Roger Wilson

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About Roger Wilson
Roger Wilson
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Guitarist and songwriter, Roger “Hurricane” Wilson, was born on July 27, 1953 in Newark, New Jersey. When he was a year old, his parents moved to a little town on the Jersey shore, in search of a life other than in the city. Life there was typical for a young family in the early 50’s. There are memories of Elvis singing “Love Me Tender”, and Tennessee Ernie Ford singing “Sixteen Tons” ringing from radios and turntables everywhere-melodies that would haunt him forever. In September of 1960, the peaceful existence was turned upside down when the town was virtually destroyed by the still legendary hurricane “Donna”. The town was never the same from that day on.
One day, Roger discovered that one of his friends was taking guitar lessons. Immediately, as kids typically do, he wanted to do the same. His mother took him to his first lesson on January 7, 1963, at the age of 9, and rented a plastic beginner guitar. As his teacher taught him individual notes week after week, Roger was still inclined to find cool sounds coming out when the strings were struck together as chords. This music thing sure appeared to come quite easily, and naturally. Although the teacher would have preferred Roger give priority to his assigned lessons, they tended to take a back seat. The teacher, a mild-mannered white gentleman with horned rimmed glasses and winged tipped shoes, just did not understand. Later on, Roger started taking trumpet lessons in order to join the elementary school marching band, and tolerated them while in reality, all he wanted to do was play the drums. He later saved up to buy his own drum paraphernalia, and started wood shedding that too. On one special parade day in Red Bank, NJ, while in the eighth grade, the school band drummers didn’t show up. The band director handed a snare drum to Roger, and said “this is your shot”! He received a special award on the last day of school in front of the whole student body for saving the day.
The next year, in February of 1964, Roger was in front of the TV on Sunday night when the Beatles made their American debut on the Ed Sullivan Show. Being an only child, he was unaware of the curve ball being thrown at American kids everywhere. All he noticed, other than the screaming girls, was that there were THREE guitars on the stage, and one was being played BACKWARDS! The next day, all of the kids were acting crazy! They were combing their hair down in front, and some had these wild looking pointed boots; and they were all playing air guitar! Roger had already been playing guitar, and making his teacher mad for well over a year. Next to the Kennedy assassination during the previous November, this was pretty traumatic. Next, Roger got his first electric guitar, and the next couple of years were spent playing, or attempting to play music in various garage bands by The Kinks, The Beatles, The Yardbirds, The Animals, Paul Revere & The Raiders, while of course trying to match the lead licks of “Louie, Louie” and “Hang On Sloopy”. Ironically, most of that music was remakes of old blues tunes.
In 1967, upon graduating from grammar school, the little Jersey shore town didn’t have their own high school. The surrounding townships were bussing kids wherever they could fit them in. Roger’s parents thought it best to place him in a more positive environment. They sent him to a private prep school in Atlanta. The “bubble-gum” music era was in full swing, and after being subjected to “Monkees” TV show for the last year or two, Roger found it quite nauseating. While there, the 14 year old became addicted and taken in by the music of Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, Eddie Floyd, and Booker T. & The MG’s. The Memphis sound and feel started unknowingly planting its obsession. Roger, of course was immediately drafted by the school band to play trumpet, but the band director would occasionally let him replace undependable drummers. 1968 showed up when Hendrix, The Doors, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Janis Joplin, and “psychedelic” music, referred to then as “underground” music, raised its sleeping head. B.B. King’s “The Thrill is Gone” hit the airwaves, and according to Roger, “there was something going on”. The single lead, vibrato notes pioneered by B.B. were essentially drawing him in. He bore down on the guitar, and learned as much as he could about the music, and the artists that made it. When meeting B.B. King in later years, he explained to the blues master what had happened.
1970 had Roger making weekly pilgrimages to Atlanta’s Piedmont Park to hear bands, mainly The Allman Brothers Band. Not much was remembered in detail until the night of June 16, 1971, when The Brothers played their first sold out show in Atlanta’s Municipal Auditorium. The 17 year old stood 6 feet away from Duane Allman, and was completely swept off of his feet. After years of guitar lessons, a knee-high stack of guitar books and sheet music, the boy was never the same! The slide guitar playing that night in itself was another force to be reckoned with. In the days that followed, he was haunted by what he had seen, and heard. Roger began wearing out Allman Brothers Band albums trying to capture that sound. His next reaction was, “the hell with everything else”! All he wanted to do now was play as well as he could.
