Roy Rogers - King of the Cowboys | Western Hero & Legend

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Roy Rogers - King of the Cowboys | Western Hero & Legend

Roy Rogers was a member of the Sons of the Pioneers, a western musical group with Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer. In 1937 he went solo and starred in his first western move Under Western Stars in 1938.

Roy Rogers Biography

Leonard Franklin Slye was born to Andrew and Mattie Slye on November 5, 1911 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

When Leonard was about 8 years old, his father purchased a small farm about 12 miles north of Portsmouth, near Lucasville, Ohio.

Leonard's father soon realized that farming would not provide sufficient income for the family, so he took a job at a shoe factory in Portsmouth, Ohio. He would live in Portsmouth during the week and return home to the farm on the weekends.

Lenoard's father usually brought gifts when he returned home and on one occasion Leonard was given a horse and it was on this horse that he learned the basics of horsemanship.

When Leonard was 17 years old his family returned to Cincinnati and his father began work at a shoe factory there. Leonard felt that he needed to help his family financially, so he quit high school and joined his father at the shoe factory. He attempted to go to night school but after much ridicule about falling asleep, he quit school altogether and never returned.

Leonard's older sister, Mary lived in California and in 1929, Leonard and his father quit their shoe factory jobs and traveled to California for a visit. In 1930, the entire Slye family moved to California. Leonard and his father found jobs as truck drivers for a construction company, but upon reporting to work one morning they learned that the company had filed bankruptcy. The economic hardships of the Great Depression had followed them west and the Slye's soon found themselves traveling from job to job picking fruit and living in worker campsites. Leonard enjoyed picking his guitar and singing to the destitute around the campfire.

Leonard's father heard of a shoe factory that was hiring in Los Angeles and asked him to go with him to apply for work, but Leonard reluctantly told his father that he was going to pursue a living in music.

Leonard, at age 18, traveled to Los Angeles with his cousin Stanley to seek musical engagements as The Slye Brothers. After four years of little success, in 1934 Leonard formed a cowboy music group known as Sons of the Pioneers. A year earlier, Leonard had married Lucile Ascolese, but this marriage was only to last about three years.

The first hit songs for the Sons of the Pioneers were "Cool Water" and "Tumbling Tumbleweeds". Possibly as the result of the group's popularity, Leonard made his first film appearance in 1935. It is ironic that he played a large supporting role as a singing cowboy in a Gene Autry movie, but he was still billed as "Leonard Slye". It was this relationship that started the competition as to who was actually the nation's favorite "singing cowboy".

In 1936, Leonard married Grace Arline Wilkins and in 1942 they legally changed their names to Roy and Grace Arline Rogers. Arline died from complications of childbirth in 1946.

It was in 1938, after Gene Autry walked out on his movie contract, the name "Roy Rogers" was born. The Republic Pictures staff chose this name after Will Rogers and a shortening of the name Leroy. After Leonard Slye was christened "Roy Rogers", he was assigned the leading role in the move "Under Western Stars". Gene Autry did return to work, but Republic Pictures had already launched Roy Rogers' career, because "Under Western Stars" was a hit.

Roy Rogers became a major box office attraction and an idol for many children through his films and television shows. In 1945, he was cast in a move with a singing cowgirl by the name of Dale Evans. Roy and Dale fell in love and on New Years Eve 1947 they were married and remained married until Roy's death.

Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, his golden palomino Trigger, and his German Shepherd dog, Bullet were featured in over one hundred movies and "The Roy Rogers Show".

Roy and Dale were advocates for adoption and adopted several chilren themselves. They were founders and operators of many different children's charities and were outspoken Christians.

Dale Evans wrote the famous theme song "Happy Trails", which they sang together at the end of each show.

Roy Rogers has been twice elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame, first as a member of the Sons of the Pioneers in 1980 and as a soloist in 1988. He has been inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame and has three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The first star is for his contribution to the motion picture industry, the second for his contribution to radio, and the third for his contribution to the television industry.

Roy Rogers died of congestive heart failure on July 6, 1998 in Apple Valley, California.

Try A Little Western Trivia

What western actor portrayed the western hero Hopalong Cassidy?

What western character did Clint Eastwood portray in the western film "Pale Rider"?

How did western star John Wayne get the nickname "Duke"?

