James Gamble Rogers IV

Infobox musical artist
Name = Gamble Rogers
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = James Gamble Rogers IV
Born = birth date|1937|1|31|mf=y
flagicon|USA Winter Park, Florida, U.S.
Died = death date and age|1991|10|10|1937|1|31|mf=y
Instrument = Vocals, guitar
Genre = Folk
Occupation = Singer-songwriter, author, artist, actor, screenwriter
Years_active = 1981-1991
Label = Oklawaha Records, Flying Fish Records, Inc, Mountain Railroad Records, Inc
URL = [http://www.gamblerogers.org/ www.gamblerogers.org]

James Gamble Rogers IV (January 31, 1937-October 10, 1991) was a folk artist born in Winter Park, Florida. The namesake of two prominent architects, Rogers chose the path of a musician while on his way to a Serendipity Singers audition in New York. [ [http://gamblerogers.com/life/media/fretboard.pdf The Oracle of Oklawaha: Gamble Rogers, Southern gentlemen] , "Fretboard Journal", Fall 2006] Disgusted by the apathy of the musicians, he borrowed a guitar, tried out, and was admitted to the group.

As a self-described "modern troubadour", Gamble influenced musicians of the likes of Jimmy Buffett and Mike Cross with the former dedicating his album "Fruitcakes" to him. He began performing around Florida in the 1960s, often under the tutelage of poet-singer Will McLean. By the 1970s, he was a regular fixture at the Florida Folk Festival, often as the headliner. By the 1980s, he was often featured on PBS and NPR.

While at a Florida state park in Flagler Beach, Florida Gamble heard a man (Raymond Tracey) calling for help. Despite the rough water, he managed to save the man but drowned in the process. In honor of his heroism, the Florida Legislature renamed the state park Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area at Flagler Beach.

ongs and stories

A recurring theme in Rogers' songs and stories are the characters and places in the fictional Oklawaha County, Florida though his earlier works referenced characters of the same name residing in the non-fictional Habersham County, Georgia.

Along with the stories integrated into his released songs, Rogers had written a multi-act play that integrated all of the stories into a single storyline. The play, entitled Oklawaha County Laissez-Faire, has not been released to this day and is currently in the possession of the Gamble Rogers Memorial Foundation.

Discography

* The Lord Gives Me Grace And the Devil Gives Me Style (1977)
* (1980)
* Sorry Is As Sorry Does (1986)
* Oklawaha County Laissez-Faire (1996)
* Signs of a Misspent Youth (1999)
* Good Causes (2003)

Award

Rogers was awarded the Kiwanis Award for bravery, the Carnegie Award for heroism, induction into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame [ [http://www.flheritage.com/preservation/folklife/awardDetails.cfm?id=75 Florida Folk Heritage Award] ] and the NSA Lifetime Achievement Award (2001).

Notes

References

* [http://www.gamblerogers.org Gamble Rogers Memorial Foundation]

External links

* [http://www.floridamemory.com/Collections/folklife/sound_folk.cfm Recording of Gamble Rogers performing "Orange Blossom Special" at the 1982 Florida Folk Festival; made available for public use by the State Archives of Florida]
* [http://www.floridamemory.com/Collections/folklife/index.cfm Florida Folklife Collection, which contains numerous images and recordings of Gamble Rogers]
* [http://www.floridastateparks.org/gamblerogers/default.cfm Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation homepage from the Florida Park Service online guide (which offers more backgorund on the naming of the park).]