During his senior year in high school, he was bestowed the title of drum major in the high school marching band. On October 29, 1971, Roger was conducting the school band through the national anthem on the field at a football game. After the game, he heard the radio report of Duane Allman’s death in a motorcycle accident in Macon – another traumatic moment in addition to JFK’s assassination, The Beatles, and the death of his grandfather in ’67. He immediately started bearing down on the music even harder. When the Duane Allan “Anthology” came out in late 1972, the enclosed literature spoke of how Duane’s eyes used to light up at the mention of Robert Johnson. Who was that? Thus began the search for the origins of the music that made all of this happen. Robert Johnson, Willie McTell, and Elmore James albums were only the scratching of the surface for this musically consumed 19 year old.RW SR 2
After a year back in New Jersey following high school, Roger headed back to Georgia in 1973, determined to play guitar. He got a job teaching in a private studio, and eventually took it over as his own business. Success came about by teaching people what THEY wanted to learn. He named his business “The Roger Wilson Guitar Studio”, and he soon had an extensive waiting list of students wanting to learn how to have fun with the instrument, as opposed to suffering with it. With the business up and running, and fed up with playing with mediocre bands, he started the “Roger Wilson Band” in 1978. If the name worked for the studio, why not a band? It did! He went from the garage to opening shows for people like Albert Collins, 38 Special, and various Skynyrd spin-off bands. Roger says he mostly enjoyed working with a very young Johnny van Zant, now lead singer for Lynyrd Skynyrd, on numerous occasions. A jam with Stevie Ray Vaughn at a now defunct club in 1980, along with a two and a half hour jam with Albert Collins in 1979 at Atlanta’s Agora Ballroom are 2 of Roger’s highlighted memories. These along with a close friendship formed with guitarist Roy Buchanan make for book material alone. The RWB lasted until 1983. Still not quite at home with the other band members’ visions, he made some personal changes in 1983, and formed a 3 piece unit called “Roger Wilson & The Low Overhead Band.” This act was simple, cheap, and easy to move. With this act up and running, Roger did shows with Dickey Betts, Little Feat, Three Dog Night, Leon Russell & Edgar Winter, Marshall Tucker Band, Roomful of Blues, and was starting to regain momentum. While on a northeast tour in 1993, it came to the attention of Roger’s soon to be producer that people were screwingup his name. After a disc jockey virtually butchered it during a North Carolina radio interview, with the name in BOLD LETTERS in front of him that was it! Hottrax record producer, Aleck Janoulis, said you need a “moniker”, something for people to remember you by. He also noted that Roger had a habit of going into a town, virtually making a mess with the music, and then leaving early in the morning to go back to work. This along with the childhood hurricane experience led to the stage name, Roger “Hurricane” Wilson. It became official at the next show in Washington, DC. It was determined that you could forget his name, but no one would forget “Hurricane”. Since then, there have been shows and festivals with B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Little Milton, John Mayall, and Savoy Brown, to name just a few.
The most recent highlight was in New York City while attending the regular Monday night gig of guitar and recording pioneer, Les Paul at the Iridium Jazz Club at 51st and Broadway. After the first show, Roger introduced himself to and spoke briefly with Les’ son, Rusty Paul, and was invited to get onstage for a few tunes with the master in September of 2003. Since then, no visit to New York City is complete without stopping by on Monday night to hang out and jam with Les Paul.
The first CD, “Hurricane Blues”, released in 1994 on Hottrax Records, has received airplay on well over 100 stations across the U.S., and is being distributed nationally. The second Hottrax project, “Live From The Eye Of The Storm”, was released in 1996, and enjoyed the same, if not better response than “Hurricane Blues”. In addition to playing between 250 and 300 nights a year, Roger also produced and hosted his own syndicated radio show on nearly 10 stations around the country.
