In 2007, Roger accepted an invitation by Princes William and Harry to perform at the Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium. Featuring hits “Dreamer,” “Give a Little Bit,” “School,” “Breakfast in America,” “It’s Raining Again” (to name a few), and a bonus orchestral version of “Fool’s Overture,” this DVD is a stunning reminder of the musical genius of Roger Hodgson.
“Take the Long Way Home – Live in Montreal” went Platinum in just seven weeks and hit #1 in all of Canada and is now multi-Platinum and Gold in France and Germany. In 2006, Roger released his first ever DVD from one of his live solo concerts in Canada. In 2007, he received this award again for a remake of “Breakfast in America.” Roger has donated his time and signature song “Give a Little Bit” to help raise funds for Tsunami Relief, Red Cross, UNICEF, World Vision, Hurricane Katrina efforts and other worthy causes. Thirty-five years after writing “Give a Little Bit,” Roger received an award for the song being one of the most performed songs in the 2005 ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) repertory. He compares his writing process to an artist painting a picture, keeping it close to his heart until the picture is complete before he shares it with the world. Roger continues to compose music and write lyrics and has over 60 unreleased songs, some of which he plans to record when the time is right. It is only since 2004, with his children fully grown, that Roger has felt the call to tour regularly again. In 2000, he released his next studio album “Open the Door” and in 2001, after taking many years off from touring to raise his children, Roger joined Ringo Starr in his All Starr Band Tour. Within a year and a half he was playing again. Yet with faith and a long period of self-healing and physical therapy, Roger proved them wrong. Doctors told him he would never play music again. In 1987, the same week that Roger’s second album “Hai, Hai” was released, Roger took a bad fall and shattered both of his wrists. His first solo album “In the Eye of the Storm” was released in 1984 and became an international hit, selling over two million copies. He built a state-of-the-art recording studio at home where he could continue to create music and be with his children as they grew up. Following his heart, he chose to live a simple lifestyle in nature with his family and pursue his spiritual values. Roger parted company with Supertramp in 1983 after the “Famous Last Words” album and mega rock stadium tour. To this day, “The Logical Song” also has the distinction of being one of the most quoted lyrics in schools.
In 1974, the band released the album “Crime of the Century” with Roger’s song “Dreamer” becoming their first hit and driving the album to the top of the charts.įor the next nine years, dubbed by fans as the “Golden Years,” Supertramp saw four studio albums, numerous tours, and the worldwide success of “Breakfast in America.” Three of Roger’s songs from the album became worldwide hits – “The Logical Song,” “Take the Long Way Home” and “Breakfast in America.” Many awards followed, among them the Ivor Novello Award in 1980 from The British Academy of Composers and Songwriters for “The Logical Song” being named the best song both musically and lyrically, according to his biography. However, like Lennon/McCartney, they maintained a joint writers credit on songs they recorded with Supertramp. From their second album “Indelibly Stamped” forward, Roger and Rick began writing separately. Their initial collaborations attracted the attention of A&M Records and their first album “Supertramp” was released in 1970. Shortly after, Roger met Rick Davies and the nucleus of Supertramp was born.
Boyd” with a session band including pianist Reg Dwight, later to become known as Elton John. It wasn’t long after his final school year that he recorded his first studio single “Mr. Learning three chords from his teacher (online lessons like these on weren’t a thing back then), he began writing songs at the age of twelve, eventually adding piano, bass, drums and even cello to his musical accomplishments. Born in Portsmouth, England, Roger Hodgson spent much of his childhood at boarding school where his guitar became his best friend.