Echoes from Fiddler's Green: A Tribute to Stan Rogers

Stanley Rogers was born in Hamilton, Ontario on November 29, 1949. He is widely considered one of the finest singers and songwriters Canada has ever produced. He wrote folk music celebrating his heritage that often revolved around nautical experiences. In his life, he never achieved widespread recognition outside of the folk music community, where his distinct voice and Celtic style brought him prominence. He released four albums in his life: Fogarty's Cove (1976), Turnaround (1977), Between the Breaks... Live (1979), and Northwest Passage (1981), and many albums were posthumously released for him after his death, most notably the titles From Fresh Water (1984), and Home in Halifax (1993). He died in Cinncinatti, Ohio on June 2, 1983 in an airplane fire on Air Canada flight 797 while returning from the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas. He was 33 years old.

Stan Rogers, as anyone who has heard his music will tell you, possesed a magnificent gift. He could write truly moving verse, and furthermore, possesed the talent to put it to music. Song is a powerful medium for poetry, and Rogers's poetry is a great example of this. His ballads tell incredible stories that are enhanced by the use of verse and the accompaniment of music. They tell the story of common people; farmers, fishermen, and factory workers. He was a voice for the northwest.

Stan Rogers was an incredible artist. His work seeks to explore the Canadian worker's identity. Through his art, he builds a fairly complete profile of these people. His music is able to reach out and connect his listener intimately with his topic. Through the use of his melodic baritone, which can sing softly or belt out as is appropriate, he connects the listener to the human experience of the ballad's protagonist. Stan Rogers wrote in an iconic manner that has yet to be equalled. His voice was a gift to the world of music, and his lyrics to literature.

Works Cited

Friedman, Emily, Gene Wilburn, and Stephen Ide. "Stan Rogers

Biographies." Stan Rogers Fogarty's Cove Music. Fogarty's Cove Music, n.d.

Web. 25 Feb. 2016.

Friedman, Emily. "Stan Rogers." Borealis Records. Borealis Records RSS, 1996.

Web. 25 Feb. 2016.

"Stan Rogers." The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada, n.d. Web. 25 Feb.

2016.

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