Roger Vierse has created a country music legacy

The  Gateville Messenger Article 

Roger Vierse points out his picture in Gatesville's Country Music Hall of Fame display.

Posted Friday, October 18, 2024 11:50 am

David Scott, Staff Writer

From the time Roger Vierse was a child, he had a love for music. “When I was five years old, I was playing the guitar, and my sister and I sang together - and we sang good harmony. She was four, and I was five. We sang gospel songs. My Dad was real strict and said, ‘you don’t just get out there and just clown around: you be professional.’ I knew what he was saying though: He just wanted us to do our best.”

By the time Vierse was 14 years of age, he was singing the Kitty Wells song “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?” at the Lindy Ballroom in St. Louis, Missouri. He said, “I was shaking all over.” The Grand Ole’ Opry performers told him to just pretend he was singing on his front porch. After his song, the Opry performers invited Vierse to go on the road with them, but he declined because of his age and the fact he was still in high school. “You always shoot for the highest star, but I just missed it, I didn’t have the where for all to do it,” he said.

Vierse said that he can play the mandolin, guitar, banjo, fiddle, and several other instruments. During the 1970’s or 80’s, Vierse was part of a gospel group. “We had a group called the ‘Gospel Aires’ and we travelled by bus, and we went as far as Missouri and Arkansas to perform. Mostly back then, I was connected with the Baptist Church, and we travelled to churches and did gospel music.”

Vierse would go on to serve in the military. He retired from the service in 1979 in Copperas Cove. After first meeting at the Pearl Bluegrass Festival, Vierse and Mike Kuzenka became friends. The two would later collaborate and create Gatesville’s Country Music Hall of Fame.

“We began in 2007. Mike Kuzenka told the city that we wanted to start a new program to have something here that would be a lasting thing and something that people would enjoy and have a great time and would be effective cost-wise; because, they don’t have to pay anything to get in, it would be free,” he said. “We planned to have a Hall of Fame. I said there are a lot of people in Texas who have very good credentials toward their musical abilities, and I told him that it would be a great place for them to come and display their talents.”

“I told Mike, we’ve got to show the city that we have good intentions in everything we do and it’s got to be forthright and above board. No foul language, no drinking, no drugs: We’ve got to set an example for the young people, and you can’t get up there on stage and sing about drugs and alcohol if you’re trying to get them straightened out,” he said.

Vierse said that Steve Anderson and Mike Kuzenka were the first two musicians to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007. Kuzenka passed away the following year.

Other local performers, such as former Gatesville mayor Wyllis Ament and former police chief Carroll Duke, were also inducted into the Hall of Fame. “There are many others on the Hall of Fame wall [at the city auditorium], and I’m really proud of that, because we’ve tried to reach out to local performers,” Vierse said.

As of 2024, there are photos of 85 solo performers and groups lining the wall at the City Hall who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Since Mike Kuzenka’s death sixteen years ago, Vierse has become the backbone of the Hall of Fame and has coaxed many talented performers from far and near to the stage at the auditorium. He remains determined in his desire to bring clean and wholesome shows to the Gatesville community.

“I’ve always wanted to work with people, especially country or gospel. So, when I met Mike Kuzenka, he said, ‘I think we can do it,’ and we did."

Come on out and enjoy the music at the Gatesville Country Music Hall of Fame Show, located at the Gatesville City Auditorium (110 North 8th Street)!
Join us every third Friday at 7 PM.
Free entry • Family-friendly show

A Special thanks to the Band Members 

and 

Supporting Staff Members

Photograph Credit Dave Harrises