DeWayne “D.J.” Julius Rogers
May 9, 1948 — Aug. 22, 2020 (age 72)
CANTON — DeWayne Julius "D.J." Rogers, 72, passed away on Aug. 22 of heart failure.
He was born on May 9, 1948 in Los Angeles, the son of Rev. Julius Cesar and Vivian Eula Pounds Rogers.
D.J. was a singer/songwriter/producer releasing his first song and album entitled "Listen to the Message" in 1973.
He is best known for his '70s soul ballad "Say You Love Me" that was later recorded by Natalie Cole, Jennifer Holliday, CeCe Rogers and Zindy. This song is on his 1975 RCA album "It's Good to Be Alive."
He traveled with the Los Angeles Community Choir, directed by Harrison Johnson, and was featured on five albums by the ensemble for Savoy Records.
He also recorded with gospel godfather James Cleveland and was hired as the MD, primary composer and producer for the Watts Community Choir's LP on Proverb Records.
In 1969, D.J. decided to leave gospel and began recording at Ray Charles' studio with engineer David Braithwaite. Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire signed D.J. to his ARC/Columbia Records, releasing three LPs, "Love Brought Me Back" (1978) followed by "Trust Me" (1979) and "The Message is Still the Same" (1980).
He entered the ministry in 1981 and became a popular speaker, even appearing on the Oprah Winfrey Satellite Radio Network.
He contributed to the recordings of Lauryn Hill and 112, The Clark Sisters, Donald Lawrence, Kirk Franklin, Hezekiah Walker, Keith Pringle, Darius Brooks, Patrice Rushen, Gene Harris, The Brecker Brothers, Webster Lewis, Shirley Brown, Leon Haywood, Maxayn, Mary McCreary, Memphis Horns, G.A.P. Band, Carrie Lucas, Helen Baylor, Tom Jones, Osibisa, David Diggs and the Black Chorus Brown University.
He leaves to mourn his wife, Brenda White Rogers, who he married 39 years ago. He also is survived by two daughters, Wendy and Cilia; one son, DeWayne J. Rogers Jr.; his father, Rev. Julius C. Rogers; his stepmother, Wanda Rogers; two brothers, Rudy and Michael; one sister, Deborah; and a host of relatives, friends and fans.
He was preceded in death by his mother and two brothers, Kenneth Rogers and Edward Smith.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday (Oct. 3) at 1:30 p.m. at Angelus Funeral Home, 3875 Crenshaw Boulevard, Los Angeles.
In lieu of flowers, donors may choose the Valerie Simpson-sponsored GoFundMe Campaign to ensure that the legacy of D.J. Rogers lives on.
Arrangements of comfort were handled by the Sterling-McCullough Williams Funeral Home.
This story was originally published October 1, 2020 at 12:22 PM with the headline "DeWayne “D.J.” Julius Rogers."