Roy Rogers: ‘King of the Cowboys’

The legacy of a benevolent icon of the American West.
Roy Rogers: ‘King of the Cowboys’
“King of the Cowboys” singer and actor Roy Rogers on “The Roy Rogers Show”, circa 1955. Archive Photos/Getty Images
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Once upon a time in America, singing cowboy Roy Rogers reigned supreme. A star of the 1940s and 1950s, gracing both movie and television screens across the country, the actor and musician starred in more than 100 films and the long-running TV series, “The Roy Rogers Show.” He’s the only country artist to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame twice, once as a member of his early band, Sons of the Pioneers, and again as a solo artist.

He was a clean-cut cowboy who was courteous but also able to stand up for what is right. His refined Western style ignited a product craze with kids asking their parents for all types of available Roy Rogers merchandise, from lunch boxes and toys to cowboy outfits and books.

Rebecca Day
Rebecca Day
Author
Rebecca Day is a freelance writer and independent musician. For more information on her music and writing, visit her Substack, Classically Cultured, at classicallycultured.substack.com