Roy Rogers' Angola Connection: Exploring An Unlikely Link

Roy Rogers, the King of the Cowboys, was an American singer, actor, television host, freemason, and rodeo performer. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and later moved to Portsmouth, Ohio, where he lived on a houseboat with his family. Rogers began his career in 1935 as a member of the Western singing group, Sons of the Pioneers, and went on to star in almost 100 films and television shows. He was known for his majestic singing voice, charm, and good guy persona. Rogers was also a licensed pilot and owned a Cessna Bobcat. He died in 1998 and was buried in Apple Valley, California.

Angola is a country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Namibia to the south, Zambia to the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Angola gained independence from Portugal in 1975 and has a rich cultural history.

So, what does Angola have to do with Roy Rogers?

Well, it turns out that there is a small town in Indiana called Angola, which is located in the Northeast corner of the state. This town is known for its annual Fall Festival, which celebrates the area's heritage and includes a parade, carnival rides, and a craft show. Back in the day, the Fall Festival also included a rodeo, and who loved rodeos? None other than Roy Rogers himself!

Roy Rogers was born Leonard Franklin Slye in Cincinnati, Ohio

Roy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye, came into the world on November 5, 1911, in Cincinnati, Ohio. His parents, Andrew "Andy" Slye and Mattie (née Womack), lived in a tenement on 2nd Street, where the Riverfront Stadium would later be constructed. Rogers often joked that he was born at second base. He had three sisters: Kathleen, Mary, and Cleda.

Andy Slye worked in a shoe factory, but he was dissatisfied with his job and longed for a more rural life. So, in July 1912, when Rogers was just a year old, the Slye family set off on a journey up the Ohio River towards Portsmouth in a homemade 12-by-50-foot houseboat. However, their plans changed when they reached Portsmouth and purchased land to build a house. The Great Flood of 1913 intervened, and instead, they moved their houseboat onto the property and continued living in it on dry land.

In 1919, the Slye family bought a farm in Duck Run, near Lucasville, Ohio, about 12 miles north of Portsmouth. Andy soon realized that farming alone wouldn't provide enough income, so he took a job at a shoe factory in Portsmouth, only returning home on weekends. It was during this time that young Len, as he was nicknamed, developed a love for horsemanship, as his father gifted him a horse.

The Slye family made their own entertainment on the farm, often inviting neighbors over for square dances on Saturday nights. Len would sing, play the mandolin, and call the square dances. He also learned to yodel, and he and his mother would use different yodels to communicate across distances on the farm.

Len attended high school in McDermott, Ohio, but after two years, his family returned to Cincinnati, where his father found work at another shoe factory. Feeling the financial strain on his family, Len dropped out of school and joined his father at the factory. He briefly attempted to continue his education through night school, but after being ridiculed for falling asleep in class, he gave up on formal education altogether.

In 1929, Len and his father quit their factory jobs and, along with the rest of the family, drove out to California to visit Len's older sister Mary, who had moved there with her husband. This trip marked the beginning of a new chapter in Len's life, one that would eventually lead him to become the legendary "King of the Cowboys," Roy Rogers.

He co-founded the Sons of the Pioneers, a country-western group

Roy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye, co-founded the Sons of the Pioneers, a country-western group. In 1931, Slye moved from Ohio to California, where he worked as a truck driver and fruit picker. He soon entered an amateur singing contest on a Los Angeles radio show, after which he was invited to join a group called the Rocky Mountaineers.

In 1932, Slye, along with Tim Spencer and Slumber Nichols, left the Rocky Mountaineers to form a trio, which was short-lived. Over the next year, Slye and Spencer moved through a series of short-lived groups, including the International Cowboys and the O-Bar-O Cowboys.

In 1933, Slye, Spencer, and Canadian-born Bob Nolan formed the Pioneer Trio. The group spent weeks honing their vocals and, in 1934, fiddle player Hugh Farr joined, adding a bass voice to their vocal arrangements. Later that year, the Pioneer Trio became the Sons of the Pioneers, following a chance remark by a radio station announcer who said they were too young to be pioneers but could be sons of pioneers.

