Rick "The Rhaphio Kid" Rogers

Evans & Rogers

Vaudeville song and dance team

Biography:

Evans and Rogers are a powerhouse of two very talented personalities--jazz vocalist Sharon Evans and singer/impressionist Rick Rogers. Sharon Evans, whose vocal and musical training began before school age and goes far beyond the university years, is a classically trained singer whose desire has always been to perform as a jazz vocalist. Stepping first into Gospel music, she learned guitar, traveled in a small band and in a duo, lead choirs and served as minister of music in various churches and other religious organizations. Encouraged by friends, she began performing jazz standards in the late 1990's. She later met Dan Weinstein who became her arranger, enabling her to perform more often and book her own band. It was Dan who introduced her to the early jazz and Tin Pan Alley crowd of performers that lead her to perform at Richard Halpern’s Hollywood Speakeasy where she was introduced to Rick Rogers on opening night. Rick, an impressionist and song and dance man, began his career at age ten, performing in the style of Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor and even James Cagney. His unique talent and boyhood genius--not only as a performer, but also as a self taught entomologist–landed him on the Steve Allen Show, the Virginia Graham Show, and To Tell The Truth (as the real Rick Rogers). He has performed in USO shows and, when older, in Las Vegas lounges, and had the unique pleasure of performing at the Troubadour with Tiny Tim.

Months after Halpern’s show, Sharon and Rick met again at an Al Jolson Society event where Rick performed as Eddie Cantor. But it wasn’t until nearly a year later when Sharon and Rick were re-introduced on the telephone that plans were made to work on duets. The song they first tried, a show tune from the 1950s, was dropped when it became apparent that things were going in a different direction. With Rick’s deep love of early 20^th century popular music, it didn’t take long before they became "the hottest new act in vaudeville" and the team of Evans and Rogers was born. Rick’s knowledge of the old tunes, not to mention those who performed them originally, produced one gem after another. Soon they were both contributing to the repertoire and creating their own choreography and comedic patter to go along. As a result, the combined talent, experience and drive of these two performers has produced something rare and wonderful, and completely unique, capable of delighting audiences of all ages.

The entertainment presented by Evans and Rogers has prompted attention from well known veteran entertainers such as Jayne Meadows and Herb Jefferies. They can be seen in the new documentary A Colored Life: The Herb Jefferies Story. Evans and Rogers have appeared on local radio and television shows, and performed numerous times as special guests at various events. Their popularity is growing so rapidly that their first show was a sell-out and playing larger venues has become a necessity.

Evans and Rogers are supported by Dan Weinstein as music director and arranger, and by their sponsor Glasshouse Productions who provides sound and lighting for all Evans and Rogers shows. Also with Evans and Rogers is Betty Vincent on piano, former pianist for the Joffrey Ballet, and jazz guitarist/banjo player Jason Myers. To help with producing larger shows, Dennis Leslie, theater manager and producer (An Evening with Groucho and Son with Arthur Marx), is also a part of the Evans and Rogers team.

Rick Rogers Bio:

Reel Cowboy, Rick Rogers began his musical/comedy work as a child in 1968, singing at fairs, in clubs, USO shows, and leading him to appearances onThe Steve Allen Show, To Tell the Truth and The Virginia Graham Show.  Rick was also featured in a live performance with Tiny Tim at the famous Troubadour nightclub in a duet of “Bye, Bye, Blackbird.”

As an adult performer, Rick has been a special guest on the BBC-TV program The Big Award, as well as The Crook and Chase Show, The Stephanie Miller Show, plus three guest appearances on The Howie Mandel Show performing his original novelty tunes. 

As “the Eddie Cantor guy”, Rick has performed the song and dance routines of this famous vaudevillian and star of the silver screen in various venues for the Eddie Cantor Appreciation Society and for the Al Jolson Society.  In 2006, Rick performed his incredible Eddie Cantor impersonation in New York City at the request of the Cantor family.  Backed by Vince Giordano and his Nighthawks, Rick performed in Time Square at Joe Franklin’s comedy restaurant.  His tour also included a recreation of an Eddie Cantor 1938 radio broadcast for which he received an award from The Friends of Old Time Radio Convention in Newark, New Jersey.  Rick has also been awarded a lifetime membership in the Eddie Cantor Appreciation Society.  Currently, he is teamed with jazz vocalist Sharon Evans in a vaudeville style song and dance act called Evans and Rogers.

A prolific songwriter, Rick Rogers has written over 50 songs, inspired by the classic sound of the popular music from the early 20th century.  He accompanies himself on piano and ukulele.

In addition to Eddie Cantor, Rick also does impressions of Al Jolson, Groucho Marx, W. C. Fields, Jimmy Durante, James Cagney, Carey Grant, Frank Sinatra, and many more.