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His father being in the Armed Forces, Rodger was born in 1961 in Vancouver, and his family spent five years in Germany, moving back to Canada in 1970 to a posting in Valcartier, Quebec. He developed an early interest in the banjo, taking lessons at a music store in Kingston, and winning first place in the store’s annual concert, "Stars of Tomorrow" where he received a standing ovation for his encore of "Cripple Creek".
While playing one of his first professional gigs in Ottawa, Rodger was hired by Ralph Carlson as the banjo player for his Country Mile Band.
During the late 70’s and early 80’s, Country Mile was on the road full time, travelling all across Canada as well as to Great Britain.
After leaving Country Mile in the mid-80's, Rodger went on to play with The George Brothers Band, Rick Thompson and Ramrod, Mac Berube and Changes, the Nashville Palace All-Star Band, Chris McCann and Straight Goods, Arlene Quinn and Lauren Hall and is currently a member of Unwound.
Rodger is, without a doubt, one of the most versatile musicians we are fortunate enough to have in our Ottawa Valley country music community, playing no fewer than nine instruments (banjo, mandolin, lead and rhythm guitar, pedal steel guitar, dobro, bass, ukelele and bazouki). Rodger and his wife, Brenda Harlow, have a daughter, Natashia, and three sons, Neil, Stephane and Kyle.
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