Roy Rogers
“Roy Rogers means the modern master in the art of slide guitar. His versatility with the technique is nothing short of astonishing.” ~ All Music Guide
“That’s not a slide on Roy Rogers’ pinky; it’s a time machine. With it, Rogers transports you to the Mississippi Delta’s past and future. – Guitar Player
Roy Rogers has been considered one of the world’s preeminent master Delta slide guitarists with many decades of touring the globe. Over 20 recordings to his credit, Rogers has garnered 8 Grammy nominations for producing, as a recording artist, and as a songwriter. His collaborations have garnered major media accolades worldwide for producing critically acclaimed Grammy nominated recordings for John Lee Hooker and Ramblin' Jack Elliott, as well as collaborations with Bonnie Raitt, Carlos Santana, Bela Fleck, Allan Toussaint, Sammy Hagar & Ray Manzarek among others. Known for his searing performances that have been named a festival favorites including New Orleans Jazz Fest, North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland, Montreux in Switzerland, Pistoia in Italy, + North American festivals in Canada & the United States, with more than 4 decades of touring the world.
In 2023 Rogers re- entered the performance space after the pandemic signing with the Cumberland Music Collective Agency in Nashville. Performances have included 25 + dates for the ‘Just Like That…” tour with Bonnie Raitt, with Rogers performing solo in support of the tour and then joining Raitt’s band at the end of their show delivering songs that they wrote together or performed together for years during their long friendship. Rogers will continue to also perform with his long-time band, The Delta Rhythm Kings, in 2025 and select Solo dates.
“I’m the guy that always likes to push the envelope,” Rogers says, at home in Northern California. “We have always covered a lot of ground with other artists that I have had synergy with our musical tastes, and my band has been with me for many years – we just sync so well. I’ve been very fortunate through the years to collaborate with many gifted musicians that I admire and consider longtime friends.”
Born in Redding in 1950 and named after Hollywood’s King of the Cowboys, Rogers grew up in the Bay Area of California and started playing guitar at the age of 12 and became entranced by the recordings of the blues, especially Robert Johnson at age 15. By age 13 he was playing in a local R & B band and quickly became a young blues fanatic hitting the San Francisco’s ‘60s club scene. When Hooker asked him to go on tour in 1982, it changed his life becoming John’s friend, musical director, biz manager on the road and eventually his producer for 4 Grammy albums of note “The Healer”, which won a Grammy for both Hooker & Raitt, as well as the releases of “Mr. Lucky”; Boom Boom & Chill Out. In addition, producing releases for folk legend Ramblin’ Jack Elliott Rogers “Friends of Mine” and “The Long Ride” for Elliott which also garnered Grammy nominations.
Decades of artistic collaborations, recording & performing to audiences is a passion & a gift. Roy continues to be an inspired, seasoned performer, producer & player who is known to bring audiences to their feet across the globe. For more history, media assets and info please go to www.roy-rogers.com.
“Rogers is one of the best slide guitarists on the planet.”
New Orleans Times-Picayune/The Advocate
“Rogers turns in performances that are searing, soulful, and spiritual by turns …” Washington Post
“Sounds the way good bourbon tastes, smooth and with a kick.”
Spin
“One of the rare guitar heroes who values feeling over flash.”
Rolling Stone
Steve Ehrmann
Bass Guitar
Steve Ehrmann was born and raised in Milwaukee Wisconsin, where he fell in love with Blues and Rhythm & Blues music and began playing electric bass.
Since moving to Northern California in the 1970s, Steve has played in the bands of, among others, John Lee Hooker, Charlie Musselwhite, Roy Rogers, Elvin Bishop, Coco Montoya, Katy Webster, The Gospel Hummingbirds, Mighty Mike Schermer, Angela Strehli, and The Blues Broads.
He has also had the privilege of backing up Blues and R&B/Roots music greats Lightnin’ Hopkins, Big Walter Horton, Johnny Adams, Earl King, Luther Tucker, Tad Robinson, Sista Monica Parker, Terry Hanck, and many more.
Since the mid-1970s, Steve has enjoyed an ongoing music association with slide guitar-master Roy Rogers, and for most of those years has performed with Roy as one of the DELTA RHYTHM KINGS.
Kevin Hayes
Drums
Kevin Hayes is a San Francisco Bay Area-based drummer and songwriter, probably best known for his 20 years as the drummer for The Robert Cray Band. During his time with Cray from 1989‐2008, he recorded 9 studio albums, including the 1999 Grammy winning Take Your Shoes Off, as well as a double live disc, Live From Across The Pond, recorded at London’s Royal Albert Hall. During his time with Cray’s band he also played on records by John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, and Van Morrison, among many others. His live show credits include performances with B.B. King, John Lee Hooker, Etta James, Allen Toussaint, Roy Rogers & The Delta Rhythm Kings, Tracy Nelson, Jon Hendricks, Hubert Sumlin, Jimmy Vaughan, Lee Dorsey, Curtis Salgado, Bonnie Hayes, and many others. Since leaving Cray’s band, he has worked independently on a variety of musical projects, including playing and recording with virtuoso slide guitarist Roy Rogers and The Delta Rhythm Kings, recording and touring in the Manzarek‐Rogers Band with Roy Rogers and the late Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek, as well as recording and touring with the sensational British blues guitarist and singer Matt Schofield.
Ralph Baglio
Roadie Ralph Baglio has been with Roy Rogers since March 1990. Born and raised in San Francisco, Ralph has been a guitarist playing with various local rock bands since the 1960s. He helped start the very first ‘Bananas At Large Music Store’ in San Francisco, now known only as ‘Bananas’, and saw just about every live show there was to see at The Fillmore, Winterland, and Avalon Ballroom during the 60s and 70s. Outside of jamming with the band and friends, Ralph’s interests include Japanese culture, vintage film posters, mountain biking, and his Converse All Stars.