In 1997, Roger decided that it was time to step to the next level. At the advice of his distributor, he decided to form his own record company, Bluestorm Records. This venture gave rise to the third CD, “The Business of The Blues”. The title track was written about the daily challenges of daily life on the road. Also featured on this CD are 5 acoustic tunes, which started to establish Roger’s acoustic work, which has become a separate entity, and occasional combination with his electric sound. The fourth CD is called “Live At The Stanhope House”, recorded at that legendary blues club in New Jersey. A fifth effort, all solo acoustic, “Pastime” has received critical acclaim, and the sixth CD called “The Ohio Connection” was released in late April, 2004. Since then, there have been more than 10 CD’s and download singles released.
It was just about 50 years ago in 1963 when Roger, barely 10 years old at the time, took his first guitar lesson and since then there’s been no looking back. Over the last 40 years, Roger’s involvement has reached into pretty much every aspect of the music business. Being a musician, a singer, a songwriter, a record label owner/operator, an advisory board member of the Georgia Music Industry Association, an International Blues Competition judge, and having 40 years of broadcasting experience on TV, radio and the Internet, finding something in the industry he’s not familiar with would equal finding the needle in the haystack. On top of all of that, for the last 10 years, Roger has been involved with one of the strongest tools that exist in the efforts of keeping the blues alive and that’s educating young people about the genre. Through his involvement with the Blues in the Schools Program, he does just that. If I may, I would like to tell you about two personal experiences I have had with Roger and his educational endeavors.
In 2006 while attending the “Springing The Blues” festival in Jacksonville Beach, FL, I was one of the thousands of people witnessing Roger being given the Key To The City for his participation in Blues In The Schools in Jacksonville area schools during the week of the event.
Additionally, while emceeing the 2012 Amelia Island Blues Festival at Fernandina Beach, FL, it was my honor to introduce Roger Hurricane Wilson and the Fernandina Beach High School Blues In The Schools Band and then watch them put on one heck of a performance. The look on these kids’ faces, while playing in front of a large festival crowd with Roger, was priceless. Again, during the week of the event Roger had been not only rehearsing with the boys and girls but educating them about the genre as well.
Peter “Blewzzman” Lauro
www.Mary4Music.com
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Author Updates
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Blog postPlease check out the nice review of THINKING POSITIVE by Brenda Lorenz for Beat Atlanta Online Magazine
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The post Podcast #31 – Featuring the Single, THINKING POSITIVE first appeared on Roger Hurricane Wilson.2 years ago Read more -
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Blog postPodcast #30 – Please Be With Me
This song was originally recorded by the group, Cowboy, of Macon, Georgia’s Capricorn Records. Cowboy consisted of Scott Boyer and Tommy Talton.Their version featured a guest appearance by the late Duane Allman on dobro, which was also released on the first Duane Allman: An Anthology in 1972. The song was also released in 1975 by Eric Clapton on his 461 OCEAN BOULEVARD album. Boyer and Talton were also two of the musicians appearing on Gregg Allman’s LA2 years ago Read more -
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Blog postThe post Podcast 29- OK Millennial first appeared on Roger Hurricane Wilson.2 years ago Read more
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Blog postThe post Roger “Hurricane” Wilson Podcast #25: Showcasing the 2019 CD, ROGER “HURRICANE”WILSON COVERS THE BOSS first appeared on Roger Hurricane Wilson.3 years ago Read more
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Blog posthttp://hurricanewilson.com/eric-quincy-tate…rt-in-atlanta-ga/
The post Podcast #22: Eric Quincy Tate 1989 Reunion Concert in Atlanta, GA first appeared on Roger Hurricane Wilson.4 years ago Read more -
Blog postRoger “Hurricane” Wilson’s American Music Show in a special interview recorded in New Jersey in November, 2017 as a guest with John Schneider of JerseyBayshoreCountry.com. It was in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of his childhood hometown of Keansburg, NJ.
