Eric Rogers (composer)

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

Eric Rogers (born Eric Gaukroger;[1] 25 September 1921 – 8 April 1981) was an English-born composer, conductor and arranger, best known for composing the scores for twenty-two Carry On films.[2]

Early life[edit]

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 World War II for free beer.

Career[edit]

After World War II, he set up his own orchestra, playing in the Orchid Room at the London Trocadero.[1] He orchestrated the original stage production of Oliver!, first performed at the New Theatre, West End, London, on 30 June 1960.[3]

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 Emmannuelle in 1978.

Rogers emigrated to America in 1975, after working intermittently in the UK 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[edit]

Rogers was married to a Bluebell girl, Enid Merrigan, 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 Rogers, was also a musician and songwriter and has a lyric credit on the 1965 film, Carry On Cowboy.[4]

Death[edit]

He died on 8 April 1981 in Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire, aged 59.[5]

Film and TV music[edit]

Film[edit]

Television[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e J Gareth Phillips Clasemont. "Eric Rogers". Morriston Orpheus Welsh Male Voice Choir. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  2. ^ Craggs, Stewart (2018). Soundtracks : An International Dictionary of Composers for Film. London: Routledge. pp. 1985–1986. ISBN 9780429777431.
  3. ^ Oliver! (album liner). London: originally Decca (UK LP)/Deram (CD reissue). 1960. LK 4359 (mono), SKL 4105 (stereo)/CD reissue 820 590-2. Original London cast. 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.
  4. ^ Stubblebine, Donald (1997). British Cinema Sheet Music : A Comprehensive Listing of Film Music Published in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, 1916 Through 1994. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Co. p. 23. ISBN 9780786403134.
  5. ^ Lukas Kendall (2002). "Eric Rogers: Obituary". Film Score Monthly. p. 43.

External links[edit]

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