Few artists have inspired Americans as much as Roy Rogers in terms of Western music. The King of the Cowboys, he appeared in many films during the 1940s and 1950s and performed country music for the majority of the 1930s. He was one of America's greatest treasures and is still highly regarded. These old pictures provide us a glimpse into the life of an icon.

Early years

Roy Rogers had a very modest upbringing. He was born on November 5, 1911, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Andrew "Andy" Slye and Mattie Slye, née Womack, and was given the name Leonard Slye at birth.

On the second street, where Riverfront stadium would later be constructed, the family resided in a modest tenement structure. But soon after Rogers was born, the family made some decisions that changed their lives and began Rogers' journey as well.

@Roy Rogers Daughter Opens Up About His Life/Viral Nater/YouTube.com

Toward the Ohio River

The Slye family made the decision to leave the city life soon after Rogers was born in order to pursue their fortune in greener climes. In 1912, Andrew Slye and his brother Will decided to travel up the Ohio River to Portsmouth, Ohio in a 12-by-50-foot houseboat they had constructed from salvaged lumber.

The family bought a piece of property in Portsmouth with the intention of building a house there, but the Great Flood of 1913 made it necessary for them to remain in the houseboat for a few more years. Roy Rogers spent the early years of his youth here.

@Roy Rogers American Legend Biography/Jennifer Galland/YouTube.com

Born with talent

Fame for Roy Rogers did not just happen. He was already well-liked in his area owing to his amazing talents even if it arrived much later in life. The farm was located in a remote area, thus there were few entertainment options available, including no radio.

Rogers would sing, play the mandolin, and call the dances during the square dances, which the Slye family frequently invited their neighbors to. At this time, he also developed his yodeling skills. These early performances sparked his interest in the arts, which he quickly pursued.

@cowboy Roy Rogers THE DAY THAT TRIGGER DIED www.leightonbwatts.com/tonupjohnny/YouTube.com

Passion for horses

The Slye family relocated once more in 1919, this time to Duck Run, a farm outside of Lucasville, Ohio, a few years after moving to Portsmouth. Andrew Slye, Roy's father, accepted a position in a shoe factory in Portsmouth; he only visited his family sometimes and brought gifts.

Roy Rogers was taught the fundamentals of equestrian on one of the famous gifts, a horse. Because of his father's gift and his lifelong love of horses, he was destined to become a great western celebrity.

@cowboy Roy Rogers THE DAY THAT TRIGGER DIEDwww.leightonbwatts.com/tonupjohnny/YouTube.co

Days of high school

Len Slye, then known as Roy Rogers, graduated from high school in McDermott, Ohio. Though a gifted child, he would never complete his education. The family relocated back to Cincinnati in 1927 after his sophomore year of high school, where his father took a job at a different shoe manufacturer.

He became aware that his family required financial support, so he went to work with his father in the Cincinnati plant. He tried to balance his studies and work by going to night school, but he kept dozing off and eventually gave up on his education.

@Roy Rogers Daughter Opens Up About His Life/Viral Nater/YouTube.com

The start of a legend

After a few more moves, the Slye family settled in Inglewood, California in 1931. Rogers would have his first opportunity to excel in this situation. Rogers made an appearance on the Midnight Frolic radio program. The Rocky Mountaineers, a local music group, were intrigued by his singing and yodeling.

The band performed in local taverns and on radio broadcasts while touring other states. The O-Bar-O Cowboys became their new name eventually. Despite the group's modest success, it provided Rogers with the foundation for his career as an entertainer.

@Roy Rogers Daughter Opens Up About His Life/Viral Nater/YouTube.com

Initial marriage

In 1932, Rogers started dating Lucile Ascolese, whom he had met when buying a palomino colt that he nicknamed Trigger (Golden Cloud). Rogers was admired by Ascolese, and they were married in 1933.

Their honeymoon period, though, was brief. The pair believed they hurried into a commitment too soon and quickly discovered they weren't the ideal fit for one another. Rogers and Ascolese's marriage quickly deteriorated, and they called it quits in 1936.

@Roy Rogers Daughter Opens Up About His Life/Viral Nater/YouTube.com

Second wedding

Despite the disastrous failure of his previous marriage, Rogers soon experienced blossoming love once more. In Roswell, New Mexico, during a performance of The Swiss Yode while on tour with The O-Bar-O Cowboys, Roy met Grace Arline Wilkins. She called in and offered to bake him a pie in exchange.

Rogers carried out his promise, and they remained in contact. Following the dissolution of his marriage to Ascolese, Rogers and Wilkins started dating. They were wed in June 1936.

