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Bay Area broadcast legend John Rogers, who recently fell and brok his hip, will be honored in two benefit concerts this Spring.

On Wednesday, April 8, Yoshi's Jazz House in Oakland and KCSM FM 91 join forces for a tribute and benefit concert on Rogers' behalf. Performers include the Dick Conte Trio with special guest Steve Heckman, the KJAZ All Stars featuring Bob Parlocha (sax) & Bud Spangler (drums), the Larry Vukovich Euro Trash Trio, Jaime Davis, Opie Bellas, Kitty Margolis, Vince Lateano & Madeline Eastman, Clairdee & Ken French, Bobbie Norris & Larry Dunlap, Dee Bell, Gini Wilson, and others.

And on May 31, pianist Mike Greensill hosts a second benefit at the Rrazz Room in San Francisco.

Rogers has undergone surgery and is currently in rehab, and in dire need of funds for his 24/7 home care. In addition to the two benefits, friends are requesting that any donations on John's behalf for food, rent or home care can be made out to his wife, Florence Rogers, and mailed to their home at 40 Wood Street, San Francisco, CA 94118.

Renown as a jazz broadcaster at KJAZ and KCSM, and as a longtime radio promotions executive with Fantasy Records, John is one of the best advocates jazz has ever had.

Born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, John joined KJAZ radio in 1962 when the late Pat Henry hired him to replace a departing disc jockey. A graduate of the University of Minnesota, he first worked in radio during college. Following three years in the Navy, he went to work at KJPD in Green Bay, Wisconsin after graduation, "playing Stan Kenton records in the heart of polka country."

Bitten by the big band bug, he saw Lu Watters & The Yerba Buena Jazz Band at the Dawn Club Navy while docked in San Francisco and leaned toward traditional jazz. It wasn't until he opened his first record store, Disc & Needle (1950-55), that he heard Charlie Parker.

"It confused me, just like it did everybody else, but when I heard Woody Herman playing modern bebop stuff, like 'Apple Honey,' I got into it."

Retail was trying, but John found he was a good salesman so he took a job with Eric Distribution in San Francisco. It opened doors that led to London Records, where he promoted Rolling Stones albums in the US. He and his wife Florence, a legal secretary and replanted New Yorker, have been married for more than 40 years. With KJAZ, he continued to grow and created the popular program "Great American Songwriters," which aired on Sunday mornings.

John is now at KCSM Jazz 91, where his Saturday night show (airing 9pm to midnight) has allowed his expertise and passion for jazz to pour out over the last 20 years. As head of jazz radio promotion for Fantasy Records, John has also been an unsung advocate for jazz and radio.

"I had a dream as a kid in high school of doing radio programs. It was a dream that I never thought would happen but lo and behold, it did."