Roger Samuel Beck

Roger was raised in the Catholic faith. As an adult he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior and was ever grateful for the Lord’s forgiveness and saving grace. In his later years, he returned to his Catholic roots.

He was known for his passion for Western Swing music and for over 60 years of cutting generations of hair.

He started his barbering career straight out of the Navy in December 1955 and celebrated his 60th Anniversary as a barber December 2015. He was meticulous and well-loved by the people he “traded with.” His customers came to the shop as much for a story and a neck massage as they did a cut. He never hesitated to give a trim in the hospital or at a customer’s home if they couldn’t get to the shop. Every customer became a personal friend.

His second career was entertaining crowds with his Western Swing music. He sang, played rhythm and bass guitar, and knew how to keep a crowd on the dance floor. His first paying gig was playing an accordion for a family wedding at the age of 12, in 1943. When they handed him a few coins at the end of the wedding, he thought, “You mean I get paid for this?” This began a music career that spanned 72 years. He played on board his Navy ship while serving during the Korean War, also surprised that Uncle Sam would pay him to do what he loved. The highlight of his music career was playing the 1968 Worlds’ Fair in San Antonio, HemisFair ’68, with Barney Tall, whose friendship and musical skill he greatly treasured. For five months he would barber all week in Austin then jump in the car and drive to San Antonio to play weekend performances. Over the years he played in many bands: the Rockne Playboys, Barney Tall and the Tallboys, Roger Beck and the Buckaneers, the Allan Talley Band, the Stardusters, Roger Beck and the Western Swing, and others. His last gig was played just two months ago at Old Settler’s Hall in Round Rock. He was inducted into the Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame in 2005.

Roger had a unique gift of turning everyone he met into a lifelong friend. He will be remembered as a great storyteller, faithful friend and a kind-hearted gentleman. He is dearly loved by his kids, his girls, his grandchildren and great grandchildren and by his lady friend of many years, Betty Goodrich.

The family offers their deepest gratitude and thanks to Roger’s cardiology team of 30 plus years, Dr. David Morris, MD, Roberta Richards, FNP and the support staff of Austin Heart.

Roger is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Lucy Bartsch Beck, wife Margie Ferris Beck, former wife Alice Goertz Beck, and grandson Seth Bloomquist. He is survived by his sister Verena Frerich and the late Verlin Frerich, brothers Melvin Beck and wife Flora Mae, and Cleo Beck and wife Ann; children Robert Beck and wife Jaye, James Beck, Stephen Beck, Carolyn Parker and husband Charles, Judy Ambrose and husband Gary, Sabrina Phillips and husband Robert, Lisa Ross and husband Danny, Donna Meek and husband Craig, Robin Bloomquist and husband Larry, Wendy Miles and husband Chet, 23 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.

Roger asked that his musician friends serve as Honorary Pallbearers, represented by Ray Tesmer, Joe Chovanec, Paul Schlesinger, Sherman Lindsay, Walter Hutcherson, and Jim Brown.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from four o’clock until six o’clock in the evening, on Wednesday, the 28th of September 2016, at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas.

Funeral services will be conducted at ten o’clock in the morning on Thursday, the 29th of September 2016, in the Colonial Chapel of Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM).

To share condolence with the family, please visit www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com.