THE ROGERS TWINS and THE PRAIRIE SONS

1949-50

 

In 1949 after graduating from high-school, my first full time job as a musician was with the Rogers Twins & The Prairie Sons, a western-swing band in Amarillo, Texas.  Working full-time with an established band  with a daily radio show and a DeSoto limousine band-bus was "big-time"  for an 18 year old  musician.   I left the band to join the Army during the Korean War.  The Rogers Twins became legends in the Texas Panhandle and were eventually inducted into the Western-Swing Hall of Fame.  We remain friends after more than 50 years. 

-1950 Photos

Gene Jones   Bernie Rogers   Jesse Bunch   Buster VanHooten   Boyd Rogers   Roland Herring.

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My canary yellow 1941 Ford.  It used more oil than it did gas, but it was cool!

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"Shoot low sheriff, he's ridin' a shetland" 

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(2002 photo)

Western-Swing Hall of Fame members Boyd Rogers & Bernie Rogers in Chula Vista, California

(photo courtesy of Cathi Parson.... President,  Southern California Western-Swing Music Society

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The Rogers Twins and Gene during a reunion in 2003

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Reunion Jam in 2003

 

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I worked with the Rogers Twins until the Korean War began in 1950,  when I enlisted in the Army and went to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, for basic training. 

FORT LEONARD WOOD, MISSOURI

1950 - 1951

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While at Fort Leonard Wood I played music off-duty with the MACK BYRD band at the WAGONWHEEL on old US Highway 66 near Waynesville, Missouri.

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I was later transferred to Wolters AFB in Mineral Wells, Texas, where our Army unit,  950th Engineer Aviation Group (SCARWAF) was attached to the Air Force.

1951 - 1952

WOLTERS AIR FORCE BASE

MINERAL WELLS, TEXAS.

Even in Texas this was NOT an authorized Army uniform

I played music off-duty at the WINTERGARDEN in Mineral Wells.

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In 1954, I re-enlisted in the Army and was transferred to Japan where I played off-duty with singer/guitar player HAROLD JENKINS later known as CONWAY TWITTY.  Go to NEXT LINK for more about Conway Twitty.

 

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