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Eric Rogers (composer)

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Eric Rogers
Birth nameEric Gaukroger
Also known asEric Gauk-Roger
Born(1921-09-25)25 September 1921
OriginEngland
Died8 April 1981(1981-04-08) (aged 59)
Occupation(s)Composer, conductor, arranger

Eric Rogers (25 September 1921 – 8 April 1981) was an English composer, conductor and arranger, best known for composing the scores for twenty-two Carry On films.

Early life

Born Eric Gaukroger,[1] Rogers moved with his parents from Halifax, England to Morriston, Wales when he was three.[1] Rogers was interested in music from an early age, and during his attendance at church as a child, he was taught to play the church organ. His musical apprenticeship was generally untutored and he found himself playing the piano during the Second World War for free beer.

Career

After the Second World War, he set up his own orchestra, playing in the Orchid Room at London's Trocadero.[1] He orchestrated the original stage production of Oliver!, first performed at the New Theatre, London on 30 June 1960.[2]

As his reputation grew, he was offered many conducting jobs for films. Most notably, he composed the music for 22 Carry On films. He also conducted the music for the first James Bond film Dr. No under the name Eric Rogers. He would later go on to compose many film scores himself, most notably Carry On Cabby in 1963, Carry On Matron in 1972 and a hoard of other Carry On films. His final Carry On score was for Carry On Emmanuelle in 1978.

Rogers emigrated to America in 1975, after working intermittently in England and America from 1970, and became in demand for composing various film and TV series. By this point he had struck up an alliance with DePatie and Freleng productions, who were at the time making a number of animated series for children, such as Return to the Planet of the Apes and What's New Mr. Magoo?. He worked for the company for four years, conducting scores for What's New Mr. Magoo? and Pink Panther in a Pink Christmas, and providing scores for Return to the Planet of the Apes and Spider-Woman (TV series), for which he composed and conducted the theme and all the incidental music. He also conducted Dean Elliott's score for The New Fantastic Four animated series in 1978. In 1981, he conducted the music for Dennis the Menace in Mayday for Mother.

Personal life

Rogers was married to a Bluebell girl from Swansea, with whom he had two sons. On the day of the wedding, the bride's father was indisposed, and the bride was given away by Max Bygraves.[1]

Eric's brother, Alan,[3] has a lyric credit on the 1965 film, Carry on Cowboy.[4]

Death

He died on 8 April 1981 in Chalfont St. Peter, Buckinghamshire, aged 59.[3] His death was registered under the name Eric Gauk-Roger.[3]

Film and TV credits

Film scores

Television themes

References

  1. ^ a b c d e J Gareth Phillps Clasemont. "Eric Rogers :: Morriston Orpheus Welsh Male Voice Choir". Morristonorpheus.com. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
  2. ^ Oliver! (album liner). Original London Cast. London: originally Decca (UK LP)/Deram (CD reissue). 1960. LK 4359 (mono), SKL 4105 (stereo)/CD reissue 820 590-2. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |titlelink= ignored (|title-link= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) Note: Confusingly the original UK LP has the heading 'A Decca Broadway Original Cast Album' at the top of the front cover, but still identifies it in smaller type as a recording of the London cast below.
  3. ^ a b c "Eric Rogers". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2013-07-26.
  4. ^ "Alan Rogers". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2013-07-26.
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