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 is considered one of the world’s preeminent master Delta slide guitarists. With over 20 recordings to his credit, Rogers has garnered 8 Grammy nominations for producing, songwriting, and as a recording artist. His collaborations, which include producing critically acclaimed Grammy-nominated recordings for John Lee Hooker and Ramblin' Jack Elliott and collaborations with Bonnie Raitt, Carlos Santana, Bela Fleck, Allan Toussaint, Sammy Hagar, and Ray Manzarek, among others, have received major media accolades globally. Rogers, having performed worldwide for more than four decades, has earned a global reputation for delivering searing performances which have been named festival favorites at The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, The North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland, Montreux in Switzerland, Pistoia in Italy, and many North American festivals in Canada and the United States.
In 2023, Rogers re-entered the live performance scene after the pandemic, signing with the Cumberland Music Collective Agency in Nashville. That same year, he joined Bonnie Raitt for dates of her ‘Just Like That…’ tour, performing solo in support of the tour and joining Raitt’s band at the end of her show for some slide fun! Rogers will continue to perform with Raitt this March 2025 for select dates, and will perform live shows with his long-time band, the Delta Rhythm Kings, later this Spring.
“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 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 artists 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. He was entranced by recordings of the blues, especially the work of Robert Johnson, and by age 13 was playing in a local R & R band. Rogers quickly became a blues fanatic and hit the San Francisco’s ‘60s club scene, even once taking his little brother to see Jimi Hendrix perform. His life changed when John Lee Hooker asked him to go on tour in 1982. Rogers became John’s friend, musical director, business manager on the road, and eventually his producer for four Grammy albums of note: “The Healer”, which won a Grammy for both Hooker and Raitt, as well as “Mr. Lucky”, “Boom Boom”, and “Chill Out”. Rogers also produced “Friends of Mine” and “The Long Ride” for folk legend Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, which also garnered Grammy nominations.
Decades of artistic collaborations, recording, and performing to audiences is a passion and a gift. Roy continues to be an inspired, seasoned performer, producer, and player who is known to bring audiences to their feet across the globe. For more history, media assets, and info please visit www.roy-rogers.com
“Rogers turns in performances that are searing, soulful, and spiritual by turns…” – Washington Post
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.