Tracks (1)
LAST PLAYED ON EIREWAVE:
Take the Long Way Home
Charles Roger Pomfret Hodgson was born on 21 March 1950 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. He spent much of his childhood in Oxford. When his parents separated, his father gave him his first guitar at the age of twelve – a gift that would prove life-changing.
Roger attended boarding schools including Woodcote House near Windlesham, Surrey, where he learnt his first chords, and later Stowe School near Buckingham. At thirteen, he performed his first concert at school with nine original songs, already revealing a natural gift for songwriting.
His first band, formed with school friend Roy Hovey, was called The H-Bombs. At nineteen, he made his first studio recording with the group People Like Us, cutting the track Duck Pond with the B-side Send Me No Flowers.
In 1969, Roger Hodgson co-founded the progressive rock band Supertramp alongside Rick Davies. Over the following fourteen years, Roger became the creative force behind many of the band’s most iconic and enduring songs.
He wrote and sang the global hits:
Dreamer (1974, from Crime of the Century),
Give a Little Bit,
The Logical Song,
Breakfast in America,
Take the Long Way Home,
It’s Raining Again,
as well as fan favourites such as School and Fool’s Overture.
With Roger as co-frontman, Supertramp achieved worldwide success, selling more than 60 million albums. Breakfast in America alone sold over 20 million copies and topped charts across the globe. In 1980, The Logical Song was honoured with the prestigious Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically.
In 1983, at the height of Supertramp’s success, Roger made the difficult decision to leave the band in order to dedicate more time to his family and a simpler life closer to nature.
He continued writing and recording, releasing solo albums including:
In the Eye of the Storm (1984), which sold over two million copies,
Hai Hai (1987),
Rites of Passage (1997, a live recording),
Open the Door (2000).
Despite taking time away from the mainstream industry, Roger’s solo career has been marked by both critical acclaim and a deep connection with audiences. His voice – often described as one of the most recognisable in rock history – has remained pristine over the decades.
Roger Hodgson is celebrated as one of the great singer-songwriters of our time. His compositions are timeless anthems that continue to resonate across generations. Songs such as Give a Little Bit and The Logical Song have become cultural touchstones, frequently used in films, advertising, and charitable campaigns.
Since the 2000s, Roger has toured the world extensively, performing both with symphony orchestras and in more intimate acoustic settings, captivating audiences with the same emotional authenticity that defined his work with Supertramp.
Roger has always placed great value on spirituality, family, and authenticity in his life and music. Today, he continues to live according to those values, while sharing his songs with fans worldwide.
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