Rogee Rogers, a musician extraordinaire, is among the most talented musicians around. He is one of very few entertainers who writes and produces his own music including all vocals (lead and multi-part harmonic backgrounds) and plays all live and digital instruments in all his records.

Rogee Rogers’ obsession with the entertainment of others through singing, dancing, acting, and playing musical instruments was formed early in his childhood. Rogee won his first ''dancing competition'' at age 7. As a young boy, without access to professional instruments, Rogee invented his own makeshift guitar and percussion instrument from strings, sticks, plastic bags and metal cans. Later, in his teenager years, he sought to learn and master every musical instrument he had access and by age 16, he was a guitar prodigy.

Childhood and African Background:

On February 22, 1964, on a tropical Saturday morning in the little town of Massam Kpaka in Pujehun, the southern District of Sierra Leone, West Africa, Rogee Rogers was born to S.E. ''Rogie'' and Caroline ''Kona'' Rogers.

S.E. Rogie is the world-renowned ''King of Palm Wine Music'' entertainer who at the time of Rogee’s birth was at the height of is popularity in Africa and abroad. The birth of S.E. Rogie’s first-born was a major cause of celebration in that region and brought people from far and near to Massam Kpaka to congratulate and pay homage to their beloved entertainer.

Considered royalty, Rogee Rogers’ mother, Caroline Rogers’ lineage stems from the chiefs and leaders of the region. At the last update of this writing, 2011, Caroline’s older brother, Abdulai Rogers is the current chief of Massam Kpaka, serving under Paramount Chief, John Rogers.

In the African tradition of ''it takes a village to raise a child,'' Rogee Rogers was raised by three sets of families. From birth to around 3, he lived with his mother and family in Massam Kpaka. Between the ages of 3 and 9, he was raised by his father’s older brother, J.B.S. Tucker, a well-to-do transportation mogul from Bo, one of the larger cities in southern Sierra Leone. From 10 to 22, Rogee Rogers was raised in the household of Dr. I. A. and Mrs. Bangura. A cousin to S.E. Rogie and a beloved medical surgeon turned politician, the late Doctor Bangura was one of the most prominent doctors in the country. Rogee Rogers’ claim Irish heritage comes through Mr. Bangura. Catherine ''Aunty Kate'' Bangura was Irish and had met and married I. A. Bangura while he was in medical school in Ireland. They had two boys, Derek and David Bangura.

A Star is born:

At age 16, Rogee Rogers, David Bangura, and their boyhood friend, Alan Smith, formed a dance group they called Davalgee Brothers. Between 1979 and 1984, the Davalgees, later joined by Derek Bangura, Dwight Short, and Richmond Garrick was the best and most popular musical heartthrob in the country. Their shows included a performance for Joe Jackson (the father of Michael Jackson); opening act for American Soul Man, Isaac Hayes; and opening act for the legendary reggae performer, Burning Spear.

At 18 years old, Rogee Rogers started his solo musical career with a national tour of the ''One Man Band,'' an act in which Rogee played 5 musical instruments simultaneous including (guitar, harmonica, kick drum, snare drum and vocal). Rogee Rogers’ ''One Man Band'' got rave reviews in the countries of Sierra Leone and Liberia. The ''One Man Band'' performed original songs written by Rogee, cover tunes of his father (S.E. Rogie) and cover tunes of popular international artists including Bob Marley, Lionel Richie, Marvin Gay, The Beatles, Keith Richards, Prince Nico, and Gregory Isaac. His most popular original hit, which got airplay and dominated the underground circuit, was a song in Pidgin English: ''Coupay -- Ah Noh Be No Say Now Nah So Young Gal Day Coupay.''

All the while as a teenage heartthrob entertainer, Rogee Rogers understood the importance of education and was an avid student with great love for economics, biology, and language (English and French). He graduated as valedictorian and Head Boy from Municipal Secondary School in 1984. Upon graduation, Rogee official lunched a music career with extensive performances in Sierra Leone and Liberia, West Africa. As a Davalgee brother, he was already a hit with the younger generation and his peers. As the son of S.E. Rogie and his ability to perform like his father, Rogee soon became a hit with the older generation.