What famous western actor was the last man killed in John Wayne's final movie "The Shootist"?

What western actor played the role of Adam Cartwright on the western TV series "Bonanza"?

Who were the only two western actors who starred in the TV western "Gunsmoke" for all 20 seasons?

What western actor played the role of Rowdy Yates in the hit TV Western "Rawhide"?

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Roy Rogers Appearances In Western Film:

Mackintosh and T.J.

"The Roy Rogers & Dale Evans Show"

Alias Jesse James

"The Roy Rogers Show"

Son of Paleface

Pals of the Golden West

South of Caliente

In Old Amarillo

Heart of the Rockies

Spoilers of the Plains

North of the Great Divide

Sunset in the West

Trigger, Jr.

Twilight in the Sierras

Bells of Coronado

The Golden Stallion

Down Dakota Way

Susanna Pass

The Far Frontier

Grand Canyon Trail

Night Time in Nevada

Eyes of Texas

Under California Stars

The Gay Ranchero

Pecos Bill

On the Old Spanish Trail

Springtime in the Sierras

Bells of San Angelo

Apache Rose

Heldorado

Home in Oklahoma

Roll on Texas Moon

Under Nevada Skies

My Pal Trigger

Rainbow Over Texas

Song of Arizona

Don't Fence Me In

Sunset in El Dorado

Along the Navajo Trail

Man from Oklahoma

Bells of Rosarita

Utah

Lake Placid Serenade

Lights of Old Sante Fe

San Fernando Valley

Song of Nevada

The Yellow Rose of Texas

Cowboy and the Senorita

Hands Across the Border

Silver Spurs

Song of Texas

King of the Cowboys

Idaho

1975

1962

1959

1951-57

1952

1951

1950

1949

1948

1947

1946

1945

1944

1943

Mackintosh

Roy Rogers

Roy Barton

Roy Rogers

State Parole Officer Roy Rogers

Roy Rogers

U.S. Marshal Roy Rogers

Sheriff Roy Rogers

Roy Rogers

Nevada State Ranger Roy Rogers

Roy Rogers

Ridin' Down the Canyon

Heart of the Golden West

Sunset Serenade

Sons of the Pioneers

Romance of the Range

Sunset of the Desert

South of Sante Fe

Man from Cheyenne

Red River Valley

Jesse James at Bay

Dead Man in Deadwood

Nevada City

Sheriff of Tombstone

In Old Cheyenne

Robin Hood of the Pecos

The Border Legion

Young Bill Hickok

Colorado

The Ranger and the Lady

The Carson City Kid

Young Buffalo Bill

Dark Command

Days of Jesse James

Saga of Death Valley

Jeepers Creepers

The Arizona Kid

Wall Street Cowboy

In Old Caliente

Frontier Pony Express

Southward Ho

Rough Riders' Round-up

Shine On, Harvest Moon

Come On, Rangers

Billy the Kid Returns

Under Western Stars

The Old Barn Dance

Wild Horse Rodeo

The Old Wyoming Trail

The Old Corral

The Big Show

California Mail

Rhythm on the Range

Song of the Saddle

The Mysterious Avenger

Gallant Defender

Way Up Thar

The Old Homestead

1942

1941

1940

1939

1938

1937

1936

1935

Roy Rogers

Jesse James/Clint Burns

Brett Starr aka Bill Brady

Jeff Connors

Brett Starr

Steve Blane

Vance Corbin

Dr. Stephen Kellogg, aka Steve Kells

'Wild' Bill Hickok

Lt. Jerry Burke

Texas Ranger Cpt. Roy Colt

The Carson City Kid

Bill Cody

Fletcher 'Fletch' McCloud

Roy Rogers

Roy

Roy Rogers

Pony Express Rider Roy Rogers

Roy Rogers

Dick Weston, Singer

Leonard Slye, Guitar player

Buck O'Keefe

Leonard Slye, Sons of the Pioneers Guitarist

Leonard Slye, Square Dance Caller & Guitarist

Leonard Slye, Member of Sons of the Pioneers

Leonard Slye, Sons of the Pioneers Guitarist

Leonard Slye, Member of Sons of the Pioneers

Test Your Knowledge of Western TV and Western Film

What western actor played the role of your favorite western character? (You're on your own, but try to answer before you peek.)

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