The post Podcast #21- Roger “Hurricane” Wilson Interviewed on JerseyBayshoreCountry.com first appeared on Roger Hurricane Wilson.4 years ago Read more -
Blog postAnna Eberle was my nextdoor neighbor when I was a child in Keansburg, NJ. She resided there a long time before we ever moved there in 1954 when I was one year old. Originally from East Orange, NJ., she lived there with her husband, Jack, a WWI Veteran, and her brother, Freddy Heilbronn. Freddy never married. They were basically poor people who lived in an uninsulated bungalow heated by coal and kerosene stoves in the winter, cooled somewhat by portable fans that basically just moved the intense5 years ago Read more
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Blog postHurricane Chronicles: A SIMPLE QUESTION: Why are there no simple answers to simple questions anymore? The driver's side door lock went out and needed to be replaced on my 09 Che...5 years ago Read more
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Blog postWhy are there no simple answers to simple questions anymore? The driver's side door lock went out and needed to be replaced on my 09 Chevy Silverado Pickup.The part is referred to as a door lock actuator. When purchasing this part, it is one unit containing the actuator and the door lock for approximately $185.00. That's easy enough to understand.
In speaking to the service writer at Day Chevrolet in Acworth, GA, he tells me me that they would need to diagnose the problem to see if5 years ago Read more -
Blog postHurricane Chronicles: Due to a programming glitch last week, this week's...: Due to a programming glitch last week, this week's edition of Roger "Hurricane" Wilson's American Music Show will feature ...5 years ago Read more
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Blog postDue to a programming glitch last week, this week's edition of Roger "Hurricane" Wilson's American Music Show will feature the live set I was invited to sit in on with Dr. Mac Arnold & Plate Full of Blues at Madlife Stage & Studio in Woodstock, GA. on April 15, 2017. Be sure to tune in each and every Tuesday night at 10PM ET/ 9PM CT on KALA-FM- 88.5, serving The Quad Cities.The show is streaming at http://www.sau.edu/KALA.html. Click on How To Listen to set up your player. Pleas5 years ago Read more
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Blog postTo Celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the CD, PASTIME, I Still Want To Send You A Free Autographed Copy. It was my first acoustic CD, released in 2002. All you do is pay $3.00 postage.
Regular price everywhere else is at least $15.00
Click On The Link Below To Be Directed To The Instant Offer
http://hurricanewilson.com/secret-page/
Thanks For Your Support
Roger "Hurricane" Wilson
Bl5 years ago Read more -
Blog postHere's hoping that you had a safe and pleasant July 4th holiday.The invitation is still open to get a FREE copy of the single, HOME SWEET HOME IN MY RV, The Unofficial RV National Anthem, by visiting http://hurricanewilson.com/rv/. The song seems to have caught on, which I appreciate greatly.I'll be kicking off my 11th Annual 2017 RV Tour close to home to celebrate my 64th birthday at the Subourbon Bar in Kennesaw, GA with The Hurricane Homeboys from 8PM to Midnight on Wednesday, July 26. I5 years ago Read more
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Blog postAfter so many years performing in RV resorts around the country, I can’t say I didn’t see this coming: http://rvdailyreport.com/industry/investors-looking-closely-at-campground-investments/5 years ago Read more
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Blog postTo Celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the CD, PASTIME, I Still Want To Send You A Free Autographed Copy. It was my first acoustic CD, released in 2002. All you do is pay $3.00 postage.
Regular price everywhere else is at least $15.00
Click On The Link Below To Be Directed To The Instant Offer
http://hurricanewilson.com/secret-page/
Thanks For Your Support
Roger "Hurricane" Wilson <5 years ago Read more -
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Blog post#RISEUP #ATLANTAFALCONS #SUPERBOWL #HOUSTON #DIRTYBIRDS#LOMBARDITROPHY
#NFL #NFC #MATTRYANMVP
Check out the video of song supporting the Atlanta Falcons parodied from Paul Simon's song, THE BOXER, by Roger "Hurricane" Wilson. We'll Keep Shouting It Out! GO FALCONS!!!!!
Time to #RISEUP more than ever!5 years ago Read more -
Blog postJanuary 19, 2017 would have been Willie’s "Big Eyes" Smith's 81st birthday. I’m so glad I had the privilege of knowing and touring with him. Here is part of the story from Chapter 32 in my book, HURRICANE, released in early 2016.
http://hurricanewilson.com/remembering-willie-big-eyes-smi…/5 years ago Read more -
Blog postThinking about my dad, Brooks Wilson, who would have turned 88 today, January 9. I lost him way too early back in October of 1995. This is the song I wrote and recorded about him entitled I DON'T WANNA COME BACK. https://youtu.be/Xq5CUc3FH1I.
