Born in
Winter Park, Florida, Rogers was the namesake of two architects in the family – his father
James Gamble Rogers II and great-uncle
James Gamble Rogers. As a young man, he chose to become a musician—while on his way to interview for a job at an architecture firm, he attended a
Serendipity Singers audition in New York City, borrowed a guitar, tried out, and was admitted to the group. Gamble Rogers began performing around Florida in the 1960s, often performing with other Florida singer-songwriters
Paul Champion,
Jim Ballew, and
Will McLean. By the 1970s, he was a regular fixture at the
Florida Folk Festival, often as the headliner. He appeared in
James Szalapski's 1976
country music documentary film
Heartworn Highways, performing an onstage comic monologue followed by "Black Label Blues." By the 1980s, he was often featured on
public television and
public radio. As a self-described "modern troubadour," Rogers influenced musicians such as
Jimmy Buffett and
David Bromberg, with the former dedicating his album
Fruitcakes to him. In their tribute to him, "Song for Gamble,"
Steve Gillette and his wife Cindy Mangsen describe him: "He had the gift of innocence, and a fondness for the key of 'E'." While Rogers was camping at
Flagler Beach, a frightened young girl ran to him, begging him to help her father, who was in trouble in rough surf. Compromised by spinal arthritis that had been worsening since childhood, Rogers nevertheless grabbed an
air mattress and headed into the ocean in a rescue attempt. Both men died in the surf. In honor of his heroism, the
Florida Legislature renamed the state park
Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area at Flagler Beach. In
St. Augustine, Florida, there is a middle school, Gamble Rogers Middle School, named after him. Rogers received a tribute in the pages of
Record Collector in 2023. ==Songs and stories==