Trevor - perhaps that was a rhetorical question, but let me give you a couple of names : Matthew Holt with The Perrys - and Scott McDowell with BFA - 2 of the young virtuosos currently in SG! Amazing musicians and true masters of the keyboard.

I agree about the over reliance on tracks nowadays. Stacks and tracks. Not only that, but more often than not, the tracks are cranked up so loud as to totally drown out the piano anyway. Whatver fills and runs are being played can not be heard much of the time.

Paul Jackson /The Prophets Qt.

Baritone- there is a saying in medicine (I am a physician…) that cancer patients never die of cancer; they die of something associated with it. Be it pulmonary fibrosis from radiation, renal failure or cardiomyopathy from chemo, bone marrow suppression, infection from immunosuppression, a fatal embolism, etc., ALL of these end-stage scenarios are heightened and hastened by the things associated with the disease, and its’ sometimes terrible treatments.

I had not heard the ‘viral meningitis’ diagnosis, but this is not surprising. With all Roger has endured, that he contracted a serious infection as this (if this is true) is hardly surprising, or ironic. Rather, that he went peacefully into the Lord’s presence from a comatose state, is a real blessing, and was part of the Lord’s great plan, apparently…

However, many people overlook his greatest strength on stage, and that was as an emcee. Of course, he sat at the feet of arguably the greatest emcee of them all in George Younce during his years playing for the Cathedrals. But emcee work is not so much learned as God-inspired. It takes a great deal of thinking on your feet and surveying the mood of the crowd to be able to engage the congregation to the point where they are eating out of the palm of your hand. Both Younce & Bennett shared this ability. Roger had a God-given quick wit and that special connection with a crowd that few people possess. He will be missed.

He said he really appreciated me telling him a postive story about a cancer survivor. Unfortunately, he said a lot of people told him they knew folks who had the type of cancer he had and they died quickly. One women complained to him it wasn’t fair that he had (at that time) lived five years with the disease when her son died after a few months.

Throughout our talk, Roger was pleasant, funny and upbeat but I’ve never forgotten those stories about people who seemed to want to discourage him while he was in the midst in his courageous fight against the disease.

I had considered not buying the NQC compilation DVD this year because it is always the same old thing, but since I collect them, I went ahead and bought it out of habit. I’m so glad I did now. In the pianorama segment, we see Roger, ever the “fun guy” and at his best. I’ll cherish that DVD.

Rest in peace Roger.