17 Facts About Billie Rogers

Billie Rogers was an American jazz trumpeter and singer who was a member of Woody Herman's band from 1941 to 1943.

Billie Rogers made her debut at the Panther Room of the Sherman Hotel in Chicago.

Billie Rogers was born Zelda Louise Smith on May 31,1917, in North Plains, Oregon.

Billie Rogers's family moved to Rainier, Washington, before she was 2 and remained there until age 13.

Billie Rogers attended elementary school and first year of high school at Rainier, a small rural community 17 miles inland from Olympia.

Billie Rogers skipped two grades and graduated from high school at Renton, Washington, on the day after her 16th birthday.

Billie Rogers began playing trumpet when she was around 8, when her older brother, Les, decided he didn't care for that particular instrument.

Billie Rogers had sent for his sister when she was 17.

Billie Rogers stayed in Missoula until 1941, married Guy C Rogers and worked with local musicians.

When she transferred her union membership from Missoula to Los Angeles, Billie Rogers was informed that she couldn't work a steady job for the first six months.

Billie Rogers got a job with a quartet working in a bar in Culver City.

Billie Rogers started out sitting in front of the band with the other girl singer, but eventually made her way to the trumpet section.

Billie Rogers stayed with Hermanfor more than two years; but traveling during the war years was difficult and demanding.

Billie Rogers left the Herman band on October 27,1943, and moved to Chicago, where she and Archer were married on April 21,1944.

Billie Rogers says that her most enjoyable gig was playing with the Tommy Pederson Band at the Hollywood Palladium on Monday nights, plus other miscellaneous gigs in Los Angeles area.

When Billie Rogers' band broke up, Jack Archer went back to booking bands at Frederick Bros.

Billie Rogers sold that firm in December 1957 to Associated Booking Corporation, a firm headed by Joe Glaser.