with her sisters.[2] James moved to Ft. Oglethorpe, GA when he was in elementary school and stayed in Georgia until attending the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in 1974.
Music Career
[edit]Having grown up with music all around him, James began his career performing at a night club in Chattanooga called "The Light Fantastic." When his time with "The Light Fantastic" ended, he was discovered by Allen Casey, the wealthy mind behind the Chattanooga Choo Choo. In 1973 James worked his way to a featured spot at the Choo Choo and eventually spent his time traveling all over the country performing from 1975 to 1983.[1] In addition to his time performing at the Choo Choo and Dollywood, James also wrote an original song called "Fly Eagle Fly" that was adopted as an official Bicentennial song for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and soon after for the State Senate of Tennessee by the Senate Joint Resolution 161. On July 4, 1976, Capitol Records released "Fly Eagle Fly" as a single. His song "I Guard America" was officially adopted by the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States as their official theme song in 1997.
Recognition & Honors
[edit]Honoring his service in the United States Military, Rogers has received many awards and recognitions. He received a Medal of Honor from the Daughters of the Revolution in 2011 for his leadership, trustworthiness, service and patriotism. The Military Department of Tennessee awarded him with The Adjutant General's Distinguished Patriot Medal and The Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of New York recognized him for his patriotism, support of veterans and patriotic music.
Dollywood
[edit]Trying to land himself a contract, James was encouraged to enter a talent contest at the theme park Silver Dollar City (now Dollywood) in Pigeon Forge, TN. Beating out over 2,000 contestants, James won the 1983 National Mountain Music Festival and began his work with the company. James' relationship with the Dollywood Company grew over the years, and he became their partner in Music Mansion in Pigeon Forge, TN from 1993-1998. James Rogers and Company was the name of his show, and he earned the title of "the number one most attended show in the Smokies," as well as worldwide acclaim.[1]
Retirement & Legacy
[edit]In 2012, after spending nearly 30 years performing in the Pigeon Forge area, James decided to retire his one-man show at Dollywood. After retiring, he moved back to his hometown of Chattanooga, TN to rest and see where his career would take him.[3] In 2021, James released a book titled "The Story of a Song: Fly Eagle Fly," detailing the story of his life and the importance of music.[4] James' legacy will forever be remembered in Ft. Oglethorpe, GA where in 2022 they named a street after him.
Personal Life
[edit]James joined the Tennessee National Guard in 1971 and served until 1977. While in the National Guard he married his wife Deborah and they have two children, Heather and Justin.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "James Rogers The 'Good Guy' Himself". Friends of James Rogers. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ "James Rogers The 'Good Guy' Himself". Friends of James Rogers. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ Courter, Barry. "After retiring his one-man shows at Dollywood, musician James Rogers is moving back to Chattanooga". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ Courter, Barry. "Chattanooga entertainer James Rogers releases new book, schedules free summer concert". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved 30 August 2024.