Singer Robin Rogers passed away yesterday at age 55. Rogers was diagnosed with inoperable liver cancer in August. Her album Back In The Fire was released earlier this year and has been a staple on the charts since its release. She was nominated this week for a Blues Music Award in the Contemporary Blues Female category and was interviewed recently on NPR.
The blues community is small and tight knit and in my capacity as a freelance writer I've had the unbelievable opportunity to meet or interact with many artists and some great professionals who work with them. I never met Rogers but have met and talked to people who knew her and knew her well. I'm by no means at the center of the blues community but some wonderful artists and people have made me feel a small part of it and today I'm sad to know that one of us, someone who meant a great deal to many people around the world, has left us far too soon.
We often here it described that someone has lost their battle with cancer after the illness claims another life. It's an apt description on some level as it reflects the progressive nature of the disease. The husband of a co-worker passed away last year following a grueling treatment process against a rare, aggressive kind of cancer. He wrote about his experiences as he went through that process, as did his family and friends and one of them reflected on what it meant to "beat cancer." To most of us, beating it likely means sending it into remission and living as normal a life as life allows. Our instinct will always be to cling to life and to see life as victory, death as defeat, but one of this man's loved ones had a different idea. He considered the passing a manner of victory over the disease. He didn't lose his battle because he was finally free from it.
Article comments
1 - Justin Kantor
Wow, Josh, the way you stated this was really moving and though-provoking, really! I don't know much about Mrs. Rogers; but am tempted to now after reading this affecting "peace." Thanks for keeping her memory alive in this way!
2 - The Other Chad
Thank you for this very moving piece, Josh. Very thought provoking. I hadn't heard of Robin Rogers before, but I just downloaded her "Back in the Fire" after reading this.
3 - Josh Hathaway
Thanks, fellas. I really appreciate the kind words about the piece and am thrilled you have or are considering giving her music a listen.
4 - Linda Dixon
I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Robin and spend time with her, had dinner with her and got to sit in with her band at Blind Willies. Her voice will live on through her recordings, and the wonderful person she was will live on in my memory. Thank you, Robin, for your fantastic songwriting and singing.