Holding a concert to raise money for the Ridge Meadows Hospital Foundation just makes sense for James ‘Buddy’ Rogers, who can still recall trips to the Maple Ridge facility, where doting doctors and nurses treated broken bones from childhood accidents.
“Three of my four daughters were born there,” says Rogers, a Juno nominee who will be seeking a seat on Maple Ridge council this year.
The hospital has always “been there for him” and his family.
To be held at Memorial Peace Park on Aug. 10, admission for the family concert will be by donation.
In addition to Rogers performing, local blues acts James Thorhaug, Steve ‘Mud Dog’ Sainas, Steve Hanson and EVK will be on the roster.
The Maple Ridge Lions Club will have a food concession in the park and crafts for children will also be available.
Making special concert appearances will be two youth bands playing 20-minute sets, as well as Rogers’ two oldest daughters, seven-year-old Eliot and nine-year-old Quinn, who will sing with their dad on stage.
“Everything I do is music,” says Rogers, adding his daughters could not help but take part in performing. Even his second youngest is getting into the groove.
“They’ve been singing forever. Even my two-year-old is starting to pick up her pink guitar,” says the proud dad.
Although being a dad, planning shows, producing records and a full-time job as director of admissions at the Pacific Audio Visual Institute in Vancouver keeps him busy, Rogers still wants to be more involved with the community. Once his August concert is over, Rogers will get more active again planning his Maple Ridge council campaign.
With a YouTube campaign song built around his Your Voice Your Vision slogan, Rogers announced his interest in having a seat at the council table back in May. At that time, Rogers indicated he wanted to see a better growth and development plan for Maple Ridge.
“With all the urban sprawl that’s happening, I just don’t feel there’s much thought going into the demand on schools, fire and police and where that money’s going to come to pay for it,” he said. “Homeowners are just on the hook for everything and I just don’t think people’s pockets are deep enough to continue with that path.”
For years, Rogers says, he has wanted to be apart of his hometown’s political scene.
“Fifteen years ago, I was discussing the idea of running for council,” he recollects.
If elected, Rogers says he has no issue with allowing himself to be guided by public opinion on community issues.
“Regardless of my feeling on something, I’m willing to vote for the majority.”
Following on the heels of his 2012 critical album success with the release of My Guitar’s My Only Friend, Rogers says he will get to work on producing another album in November, regardless of the outcome of the fall civic election.
In the meantime, he will practice and plan for his Sept. 6 show at the Royal Canadian Legion in Maple Ridge.
Among special guests joining him will be legendary Powder Blues guitarist Tom Lavin.
Blues in the park
• Blues in the Park takes place at Memorial Peace Park in Maple Ridge Aug. 10 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Admission by donation.