A Name Change -- Rogie to Rogee:

Early in his career, in order to distinguish himself from this popular father, S.E. ''Rogie'' Rogers, the young entertainer adopted a new spelling of his name: ''Rogee'' Rogers. The full history of the ''Rogie'' name can be found in the ''Biography of S.E. Rogie.'' Traditionally, ''Rogie'' is a nickname for ''Rogers.'' At last update of this document, ''Rogie'' is till the most popular spelling used by the people. However, a few have started adopting the ''Rogee'' spelling.

Coming to America:

In 1986, at age 22, Rogee Rogers migrated to the United States of America to join his father, S.E. Rogie who had migrated to the U.S. in 1973. They lived in Richmond, California and formed a new band: Rogie and Muyei Africa. The phrase ''Muyei Africa'' means ''Our home town, Africa'' in the Mende dialect spoken in Sierra Leone. As lead guitarist and vocalist in the band, Rogee Rogers’ performance was a great spectacle for audiences in the San Francisco Bay Area where his father had previously earned a loyal underground fan base. The group’s performances received outstanding local reviews. In S.E. Rogie’s own words, his son was ''the greatest lead guitar player he has ever performed with.''

Computer Mastery and Business Education:

While performing with his father by night, Rogee Rogers attended a private community college, Dickinson-Warren Business College by day, where he learned computers and advanced business administration. Rogee Rogers graduated with honors from Dickinson-Warren with a 4.0 GPA. His lowest grade in all his classes was an A-. During college, he was the vice-president and then president of the student association. The dean of the college stated that ''Rogee is one of the most hard-working students I have ever seen. An example of his persistence is that he started the college with no typing skills, but by the time he graduated, he was typing 92 words per minute.''

Upon graduation from college, Rogee Rogers worked at BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), Richmond depot as an office administrator. Befriended and liked by the office staff, the depot mechanics, and the foreman of the shop, he enjoyed close friendships with many of the employees at the depot who introduced him to their families. In theory, as well-spoken, kind and friend young man from Africa, Rogee was the adopted friend for everybody at the depot. In a letter of recommendation, upon his departure from BART, the depot manager wrote that: ''Rogee is one of the most-promising young men to have ever worked for him.'' Decades later, Rogee Rogers refers to the people from the Richmond depot as his first mentors in understanding the American Way of life as compared to this African upbringing.

A Career in Hollywood:

In 1987, Rogee Rogers moved to Hollywood to continue his entertainment career. For the next 7 years, working as a banker by day, Rogee lead an 11-piece band that performed the Hollywood circuit by night. His performances included shows at the world-famous ''Roxy'' on Sunset Blvd. and the Galaxy theatre on Hollywood Blvd. His following included superstar actors and musicians. Building on his Christian heritage; Rogee also produced gospel albums and performed at many churches through Southern California. Rogee’s band and solo performances got the attention of several record labels and was offered a couple of deals he rejected stating: ''after I read the fine print in the contracts, I just could not sign my life away to a record label. I had been on my own too long and I eyes were already opened to the truth of ‘creative control’.''

Recognized by the Mayor, City of Los Angeles, California:

On October 24, 1991, Rogee Rogers was presented a ''Certificate of Appreciation'' by Mayor Tom Bradley of Los Angeles. Part of the certificate reads: ''In recognition of your outstanding citizenship enhancing the spirit of brotherhood and love, this Certificate of Appreciation is awarded for your exemplary efforts which have been of great value in promoting goodwill and joy which has helped to further the common goal of making our City [Los Angeles] a better place in which to live.'' Over the years, Rogee Rogers has also been recognized by many other community groups including the ''Salvation Army,'' veterans groups, religious groups, and outreaches for his contributions to the communities he has lived in. In 2003, Rogee Rogers was awarded ''Rookie Business Entrepreneur of the Year'' by the Antelope Valley Chambers of Commerce.

