Canton Man Making Name For Himself On The Music Scene
Former Canton High School graduate Alex Rogers continues to have a successful music career as he presses on in fulfilling a dream.
The 2005 Canton High School graduate is now a band member for Country/Southern Rock singer Zane Lewis.
Their success has taken them to tour all over the United States, including such popular stops as the Country Music Association Festival in Nashville and even the State Fair of Texas.
He recently wrapped up performing at the PBR National Finals in Las Vegas on November 6, 7 and 8.
Zane Lewis’ self-titled album is available at Best Buy, Hastings, Virgin Megastores, Fry’s, Borders, iTunes and Amazon.
The new single from the album, "Southland," recently hit #62 nationally on music row and was #42 on the Texas Music charts.
Rogers said the band also won Best Independent Artist of the Year at the Sixth Annual French Country Music Awards.
The single "Southland" was also Best In Texas’ magazine and web sites Video of the Week for several weeks.
"This Little Bar and Me," a song of Rogers, has attracted some interest from Zane Lewis and Country artist Aron Dees.
Rogers originally started working with Dees in 2007 and since then his career has lead him to work with Lewis.
Another song Rogers wrote and a couple more he co-wrote with Dees have been presented to Hank Williams Jr. and Toby Keith via Universal Nashville.
Alongside working with Zane Lewis, Rogers also finds time to dabble in a band of his own-Haight Ashbury.
That band recently performed at the Curtain Club in Dallas, and they are finishing up their own album.
"Haight Ashbury is where I get to do all the things I want to do," Rogers said enthusiastically. "I love it. Its fun pop funk rock and I get to put in all the crazy things that I normally don’t; like horns, violins, 808 drums, etc. It’s crazy but still pretty catchy."
Catchy enough that occasionally, Rogers said, their songs get played on 102.1 the Edge.
"We play about once a month," Rogers said; explaining that is when the band members can all fit playing into their schedules. "These are all guys I have known for a long time, and have been writing and playing with since I was in high school."
Rogers worked with fellow band member Craig Conley, of Grand Saline, at Dairy Palace. Conley is now employed as a firefighter, and plays rhythm guitar and sings with Haight Ashbury.
Kyle Gaston was the lead singer in the band Daytripper, and has been writing with Rogers since they were freshmen in the marching band. Gaston is a registered nurse and plays drums for the band.
Brian Taylor of Grand Saline, also a member of Haight Ashbury, is the bass player.
Rogers plays lead guitar along with random other instruments like piano and horns, and is the lead singer for the group.
"I just love music, it’s my passion," Rogers said. "Rob Toups showed me all the tools of the trade and some of the ropes and really encouraged me."
"My parents have also been real supportive, as in not only emotionally but also buying me my first instruments," he said. "Musically, however, Rob really showed me the work ethic required to make something ordinary turn into something incredible, and how to make yourself try and stick out in this sea of pro musicians, where good jobs are hard to come by."
In addition to being on tour with a band, and having a band of his own, Rogers also takes on-line courses.
"It’s awesome though because it gives me something to read anytime I am traveling, so I really enjoy it," he said about his on-line classes. "I will have a degree in music composition next semester and am currently studying medicine as well."
"I like helping people and always did well in school, so figured why not medicine? I can really help people that way, because sometimes this job feels very, well empty I guess," he said. "I enjoy playing my music and really feel like it does help people open their minds to melodies and ideas they wouldn’t normally accept as their idea of ‘music.’ Or if my song helps someone get through a tough time, nothing feels better.
"The best feeling is having people sing your words back at you as you sing them."
"I am forever indebted to the people of this great city and proud to say I am from Canton, Texas," he added.