|
 |
|
Gamble Rogers balanced a love of balladry and folk songs with a passion for the oral tradition and storytelling. The son and grandson of influential architects, Rogers was described as both a "modern troubadour" and the "resurrection of Will Rogers and Mark Twain". Rogers was a master performer--enchanting an audience with Travis-style guitar finger picking and relating downright rib-tickling tales about the inhabitants of the fictitious Oklawaha County.
The Atlanta Constitution called Rogers, "an American treasure worthy of inclusion in the Smithsonian". Rogers was just hitting his peak when he died, on October 10, 1991, trying to save a man from drowning. The recreational area in Flagler County, where the accident occurred, was later renamed, "The Gamble Rogers Memorial Park".
In the liner notes of his album, Fruitcakes, Jimmy Buffett dedicated the recording to Rogers' memory and wrote that Rogers, "taught me how to move an audience with dialogue and delivery as much as with music". In 1993, Rogers was posthumously awarded a Folk Heritage award.
~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide |
|
|
It is nice to find a place of your own where you can relax and enjoy great music in historic downtown St. Augustine. The purpose of the Gamble Rogers Folk Festival is to continue the tradition of folk and other music and expose children to the power of this art form. Families can enjoy this event together and experience original music in a natural setting. Furthermore, the tented stages with plenty of seating, are arranged in a manner where you can stroll from one stage to another and enjoy a variety of musical styles and performances. |