I'm still going through his many writings, some philosophical many technical, since he was a mechanical designer and draftsman since age 15 as an apprentice, but embracing the future and technology with open arms. To me, his intelligence was5 years ago Read more -
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Blog postWhile this subject is away from any music topic, and that I am really spending more time writing about it that I ever thought I would, this workshop reorganization really required focusing elsewhere in order to make this garage great again. It has and will have a trickle down effect into everything I do in life and in my career. The clutter and disorganization was getting way out of hand. Part of it stemmed from having to empty out my folks house in Jersey back in the late 90's that t5 years ago Read more
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Blog postWelcome to the blog page. This is an effort to tell stories in the future that didn't quite get into the book, HURRICANE. Perhaps it will lead into the next book, but for now, here we are.
In the meantime, the book, HURRICANE, is still available at the following locations:
$15.00 ; FREE SHIPPING/ Regular Price $19.95
AUTOGRAPHED COPIES AVAILABLE HERE AS CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR SPECIAL PRICE OF $15.00 & FREE SHIPPING/ REGULAR PRICE $19.95 HERE: HTTP://HURR5 years ago Read more -
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Blog postShop From Home & Order Yours Now! https://www.facebook.com/events/125121997658058/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBTfciYT6QQ&feature=share&list=UUGv9Okl0q9OpGmewjQejZ-A&index=38 years ago Read more -
Blog postJust uploaded: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d-oujsE0TE&feature=share&list=UUGv9Okl0q9OpGmewjQejZ-A
http://www.youtube.com/v/1d-oujsE0TE?version=3&list=UUGv9Okl0q9OpGmewjQejZ-A&autohide=1&autoplay=1&feature=share&showinfo=1&attribution_tag=_QL_2RX4GoaNhCWFNFnXPg9 years ago Read more -
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Blog postTHIS WEEKEND:Appearing at House of BLues in Orlando, FLFriday & Saturday, May 24 & 25, 201310:30PM - 1AM each night
~MONDAY, MAY 27MYAKKA RIVER BLUES FESTIVALSNOOK HAVEN5000 E. VENICE AVEVENICE, FLSHOWTIME 1 - 1:45PM
~The new single, Food Phone Gas & Lodging, originally recorded by the legendary Eric Quincy Tate Group of Atlanta in the 70's, is now available for download.Chck out the great history of this song.http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rogerhurricanewilson115 ~The New9 years ago Read more -
Blog postGreat night performing at the Bluebird in Nashville last night. Heard some great songwriters and also Rich Fagan, who had hits for George Strait, John Michael Montgomery, and others. The show, Nashville, has taken this place over the top. Folks who never had a clue about the BB, or music for that matter, are driving up in lines to take photos of themselves at the place as they would at Disney, the Southernmost Point in Key West, or the Grand Canyon. While many clubs are trying to figure out9 years ago Read more
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Blog postThe Roger Wilson Guitar Studio Story
June of 2013 marks the 40th anniversary of the Roger Wilson Guitar Studio of Atlanta, Georgia. My first location was at 220 Pharr Road in the Buckhead neighborhood of North Atlanta, from 1973 to 1980. It was then located at 2796 Piedmont Road from 1980 until 1985. The business operated full-time during that period, but is still in existence today in Kennesaw, GA as an online forum. During the 12 years in Atlanta that the brick and mortar location exist9 years ago Read more
Titles By Roger Wilson
Gil Van Wagner – Author, Jersey Sure
“Now you have a chance to live the rest of the story in these pages about this amazing man’s life that explains why doing something that is your heart’s desire is never work, but an endless and enjoyable journey in life.”
Tom Long – Former VP of ASCAP, VP Balmur Entertainment (Anne Murray’s record company), Creative Directory Sony ATV Music, Current President & Owner, That-A-Fly Music
“When the legendary Les Paul passed away, I couldn’t help but think that he had to be very happy with what Roger was doing with his invention of the solid body electric guitar. I strongly suggest that you read this book very carefully as there will be a test later.”
Gary Burbank – Legendary Broadcasting Hall of Fame Radio Humorist and on-air show host for twenty-seven years on the Big One, WLW – AM 700 in Cincinnati.