The Rogee Rogers Television Show:

From 1992 to 1994, Rogee ran ''The Rogee Rogers'' show on cable through public access. The show aired on 10 cable channels throughout Southern California and had a loyal following of fans that also attended Rogee’s live concerts. The Rogee Rogers TV show was a variety magazine that featured entertainment stars, music groups, local businesses, and prominent individuals in the community. The objective of the show was to entertain and keep southern California residents information on issues in their local communities. Rogee produces over 100 shows and he was the favorite of many of the station managers. A station manager at the then ''United Cable,'' in the San Fernando Valley wrote: ''Rogee is the James Brown of cable TV. He is the hardest-working TV producer in the public access circuit.''

Raising a Family -- Taking a Music Hiatus:

On September 29, 1995, Rogee Bejean Rogers was born to Rogee Rogers and his long-term girlfriend, Elsa at the Verdugo Hills hospital in Glendale, California. Holding his ''brand new son'' in his hands brought back to mind a promise he had made as a teenager. While growing up, Rogee was raised by his uncles because his world-famous father, S.E. Rogie was traveling all the time. Hence, Rogee never developed a childhood bond with his father, something he earnestly wanted. The promise was that he was not going to let anything, especially not a music career, keep him from raising and physically being there for his children all throughout their growing years.

From 1996 to 2002, Rogee Rogers concentrated on building a strong family foundation for his children. He married his long-time girlfriend, Elsa, in 1998 and that same year official stopped the pursuit of a traditional music career.

On September 22, 1998, the couple had their second child, Samantha Breanne Rogers at the Antelope Valley hospital in Lancaster, California. Rogee and his wife and their three children (Bejean, Samantha and Christine [from Elsa’s previous relationship]), settled down in the Antelope Valley, a community about 70 miles north of Los Angeles. In their pursuit of the American dream, the couple decided to home-school their three children with Rogee, the dad, staying home as the primary caretaker and home-school teacher while Elsa, the mom, an Electrical Engineer graduate of University of Southern California (USC) maintained her prominent engineering position with the City of Los Angeles.

In the early 2000s, as the family’s software business became a success, Rogee switched roles to become a full-time technology company CEO as Elsa took on the mantle of home-schooling the Rogers children. Up to date, the ROGEE® Software Corporation develops and markets web applications for multiple industries including automotive, entertainment, education and consumer.

Children’s Education TV -- ''Bogie, the Singing Lion and Friends''

In 1998, as a home-school teacher, Rogee Rogers developed a children’s TV show, Bogie the Singing Lion and Friends, for airing on KCET in Los Angeles. Due to last-minute lack of funding, the project did not materialize on TV. However, Bogie the Singing Lion and Friends music tapes where distributed to elementary schools and a successful live tour was performed at many private and public elementary schools all across the Antelope Valley. Bogie educational music tapes are still in use by some teachers in the area.

Like father, like son, like grand-kids

If the legendary S.E. Rogie was alive today, he would be most proud to learn that his lineage is carrying on the tradition of music. At the writing of this biography, Samantha Rogers, 12, is learning the drums. Her famous drum instructor is amazed at her raw talent and is convinced that Samantha has the potential of becoming a great female drummer. Rogee Bejean Rogers, 15, has picked up the guitar quite well. In a recent band-stand recital where Bejean performed classic Rock-n-Role songs with a professional band, his playing and showmanship was hailed by the musicians and the audience as ''awesome.'' Some fans in the audience shouted ''Jimmy Hendrix!!! Jimmy Hendrix!!!'' at him.

The Rogee Rogers Musical Come Back

In 2008, Rogee Rogers visited is birth place, Sierra Leone, to physically reconnect with family and long lost friends. When he returned home to the U.S. two months later, he recounted the following very interesting story:

''Everybody I met had one question for me: Where is the music? When I would get together with dignitaries, leaders in high places, to discuss business; when I would meet with family and friends (young and old including kids who were not yet even born when I left in 1986), they all had the same basic questions: Where is the music? Don't you play music anymore? What happened to the Rogie heritage? Can you still play the guitar?

I attempted to give explanations, but the same questions kept popping up. Eventually, my mother’s younger brother, who in his teenage years was, my father’s assistant, sat me down and told me exactly what the people are trying to express to me. He calls me Roy. He said: ‘Roy, what your music name represents; what your father did for this country musically; and what you did as a teenage musician, means more to us than any thing you can give or tell us about anything. Your American business success is nice and we're grateful that God has blessed you and your family, but the music is what the people want from you.