The Sons of the Pioneers quickly gained popularity across the United States through syndicated radio segments. They signed a recording contract with Decca Records and made their first commercial recording in 1934. Over the next two years, the group recorded 32 songs for Decca, including the classic "Cool Water."

The Sons of the Pioneers are known for their vocal performances, musicianship, and songwriting. They have produced innovative recordings that have inspired many Western music performers and have remained popular over the years. The group has appeared in numerous films and television series, often alongside Roy Rogers himself, even after he left the group in 1937 to pursue acting.

The Sons of the Pioneers have continued to perform and record, with various personnel changes, and are now based in Branson, Missouri. They are one of the longest-running country music vocal groups, celebrating 90 years in 2024.

He was nicknamed the King of the Cowboys

Roy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye, was nicknamed the "King of the Cowboys" due to his enormous popularity in films, on television and radio, and in personal appearances. Rogers was a singer, actor, television host, rodeo performer, and freemason.

Rogers's career began in 1935 as a member of the Western singing group, Sons of the Pioneers. He co-founded the group, whose signature song "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" helped them get cameos singing in a few films. In 1938, he replaced Gene Autry in the film "Under Western Stars", winning over critics and audiences. Rogers went on to star in almost 100 films, as well as numerous episodes of his self-titled radio program, which lasted for nine years. Between 1951 and 1957, he hosted "The Roy Rogers Show" television series, in which he often appeared with his wife, Dale Evans, and his horse, Trigger.

Rogers was the No. 1 Western star at the box office for 12 years (1943-1954) and had more merchandise than anyone but Walt Disney. His films, television appearances, and personal appearances made him an idol to millions of children, who also enjoyed his lunch pails and comic books. Rogers always made time to visit orphanages and children's hospitals, performing tricks with Trigger.

Rogers was also recognised for his upstanding character, both on and off-screen. He was an outspoken Christian and, alongside his wife, was an advocate for adoption and a founder and operator of children's charities.

Roy Rogers Restaurants were once a staple in the fast-food world

The brand was born from the popularity of the silver-screen cowboy Roy Rogers, leveraging his wholesome cowboy image to create a distinctive persona for the restaurants. At its peak in the early '90s, over 600 locations were operating across the United States. However, the chain faced challenges when Hardee's acquired it and began converting locations to their own brand, leading to a significant customer backlash.

Today, Roy Rogers has been relaunched as Roy Rogers Franchise Company, LLC, and while it operates on a smaller scale, it still carries the spirit of its namesake with hearty fare and a touch of old-school charm. The current plan is to open four to six new restaurants per year, with a focus on expanding in the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond.

He was married to Dale Evans, with whom he had several children

Roy Rogers, the "King of the Cowboys", was married twice in his lifetime. His first wife, Grace Arline Wilkins, passed away in 1946, a few days after giving birth to their son, Roy Jr. ("Dusty"). Rogers then married Dale Evans on New Year's Eve in 1947, and they had several children together. The couple had one biological child, Robin, who was born with Down syndrome and passed away before her second birthday. In addition, Rogers and Evans adopted four children from diverse backgrounds: John David ("Sandy"), Mimi, Lu-Ai Lee ("Debbie"), and Mary Little Doe ("Dodie"). Unfortunately, tragedy struck again when their daughter Debbie died in a church bus accident in 1964, and their son Sandy passed away while serving in the Army in 1965.

Rogers and Evans were not only known for their successful careers but also for their advocacy for adoption and their dedication to children's charities. They were outspoken Christians and active members of the Hollywood Christian Group, later known as the Bel Air Church. Their positive outlook and strong religious faith helped them navigate the challenges they faced in their lives, including the losses of their children.

The couple's fame and popularity extended beyond the entertainment industry, with streets, highways, and civic buildings named after them in Apple Valley, California, in recognition of their efforts on behalf of homeless and handicapped children. Their legacy continues to inspire and impact people's lives, leaving a lasting mark in the history of American entertainment and philanthropy.

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