Norman A. Rogers

1932 - 2011

Norman A. Rogers, 78, of Branson, Mo., formerly of Gardiner, Maine, passed away Feb. 3, 2011. He was born July 11, 1932, to William E. and Thelma M. Rogers.
Norman, known affectionately as "Brother" by friends and family, was the second of four children.
He attended Gardiner High School and served in the Army during the Korean War. He married Beverly Boyce in 1953 and had a daughter, Susan. He worked for his father's construction company as a truck driver and heavy equipment operator until, in the 1960s, he was persuaded by a friend, fellow musician and band leader, Don Doane, to follow his heart and study music, a passion he continued to pursue until his death. He graduated from Berkley School of Music as a performance major in 1969.
After his graduation, he toured with the Glenn Miller Band, under the direction of Buddy DeFranco. Over the many years of his musical career, he performed in big bands with Woody Herman and Maynard Ferguson.
He recorded in professional studios in New York and Los Angeles, with recording artists such as Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin and Simon & Garfunkel ,to name a few. He played in Reno and Las Vegas show bands with several touring celebrities. During the years preceding his death, he was engineer and co-owner of NKR Studios in Las Vegas, which was relocated to Branson, Mo.
Norman was preceded in death by his parents. Norman is survived by his loving family, wife Kimberly Rogers; daughter Sue Rogers; stepsons Chris and Nick Bradford; grandchildren Page Pszanowski and Nick Bradford Jr.; great-grandson Ethan Van Emmerik; his brother, William R. Rogers, and wife Gloria of Gardiner; sister Patricia Feilen and husband Otto of Florida; and sister Shirley Elliot of Ogunquit; plus several nieces and nephews.
Services were held in Branson, Mo. A celebration of life will be held in Maine in July.