Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers:
Dan Paul Rogers

DAN ROGERS was born June 18, 1957, in Trenton, Ontario and has lived in the Ottawa Valley town of Renfrew for most of his life, where he has since become a fixture on the Country Music scene, now affectionately known as DAN PAUL ROGERS.

In his teen years, Dan Rogers performed with the Gospel Music group Shilo, and then as a member of the Traditional country band, The Countrymen, which led to forming his own band, Home Coming.

Rogers was “discovered” in 1984, during an Ottawa Valley Talent Contest. One of the judges for the event was multi-award-winning producer/musician Randall Prescott, and he recognized the special vocal and songwriting talents that Dan Rogers delivered. Prescott soon brought Dan into the Altair Four Studios in Lanark to launch a recording project.

Initially, their work was released in 1985 under the name “Rescue”, with a pair of back-to-back singles: “What Has Happened” and “Love’s Cheatin’ Line”. Both attracted national radio airplay, thanks largely to the plaintive country vocal work of Dan Rogers. This early success was enough to convince Dan Rogers that a music career was sustainable, and a new Country star, DAN PAUL ROGERS, was off and running.

A series of hit singles by Dan Paul Rogers (“One Good Reason”, “I Believe In Country Music” and “Rambling Blue Eyes”) led to the recording of the debut album, “Love Martyr”. Released in 1988, the album was highlighted by the hit single, “Lover’s Game” – a duet offering with Marie Bottrell. The vinyl album was also reissued in 1989 on CD format by the Netherlands-based Spark Records label.

In the early 1990s, Rogers released a string of singles on the Cardinal Records label, as well as making an appearance on Volume 4 of the popular “Christmas In The Valley” series of recordings.

His recordings and performances were well recognized, including back-to-back nominations for CCMA’s Rising Star award, edged out for the honour by none other than k.d. lang (1987) and Blue Rodeo (1988). His “Lover’s Game” duet with Marie Bottrell earned them a nomination for CCMA’s Duo of the Year in 1989.

Meanwhile, Rogers was making special guest appearances on major TV shows, including The Tommy Hunter Show, Family Brown Country, and Ronnie & The Browns; as well as appearing on numerous special Festival events, sharing the stage with both Nashville and Canadian country stars.

Dan Paul Rogers’ talent as a songwriter was also drawing interest. In addition to his own hit recordings, his songs were covered by Australian Country star Allan Hawking, Ireland-based singer Jim Hendry and Canadian artists South Mountain, Terry Sumsion, Jennifer Johnston, The Ridge Kickers, Todd Nolan, The Desert Dolphins, and his brother, Rick Rogers (also a gifted singer/songwriter). Dan Paul has also produced sessions for several Canadian recording artists (Jennifer Johnston, Julie Scott, etc.).

Through the years, Rogers has remained active, heading up the group Maple Ridge and performing as a member of the Mike O’Reilly-led groups, The Bunkhouse Boys / The Radio Kings. He has also dipped back into his Gospel Music roots, recording the album “Shout It Out”, released in 2015.

Dan Paul Rogers was inducted into the Ottawa Valley Country Music Hall of Fame in 2011.