@Roy Rogers’s Wife Was Responsible for His Death (Daughter Reveals All)/Most Actor & Actress Legend/ YouTube.com

O-Bar-O Cowboys

With the O-Bar-O Cowboys, Roy Rogers intended to get his big break, but it didn't go well. In the beginning of their careers, a lot of musicians suffer, and Rogers was no exception. He traveled across numerous states on tour with the Cowboys, who enjoyed some local and radio acclaim.

But the timing was unfortunate. The Great Recession soon followed, and because people did not have enough money to pay for performances, the band's tour came to an abrupt halt.

@Roy Rogers Daughter Opens Up About His Life/Viral Nater/YouTube.com

Sons of the Pioneers 

Rogers' popularity with The O-Bar-O Cowboys didn't last long, and by 1933, the band had broken up. In an effort to start a new band, Rogers linked up with Tim Spencer and Bob Nolan to create The Pioneers Trio. Hugh Farr, a fiddler who subsequently joined the Pioneers Trio, contributed a bottom voice.

Their moniker was altered to Sons of the Pioneers after a radio performance because the presenter claimed they were too young to be pioneers themselves. The group gratefully agreed to the name change and followed it.

@Roy Rogers & Sons Of The Pioneers - Tumbling Tumbleweeds/dentedilupo81/YouTube.com

Success

Roy's career as a musician began when he joined the Sons of the Pioneers. Their popularity has greatly increased when the radio presenter rechristened them. By the summer of 1934, they were well-known outside of the Los Angeles region.

They also agreed to a recording deal with Decca Label the same year. Roy's entry into the film industry was facilitated by the Sons of the Pioneers. Roy made himself stand out and finally found himself landing a few little roles in Hollywood, while The Sons had a few parts in films as supporting characters in the background.

@The Tragic Real-Life Story Of Roy Rogers | ⭐OSSA / Roy Rogers 1970/OSSA/YouTube.com

Film admission

From 1935, Rogers started to take his vocation as an entertainer seriously and started to make little inroads into the film industry. At the start of his career, he frequently made appearances in supporting roles.

His big break came in 1938 when he went on a Republic Pictures audition for a "singing cowboy" star. Rogers was given the role, and in the 1938 movie Under Western Stars, he made his acting debut. His entry into Hollywood was made easier by the film's huge popularity.

@UNDER WESTERN STARS - Roy Rogers, Smiley Burnette, Carol Hughes - Full Western Movie [English] - HD/CowboyTV/YouTube.com

The Sons of the Pioneers' division

The Sons of the Pioneers, where he collaborated with artists like Bob Nolan, Tim Spencer, and Hugh Farr — whom he would be friends with for the rest of his life — helped Rogers achieve his first significant musical breakthrough. However, he ultimately had to leave the group owing to issues with the contract.

The trio had a deal with Columbia Pictures that required them to feature in a few movies. He had to leave the Sons of the Pioneers in order to contract with Republic Pictures in order to take his film career seriously.

@Roy Rogers Daughter Opens Up About His Life/Viral Nater/YouTube.com

Family life

In 1936, Roy Rogers wed Grace Wilkins, and the two had a wonderful marriage. But when they started trying for a baby, disaster struck. They were told by doctors that they would be unable to become pregnant naturally owing to medical concerns.
Even though the couple was discouraged, they continued to try to start a family. Cheryl Darlene Rogers was the first and most recent member of Roy and Grace's family when they adopted her in 1941.

@Roy Rogers Daughter Opens Up About His Life/Viral Nater/YouTube.com

Turning into Roy Rogers

As was previously mentioned, Leonard Slye was Rogers' birth name. How did he come to be known as Roy Rogers? And why specifically did he choose the moniker Roy Rogers?

Hollywood studios frequently alter actors' screen names to achieve the desired mood. Dick Weston was Leonard Slye's stage name when he first started performing. He was given the moniker "Roy Rogers" by Republic Studios when he originally signed a contract with them in 1938 as a tribute to the recently dead Will Rogers.

@Roy Rogers Daughter Opens Up About His Life/Viral Nater/YouTube.com

Heartbreaks and surprises

Roy and Grace were thrilled to discover that, contrary to what the doctors had told them, they were unable to conceive. Soon after adopting their first daughter, Grace became pregnant, and in 1943, they brought Linda Lou Rogers into the world.

