 In September of 1954 Jeanne Rogers, a Nebraska Black Hall of Fame honoree, delivered her fourth and fifth children – her second set of twins. Jeanne had indeed given birth to five children in three years. And no one could have predicted the wealth of talent these children would go on to display. Carol Jeanne Rogers, the youngest child, is being inducted into the Hall of Fame along with her mother; her twin brother, Keith; and her two older brothers, Ron E. and Donnie Beck.
These gifted siblings grew up in a simple home on Omaha's Near-North Side. Carol fondly remembers the home hosting jam sessions and rehearsals with many of the city's veteran and aspiring musicians, including Hoshel Wright, Billy Rogers, Calvin Keys, and Victor Keys, who are also Nebraska Black Hall of Fame honorees.
The magical environment of this musical home enabled young Carol to develop her ability as a singer in the midst of some of the city's most accomplished musicians. Very soon this youngster was performing for the Omaha Parks and Recreation Show Wagons and Beverly Blackburn's Talent Shows at the Civic Auditorium, as well as at Allen's Showcase. She eventually found her way into the company of Omaha's Grammy Award winner Chip Davis (Mannheim Steamroller, C. W. McCall); providing background vocals for his recording sessions, which included local and national commercials.
In the mid-seventies Carol left Omaha and toured with Brazilian superstar Sergio Mendes, featured as both lead and background vocalist. She sang on nine of Mendes’ recordings, including the 1994 Grammy-Award-winning "Brasileiro."
Mendes has introduced Carol to some of the biggest names in music. As a result, she has worked with Stevie Wonder, Gerry Mulligan, Dave Grusin, Dionne Warwick, Lee Ritenour, Brazilian keyboardist Eumir Deodato, and Japanese saxophonist Sadao Watanabe. She has also performed with Grammy-winning Brazilians Gilberto Gil and Dori Caymmi; and recorded for Ivan Lins and Grammy-winning producer Antonio "Moogie" Canazio, for whom she arranges and performs background vocals.
Moreover, Carol's voice was featured on three songs in the movie Bossa Nova, starring Amy Irving. She made recordings for Don Davis, musical producer of The Matrix and its sequels, which included the film Antitrust, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. She worked with the Brazilian superstar team Sandy & Junior and the mega-popular Mexican girl group Flans ("Hadas"). And she recorded with the renowned Swedish pianist/composer Monica Dominique the jazz album “So Nice,” which continues to draw favorable reviews throughout Scandinavia.
In Los Angeles, Carol waits for the last of her four children to graduate from high school and chooses to forgo "the road." Meanwhile she provides her coveted vocal technique lessons to a growing roster of star-studded students who include Cheryl Chase, “Angelica,” of the Rugrats; TC Carson of Living Single; and American Idol sensation Latoya London. Additionally, on occasion, she gives master vocal classes in Sweden and Japan. What's more, October 2005 Carol's book/DVD on vocal technique will be released, complementing, at last, her "Blues Instructional Video/DVD" released a few years ago on the Warner Brothers label. In the works is a musical for the stage titled Hayes Hotel, in which Carol plans to play the lead role of Mama Hayes. |
