Chances are you know a Stan Rogers song, even if you don't know Stan Rogers as anything but an innocent bystander and Canadian who happened to be on Air Canada Flight 797 and died in the plane's tragic fire in 1983. Stan Rogers was 33. A staunch Canadian, talented musician and songwriter, Stan Rogers best known songs are probably "Northwest Passage," "Barrett's Privateers," "The Mary Ellen Carter," and "Fogarty's Cove," though it's very hard to pick. He's also famous for covers of other folk and traditional musicians, who to this day frequently perform Stan Rogers songs. Stan's baritone was unusually flexible, and his guitar playing was notable for his interesting and very traditional in the sense of archaic and Celtic music decision to write and perform a variety of songs that required a DADGAD tuning (and have led to large numbers of capo purchases).

His brother Garnet Rogers, a member of Stan's band for several years as a fiddle player and arranger, tours independently and while talented performer and song writer himself, continues to keep Stan's songs alive, as does Stan Roger's widow, Ariel Rogers via the Fogarty's Cove production company. Rogers initially signed with the RCA label, but in 1976 he switched to Barnswallow Records, who released his debut album, Fogarty's Cove. Fogarty's Cove is thematically tied to Canadian maritime traditions, music, and history, and was extremely successful. Stan Rogers bought the record label, and created Fogarty's Cove Music. Several of Stan Roger's songs have been featured on television shows and films, particularly for Canadian Broadcasting Company productions. In 1984 Rogers was nominated for the Juno Awards for Best Male Vocalist. In 1993 his posthumous album on the Fogarty's Cove label Home in Halifax was nominated for the Juno Award for Best Roots and Traditional Album. Home in Halifax features a live concert recorded in 1982 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, complete with Stan Roger's commentary and introductions. Four posthumous albums have been released . Stan Roger's 1983 album For the Family on the Folk Tradition label was apparently almost finished at the time of his death, and features songs by family members and the kind of music Stand enjoyed playing at home. The official Stan Rogers Website is here features a complete discography.

Here's live video of Stan Rogers performing "Mary Ellen Carter," with a brief anecdote from a former Chief Mate. The video is an excerpt from the documentary One Warm Line: The Legacy of Stan Rogers.