Dick Rogers

American singer, comedian, songwriter and pianist

Dick Rogers
Rogers appearing a in a 1941 The Morning Call newspaper clipping titled: "Empire Ballroom"
Background information
Also known as	"Stinky" Rogers
Born	September 23, 1912
Origin	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died	1970
Genres	traditional pop, jazz, comedy, Swing, Ragtime
Occupation(s)	musician, lyricist, bandleader, songwriter, composer, whistler
Instrument(s)	Piano
Years active	~1934 - ~1955
Labels	Okeh, Columbia, Decca, Varsity, Associated

Musical artist

Dick Rogers (1912–1970) was a singer, comedian, songwriter and pianist, who wrote the lyrics for "Harlem Nocturne".^[1]^[2]^[3] He was a member of the Ray Noble orchestra and the Will Osborne band.^[4]

Rogers was associated with Will Osborne, a "star crooner" who was on the radio in the 1930s.^[2] Osborne's band was on the decline in 1940.^[2] Osborne created a "bus and truck vaudeville show", with comedy acts, which did not do well.^[2] Dick was hired on as "Stinky" Rogers, doing a singing comedy act.^[2] When Osborne moved to Hollywood in 1940, Rogers took over the band.^[2] He did well, according to a Billboard Magazine review in 1942, who said he "...acquitted himself credibly, as did his orchestra."^[3] The magazine called him capable, saying he could sing, compose, play and lead.^[3]

Composed music or lyrics

"Harlem Nocturne" (1939) (with Earle Hagen)^[4]
"Pompton Turnpike" (played by Charlie Barnet) (written with Will Osborne) (1940) ^[5]
"Spaghetti Rag" (music by Lyons and Yosco) (1950)^[6]
"Magazines (Are Magic for Lonely People)" (sung by Theresa Brewer) (1958)^[7]
"I Guess I'll Get the Papers and Go Home" (sung by the Mills Brothers, written with Hughie Prince, Hal Kanner) (1946)^[8]
"Would'st Could I But Kiss Thy Hand, Oh Babe" (written with Will Osborne) (sung by "Doghouse" Dale Jones))^[9]
Dozens more.

Footnotes

^ "Harlem Nocturne". musicnotes.com. August 6, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Gavin, James (2015). Is That All There Is?: The Strange Life of Peggy Lee. Simon and Schuster. pp. 60–61. ISBN 978-1-4516-4179-0.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Hippodrome Baltimore". Billboard. August 8, 1942. p. 16. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
^ ^a ^b "'Andy Griffith' Composer Dies at 88". CNN. May 27, 2008. Archived from the original on June 18, 2008. Retrieved December 15, 2008.
^ "Swing and swing redux: "Pompton Turnpike" (1940) Charlie Barnet, and Billy Maxted (1967)". Swing & Beyond. October 7, 2017. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
^ Spaghetti Rag: Popular Standard; Single Songbook. New York: Shapiro, Bernstein & Co. 1950. ISBN 978-3-8418-0302-3.
^ "Teresa Brewer – Time For Teresa". discogs. Retrieved September 27, 2016. From record side 1: Magazines (Are Magic For Lonely People), (Dick Rogers-Jimmy Eaton-Larry Wagner)
^ "The Mills Brothers – I Guess I'll Get The Papers And Go Home, Decca 23638 B." Retrieved November 11, 2023 – via Internet Archive.
^ "Will Osborne And His Slide Music – Would'st Could I But Kiss Thy Hand, Oh Babe". discogs. Retrieved September 27, 2016.