Two days later, I met with the dean of Fourah Bay College -- University of Sierra Leone. Our conversation quickly moved from software, which was my purpose for the meeting, to the music of Rogie. Not knowing it, he basically told me the exact thing my uncle, in a different part of the county, had told me already. This got me thinking seriously about my music heritage.

Even my mother, who had spent a lot of time in my growing-up years attempting to discourage me from becoming a musician, was completely astonished to find out that I was now acting as a businessman and not as the heir to Rogie who should, naturally, be carrying the music mantle. As my beautiful and gentle mother’s eyes stared at me in that astonishment, I got it: ‘to my people, I am Rogee the musician and that is exactly what, at that moment, I intended to be from that day forth’.''

When Rogee Rogers got back home to California, one of the first individuals he told of his experience in Sierra Leone was his boyhood David Vandy, a theatre producer/director, TV host, and DJ of ''African Beat'' -- a universally broadcasted radio show on VOA (Voice of America). The ''Voice of America'' platform is funded by the U.S. Government and is governed by the VOA Charter, signed into law by President Gerald Ford in 1976. Over the years, David, who from his vantage point as a worldwide DJ understands the pulse of the listening audience through VOA, had always encouraged Rogee to release his recordings. David added the following anecdote to Rogee’s story:

''As you know people all over the world love your family’s music. Musicians everywhere are attempting to perform like your dad. You see all kinds of bands of Africans and non-Africans on YouTube performing ‘My Lovely Elizabeth’ or some other Rogie song. In recent years, Kanda Bongo Man, one of Africa’s most prominent musicians became one of the artists taking a try at S.E. Rogie, but they all don’t have what you have.

What you have that nobody else in the world has is that YOU are the ‘actual’ heir of S.E. Rogie. Not only that you have the music talent flowing through you as did him, but at this age, you now look like an exact replica of him at the height of his popularity. People are always asking me about you. They want to know when you are going to come back. Rogee, my brother, listen to me, you have to come back. This is the right time. I have the feeling this is going to be big! THIS IS IT.''

Convinced that this was the right time, Rogee Rogers took one more step, which was to directly engage the people (the fans) through the Internet. Between 2008 and 2010, ROGEE Records published a www.SEROGIE.com website where the people of the world were invited to add comments and give their options. The result of this research can be found under the ''JOIN THE FUN'' section of the labels website: www.RogeeRecords.com. The summary is that music lovers from many countries in six continents continue shared and continue to share their love for Rogee, his and his father’s music and are requesting old and new material, and want to attend live concerts. In response to this research, the ROGEE Software Corporation developed the ''YOU DECIDE'' module for the Fanabulous platform -- a social media technology initiated by the Rogers family.

In the early part of 2009, Rogee Rogers started recording a new tribute album to this father. As an avid music producer, Rogee has multiple fully produced albums that he has never released to the world, including a couple of albums dedicated to his father. However, this new project, which he titled ''Palm Wine for The King'' was going to be released in July of 2010. The album was finished and ready for release by April 2010. Music promoters, worldwide and key entertainment partners involved with ROGEE® Records all gave their go ahead on the release. Unfortunately, July 2010 came and the music did not come to the people. Rogee Rogers had learned of the availability of a bootlegged copy of the album and hence his label delayed the release of the album. It would take another year before the music would be released to the people.

On June 10, 2011, ROGEE® Records released an Internet download-only version of ''Palm Wine for The King'' at RogeeRecords.com. The software department of the ROGEE Corporation developed proprietary web applications strictly for the album. Downloads and purchase of the album is exclusively at the company website: RogeeRecords.com.

Several other Rogee Rogers and S.E. Rogie albums are scheduled for release by the record label in the near future. The Rogers family is also looking into a potential movie release of the life and times of S.E. Rogie. Currently, all fans are encouraged to patronize the Rogie/Rogee brand by purchasing the ''Palm Wine for The King'' album.

More to come...