Missing Gamble Rogers

It amazes me sometimes to realize just how many things get by me. It seems to happen more often now that I am older but it obviously happened when I was younger as well!

In any case I was updating the activities board at the hostel when I came across the name Gamble Rogers. they are having a Gamble Rogers Festival the first weekend in may. “Who the heck is Gamble Rogers?” I thought as I posted the information on the board. A quick Google later, my mind went back to my late 20′s; I had met this guy!

There are not a lot of things that occurred during my younger days that I remember but I did recall that night. I was traveling through St. Augustine and I stoped for some fun at the Tradewinds Tropical Lounge which is still operating in St. Augustine.

I remember having one heck of a lot of fun that night long ago. I was by myself and the guy they had playing to the patrons that night was the kind of guy that just made you like being around him, clearly a Florida boy who told a lot stories in both words and song!. I laughed a lot, he reminded me of Phil Harris.

I did some more reading. before I met him he was part of the Serendipity Singers, a folk group. they had appeared on the Tonight show, Hootenanny and Ed Sullivan. after he left that group he became quite a celebrity on his own. In addition to his appearance at the Tradewinds, he produced many solo albums, wrote music and a play “Good Causers: the Confessions of a Troubadour.” he is the voice on the film played to the tours of the space center. he wrote and stared in a play for television, “The Waterbearer,” aired on PBS across the country.

In 1990 he was doing a one-man play based on the good ole boys and girls that he new. some thought him to be a new Will Rogers.

In 1991 this good man died trying to save another from drowning; they’ve named a park after him. all these things happening, without my knowing, to a guy I met when I was 27; I miss Gamble Rogers.

Missing Gamble Rogers