David Rogers (musician)

Rogers was born in Kalihi, a neighborhood on the island of Oʻahu, and grew up surrounded by music. His father, George "Pops" Rogers, was a Hawaiian steel guitarist, and his uncle, Benny Rogers, played steel guitar for Genoa Keawe.{{Cite book |last=Troutman |first=John |title=Kika Kila: How the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Changed the Sound of Modern Music |publisher=University of North Carolina Press |year=2016 |isbn=978-1469659091 |edition=1st |location=USA |pages=206–225 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Ruymar |first=Lorene |title=The Hawaiian Steel Guitar and its Great Hawaiian Musicians |publisher=Centerstream Publishing |year=1996 |isbn=978-1574240214 |edition=1st |location=Anaheim, CA |pages=88–106 |language=en}} Rogers studied under David Keli'i, the steel guitarist for the Hawaii Calls radio program. He favored a D major tuning passed down through his family, which he viewed as a cultural inheritance to be carefully preserved.

In the 1960s, Rogers became an original member of the Sons of Hawaii, a group that included Gabby Pahinui on slack key guitar, Eddie Kamae on ukulele, and Joe Marshall on upright bass. Together, they spearheaded a revival of grassroots Hawaiian music, focusing on traditional songs rather than the swing-oriented "Waikiki" style that many contemporary artists pursued.

"Rogers's understated and minimalist approach to steel guitar complemented the band's sound, adding a subtle yet powerful layer of expression that many listeners regarded as essential to the authenticity of Hawaiian music."{{whose quote}} Eddie Kamae praised the steel guitar's role in enhancing the natural beauty of the group's arrangements, noting that it distinguished their sound at a time when steel guitar had fallen out of favor.

Rogers was featured as a steel guitar soloist on National Geographic's 1974 album "The Music of Hawaii" and appeared in the documentary The History of the Sons of Hawaii. His playing inspired a new generation of steel guitarists, and his influence extended far beyond Hawaii's shores.{{whose quote}} Fellow musicians Fred Lundt and Moe Keale have recounted how Rogers's heartfelt playing and his philosophy of "filling" the music rather than overpowering it left a profound impression.

Rogers worked as a merchant marine, often balancing these duties with his role in the Sons of Hawaii. His absence was keenly felt whenever he was at sea, and the band would often pause performances until his return, reflecting the deep respect they had for his contributions.{{whose quote}}

David "Feet" Rogers died from cancer on October 7, 1983, at the age of 48.

• Rogers is an Honoree and Inductee to the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame.
• Rogers was selected as the featured steel guitar soloist on the National Geographic's 1974 "The Music of Hawaii" Music of the World Series for Hawaii.{{cite AV media |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/2556189-Various-The-Music-Of-Hawaii |title=Hilo March, David Rogers, The Music of Hawai'i |date=1974 |last=Rogers |first=David |type=Vinyl Recording |language=en |publisher=National Geographic Society |trans-title= |location= |time= |access-date= |archive-url= |archive-date= |format= |id= |isbn= |oclc= |quote=}}

• Jules Ah See
• Alfred Apaka
• Leland "Atta" Isaacs Sr.
• Jerry Byrd
• Sol Ho'opi'i
• Pua Almeida

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.sonsofhawaii.com/ Sons of Hawaii Homepage]

{{Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rogers, David}}

Category:1935 births

Category:1983 deaths

Category:Steel guitarists

Category:People from Oahu