Stan Rogers

Stanley Allison Rogers (November 29, 1949–June 2, 1983) was a Canadian folk musician and composer. He was born in Hamilton, Ontario and died in an airplane fire in Cincinnati at the age of 33, succumbing to smoke inhallation while helping other passengers off the plane.

Rogers was noted for his finely crafted traditional sounding songs based on Canadian history and the daily lives of working people, especially in the fishing villages of the Maritime provinces. His best known pieces include "Northwest Passage", "Barrett's Privateers", "The Mary Ellen Carter" and "The Idiot".

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

History and Discography

Stan was signed to RCA records for a short period of time in the 1970s, when he wrote and recorded some of his own material, as well as writing material for a band called Le Maitre from Montreal. This period resulted in five singles, Here's To You Santa Claus in 1970, The Fat Girl Rag in 1971, Three Pennies and Guysborough Train in 1973, and Passed Fifty in 1973.

In 1977, Stan formed Fogarty's Cove in 1977, Turnaround in 1978, Between the Breaks ... Live! in 1979, Northwest Passage in 1981, From Fresh Water in 1984, as well as the posthumuous albums Home in Halifax in 1994, Poetic Justice in 1996, and From Coffee House to Concert Hall in 1999.

For the Family was also released in 1983 on another label.