Grace became pregnant once more in 1945. In 1946, she gave birth to Roy Jr., the couple's first child. Roy, however, also experienced sadness as a result of it. Roy Rogers was saddened and left a widower when Grace passed unexpectedly a few days later as a result of complications.

@Roy Rogers Daughter Opens Up About His Life/Viral Nater/YouTube.com

Fresh blooms

Rogers felt a great emotional shock after Grace's passing because they had been together for more than ten years. He didn't have to, but he was nonetheless determined to raise his three kids alone. Roy reconnected with the attractive actress Dale Evans not long after Grace passed away.

In 1944, Roy and Evans had already met on a movie shoot. The two developed affections for one another after Grace died away, and in 1947 they were married. They stayed together till his death in 1998.

@Roy Rogers Daughter Opens Up About His Life/Viral Nater/YouTube.com

The marriage

After the death of Dale Evans' second wife, Grace Arlene, in 1946, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans fell in love. They first met on the set in 1944. They got married in 1947, but it was surely a difficult occasion that led to jokes a few years later. In Davis, Oklahoma, on a ranch, the wedding was celebrated.

Due to the delay caused by the weather, the minister had to ascend on horseback. In addition, a fire broke out in one of the upstairs bedrooms. Roy and his best man put out the fire, but Dale was left puzzled and unsure of her groom's whereabouts for a while at the altar.

@Roy Rogers Tribute/Emily Sullivan/YouTube.com

Movie success

Since his first memorable performance in 1938, Rogers quickly established a reputation. With his distinctive personality and inherent musical aptitude, he was undoubtedly the largest supporter of the Western subgenre.

He contributed to well-known films including Son of Paleface and King of the Cowboys. He held onto the top spot as the actor in Westerns for more than ten years, leaving a legacy that would eventually be surpassed by greats like John Wayne and John Ford.

@Roy Rogers Daughter Opens Up About His Life/Viral Nater/YouTube.com

Popularity

Celebrity has its perks, and in the 1940s and 1950s, those perks were much more pronounced. Rogers enjoyed a devoted following from his position as one of the greatest western actors of his era. Rogers treated his stardom with class.

He would frequently get emails from admirers thanking him, requesting his autograph, or even requesting a meeting. In one month, he once received more than 78,000 fan letters. There were even rumors of Trigger, his horse, fan clubs!

@Roy Rogers American Legend Biography/Jennifer Galland/YouTube.com 

A man of action

In addition to being great in the entertainment industry, Roy Rogers was also successful in business. He was aware of his worth. He therefore stipulated in his contract that he would retain ownership of his name, appearance, and voice in 1940.

This had some very negative effects. He made a fortune by selling the rights to his persona and personae. There were Roy Rogers action figures, toys, and comics; all of the proceeds went directly to Rogers.

@Roy Rogers Daughter Opens Up About His Life/Viral Nater/YouTube.com

Severing ties

In 1938, Rogers signed his first contract with Republic Studios, who gave him the starring role in Under Western Stars. Although he had a highly successful film career with Republic, the studio opposed his desire to transition to television.

Later, Rogers learned that Republic was attempting to turn his movies into TV shows at the height of their popularity. Rogers had control over them since he controlled the rights to his name. Republic terminated his employment, which was for the best because it resulted in the creation of The Roy Rogers Show.

@Roy Rogers Show - Season 4 - Episode 1 - Lady Killer | Dale Evans, Roy Rogers, Trigger/Classic TV Channel/ YouTube.com

The advent of television

After achieving unbeatable success in radio and movies, Rogers took on the television industry. He entered The Roy Rogers Show, a western television program in which Rogers was portrayed as a cattle rancher who served the community with justice.

If you will, he served as the western equivalent of Batman. The program, which aired from 1951 until 1957, continues to have an astounding 7.2 IMDB rating. Viewers throughout the US enjoyed the program, which also featured his wife Dale Evans and his horse Trigger.

@Roy Rogers Daughter Opens Up About His Life/Viral Nater/YouTube.com

Rejections

But Roy's transition into the movie industry was not simple. The emphasis on appearance in Hollywood at the time led to many famous performers first being rejected because of their appearance.

Rogers was the same. He showed up for a film audition with Universal Pictures in 1937. He was rejected by the studio because, allegedly, he appeared too young. Rogers, however, emerged as one of the biggest stars on the globe, and therefore had the last laugh.

@Roy Rogers Tribute/Emily Sullivan/YouTube.com

The other side of a coin

However, Rogers' career wasn't all highs. Rogers' career in television had its ups and downs, just like a mountain does. The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Show was first filmed in 1962, five years after The Roy Rogers Show came to an end.

