The accolades he has received over the years are a testament to his musicianship. The liner notes on a recent Randy Spencer project read "When I sit in the control room and hear tracks that Roger is trying out on dobro, I know I'm in the presence of greatness. Characteristic of a short list of musicians, Roger doesn't merely play along or complement a song, Roger interprets. I don't even start a CD until I call Roger". Roger also has three solo projects: 'Fireball', 'Rt. 2 To Amherst', and 'River Of No Return', a collaboration with long time friend and musical associate Ray Legere. Most recently, Roger has been involved in CMH label's 'Pickin' On' series, where different musical genres are interpreted in the bluegrass vein. Currently Roger is performing with Amy Gallatin and Stillwaters.

My mom Gerry Lee passed away on January 1, 2008 at the age of 84 after a brief illness.

She was born Germaine Lillian Hamel on January 16th, 1923 into a musical family. Born in Lawrence Massachusetts of French-Canadian/Native American descent, she was the youngest of 17 children. Her parents had met at a musical event - a barn dance; her dad was there playing the fiddle, and her mom was playing the piano. Gerry was greatly influenced by her musical upbringing and by the age of fifteen, she was herself performing at various musical events of the day in the late 1930's, usually held in school auditoriums. Initially, the compensation for these performances was money thrown on the floor for them by the patrons, and the format was two hours of performing followed by two hours of playing for dancers.

Gerry at age 15, far right, and two musical associates, identified in this 1939 photo only as "Tex" and "Sally."

Her brother Adalard (nicknamed 'Shorty Davis') was also musically inclined. He could sing as well as play the fiddle and guitar, and was comedically gifted as well. Gerry's talents included singing as well as playing guitar, mandolin, upright bass, and piano. In 1938 Shorty befriended Arthur Demers, who would eventually become known on the music circuit as Curly Williams, and Gerry and Curly were married in 1943. Curly played the resophonic guitar (also known generically as the "Dobro") and eventually the pedal steel, and the three of them started getting together and rehearsing their favorite country music songs of the time. Eventually they joined up with a man named Ray Bradley and formed a group called the Tennessee Champions. Country music (or 'hillbilly" music as it was also called) was quite popular at the time, and the group traveled around the Northeast playing barn dances and school auditoriums, as well as doing the radio shows that were common in the wee hours of the morning. They also made several 78 rpm recordings in NYC in the mid-1940's. Gerry remembered the promoters playing up her native American looks and heritage by clothing her in headresses and fringed buckskin dresses for her performances. In later years, she would continue to sing and play primarily at home or house parties and the occasional jam session at a bluegrass festival.

My mom will live on in the music I play; it's very much a part of me. I will miss her

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Mom and me at the Hartland Hollow Bluegrass Festival, September, 2007