Let's Put STAN ROGERS In The Canadian Songwriters' Hall Of Fame

Stan Rogers (1949-1983), was a passionate force of nature within the folk music community in Canada and beyond. From his early 1970's RCA recordings to his first solo recording (Fogarty's Cove), though the four albums during his life and the four posthumous recordings, he has made the life of the working Canadian a life to be proud of.

Examples can be heard in the farmer’s toil of “Field Behind the Plow” (Northwest Passage, 1981), or the Everywoman in “Lies” (Northwest Passage). He was sympathetic to the economic plight of the Maritimes with such songs as “Make and Break Harbour” (Fogarty’s Cove, 1976), “Fisherman’s Wharf (Fogarty’s Cove) and “The Idiot” (Northwest Passage). He displayed a huge respect for the fishing industry with songs like “The Jeannie C” (Turnaround, 1978), “Barrett’s Privateers” (Fogarty’s Cove), “White Squall” (From Fresh Water, 1984), and the inspiring “Mary Ellen Carter” (Between The Breaks ...Live!, 1979). He showed his love of Nova Scotia in “Guysborough Train” (From Coffee House To Concert Hall, 1999) and “The Rawdon Hills” (Fogarty’s Cove), gave us an anthem for a beloved national icon with “Bluenose” (Turnaround), and illuminated the Albertan rancher’s struggle in “Night Guard” (Northwest Passage) .

He also opened the curtains on his own family with “Lock-Keeper” (From Fresh Water), “Famous Inside” (From Coffee House To Concert Hall), and “Sailor’s Rest” (Home In Halifax, 1993), He is known for his epic acapella piece, “Northwest Passage” (Northwest Passage). His legacy continues through tribute songs and concerts; The Stan Rogers Festival has been held every summer in Canso, Nova Scotia since 1997; His music has been featured on TV programs, such as Due South and the Terry Fox made for TV movie; His famous “Barrett’s Privateers” has been the score for advertisements for Keith’s beer; There are two CD recordings from a tribute to him held at the Rebecca Cohn Theatre in Halifax in 1995.; He has a memorial tent set up in his name at the Summerfolk Festival in Ontario; He was the subject of a 1989 documentary by Adrienne Clarkson on CBC Television called One Warm Line. Clarkson later went on to quote him in her installation speech as Governor General of Canada in 1999; After his death, he was nominated for Best Male Vocalist at the 1984 Juno Award. Peter Gzowski once had a vote on CBC Radio as to what would be a good alternate song to our National Anthem. Stan’s “Northwest Passage” was the choice.

We should show our pride in this truly Canadian troubadour by placing him in the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.