Born in Hamilton, Ontario to parents of Nova Scotian descent, Garnet spent many hours in front of the old floor model radio listening to Grand Ol’ Opry broadcasts and harmonizing with his brother, the late folk legend Stan Rogers. Two years later, Garnet was playing the definitive 8-year-old’s version of “Desolation Row” on his ukulele. He soon abandoned that instrument to teach himself the flute, violin and guitar.
At 18, Garnet Rogers was on the road as a full-time working musician with brother Stan. Together they formed what has come to be accepted as one of the most influential duos in the history of North American folk music. Garnet acted as producer and arranger for his late brother from 1973 to 1983, the year his older brother and best friend, Stan, died tragically in a plane crash.
Since then, Garnet Rogers has courageously established himself as a formidable solo artist. Hailed by the Boston Globe as a “charismatic performer and singer” and “one of the major talents of our time, ” Garnet’s vocal and instrumental talents are complimented by an undeniably powerful physical presence – close to six and a half feet tall – with the lungs to match. With his “smooth, dark baritone” (Washington Post) his incredible range, and thoughtful, dramatic phrasing, Garnet is widely considered by fans and critics alike to be one of the finest singers anywhere. His music, like the man himself, is literate, passionate, highly sensitive, and deeply purposeful. Cinematic in detail, his songs give expression to the unspoken language of the heart. An optimist at heart, Garnet sings extraordinary songs about people who are not obvious heroes and of the small everyday victories. As memorable as his songs, his over-the-top humor and lightning-quick wit move his audiences from tears to laughter and back again.
His 2002 Red House release, All That Is: The Songs of Garnet Rogers was the first definitive collection of songs selected from his critically acclaimed body of work. The passionate songs shed light on the ills of human nature while offering a hopeful and healing message that celebrates the power of love and life.