Eugene Rogers, who performed under the stage name Smokey Rogers, was an American Western swing musician and songwriter who was born in 1917 in McMinnville, Tennessee. He joined the band of Spade Cooley in the 1940s and later became a founding member of the group Western Caravan. Both ensembles featured him as a vocalist on novelty songs. He co-wrote the song “Spanish Fandango” in 1947 with Bob Wills. Rogers is best known for writing the ballad “Gone” in 1952, which was first recorded by Ferlin Husky. A 1956 recording of the track reached Number 1 on the country chart and remained at that position for 10 weeks. He also wrote the song “My Chickashay Gal”, which was popularized by Roy Rogers. In 1950, he purchased the Bostonia Ballroom and hosted a daily live television program. He also presented a radio show in Mexico in 1958. Rogers died in 1993 in San Diego.
