It seems like a long time since Delta blues guitar-master Roy Rogers has graced a Houston stage. Rogers is such a monster slide guitar player, he’s usually mentioned with the likes of Sonny Landreth or legends like Robert Johnson. A longtime sideman and producer for John Lee Hooker, Rogers has played his guitar all over the stylistic map in a career that’s seen him play with Linda Ronstadt and Bonnie Raitt and, in 2008, make a duo album with Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek. Currently touring in support of his new album Split Decision, Rogers will be working in the configuration that most suits such a singular player and Rogers’s distinctive vocals — a power trio with his Delta Rhythm Kings, drummer Billy Lee Lewis and bassman Steve Ehrmann. Acoustic Guitar Player magazine’s 2008 bronze award-winner for acoustic slide, Rogers will be plugged into plenty of amperage for his first Houston gig in years and a slide-guitar aficionado’s dream come true.
This article appears in Apr 23-29, 2009.