Stan Rogers was born in Hamilton, Ontario, on November 29, 1949. His parents were both musical and he was the middle child of nine children. His father played the violin and his mother played the piano. Stan Rogers grew up in a small town in Nova Scotia called Canso. His musical career began when he was just a child, and he became popular during the 1970s. His music was popular with Canadians because it dealt with topics related to Canadian life and history.

In 1973, Stan Rogers made his first television appearance on CBC's Singalong Jubilee.

Stan Rogers was heavily influenced by Canadian and Maritime music. Growing up in Nova Scotia, he was often inspired by stories and folklore. Several of his songs are based on real-life events, such as the Great Chicago Fire and the Halifax Explosion.

He is best known for his songs "Northwest Passage", "Barrett's Privateers", and "Mary Ellen Carter".

Stan Rogers composed all of his own songs. In addition, he is credited with co-writing the song "The Mary Ellen Carter" with his brother Garnet.

Throughout his career, Stan Rogers performed hundreds of live performances. Over the course of his career, he toured extensively throughout Canada, the United States, and Europe.

Stan Rogers was killed in a plane crash on July 4, 1983, en route to a folk festival in Canso, Nova Scotia. The young man was just 33 years old.

In 1986, Stan Rogers was posthumously inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. The Canadian Country Music Association inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 2003.

Even 35 years after his death, Stan Rogers' music remains popular. Several well-known artists, including Anne Murray, Gordon Lightfoot, and the Canadian band Great Big Sea, have covered his songs.

Stan Rogers was the subject of a documentary produced by the CBC in 2017 entitled "Northwest Passage: The Stan Rogers Story" Through never-before-seen archival footage and new interviews with family and friends, the film traces Stan Rogers' life and career.

Every year, the Stan Rogers Folk Festival is held in Canso, Nova Scotia, in memory of the late singer and songwriter.

As a highly influential singer-songwriter, Rogers left an indelible mark on the Canadian music scene.