However, this program was not a commercial success. Before the first season ever began, it was canceled, which portended the end of Rogers and Evans' prominence since they were no longer the focus of the Hollywood western genre as they once were.

@Roy Rogers Daughter Opens Up About His Life/Viral Nater/YouTube.com

The Muppets

The Jim Henson-produced Muppet Show, which ran from 1976 to 1981, was one of the best television programs ever. The show had numerous A-list celebrities as guests, and Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were also invited.

Rogers and Evans were the only other pair to appear on the show in 1979, along with Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge and Robert Shield and Lorene Jansson. Originally shown on May 17, 1979.

@Muppet Songs: Roy and Dale - Medley/Muppet Songs/YouTube.com

Sidekicks

What images spring to mind when you consider western movies? Rodeos in the desert, railway robberies, a cowboy-hatted hero, and of course, a sidekick! In those days, heroes in movies were almost always accompanied by a sidekick, and Rogers was no exception.

His companions frequently had the same faces. He frequently worked with seasoned sidekick actors like Pat Brady, Smiley Burnette, and George Hayes, who were all well-liked by the public.

@Roy Rogers - Man From Cheyenne - Gabby Hayes, Gale Storm/Audio Video/YouTube.com

Trigger 

Trigger, the palomino colt Trigger Rogers had purchased in California, was his favorite horse, and he was well known in Hollywood for his love of horses. In a number of movies, Trigger acted alongside him and went head-to-head for popularity. Over 150 tricks were learnt by Trigger, who at times even outperformed Rogers.

In a number of movies, including Rainbow Over Texas and Song of Nevada, they collaborated. Trigger even had a musical movie of his own, My Pal Trigger.

@Trigger (horse)/Audiopedia/YouTube.com

Political stances

Hollywood stars receive a great deal of attention from their followers, which is why many of them eventually enter politics once they retire. Ronald Reagan, for instance, presided over the US as president.

When asked to run for the House of Representatives, Rogers refused to budge from his stance. He kept his political views neutral, claiming that he had supporters from all political viewpoints and didn't want to enrage any of them.

@Roy Rogers’s Wife Was Responsible for His Death (Daughter Reveals All)/Most Actor & Actress Legend/ YouTube.com

Racehorses

Rogers has a soft spot for many horses besides Trigger. Since he was a young boy, he had like horses, and he also enjoyed caring for them. He had a racehorse named Triggairo that he loved more than anything.

Similar to his owner, Triggairo had a modest level of success in his industry. Triggairo won 13 races at racetracks, including the renowned El Encino Stakes, which was conducted in Arcadia, California, in 1975.

@cowboy Roy Rogers THE DAY THAT TRIGGER DIED www.leightonbwatts.com/tonupjohnny/YouTube.com

Love for the universe

Even though Roy Rogers was undoubtedly making a lot of money from his playing in TV shows and films, he did not limit himself to that. In order to construct his own projects in the manner he desired, he ultimately made the decision to take matters into his own hands.

The Roy Rogers Show was produced by the same firm that he founded, Roy Rogers Productions. The business also created the first television program with a Native American as the main character, Brave Eagle.

@Großer Adler - Häuptling der Cheyenne/Alamo YTC Germany/YouTube.com

To the Skies

Roy did not limit himself to just horses in To the Skies. Although Roy Rogers' portrayal heavily emphasizes his horseback riding, he was also a fan of other forms of transportation. He was passionate about flying, and he yearned to soar high.

He used his riches to purchase a Cessna AT-17 Bobcat, a plane from World War II. Although he also had a pilot's license, this jet wasn't simply for show.

@Roy Rogers’s Wife Was Responsible for His Death (Daughter Reveals All)/Most Actor & Actress Legend/ YouTube.com

A father

Family was important to Roy Rogers, and Dale Evans agreed with him. They already had a family because they had kids from their prior marriages, but their unending love did not end there. They desired additional children for their own.

They were devastated to learn they would not be able to conceive any children, but they did not give up. The other four children, Dodie, Debbie, Mimi, and Sandy, became a part of a huge family as a result of their parents' decision to adopt them.

@What Happened To Roy Rogers’Children?/QuotesTime/YouTube.com

Under the smile

Roy always had a smile that was quite endearing and upbeat in photos. The same smile that concealed the difficult and terrible circumstances he had to endure is still present.

His life was filled with a lot of pain and sorrow, which tends to surprise many people considering how well-known and inspirational he was as an icon of the Western genre. His second wife died during labor, while his first marriage ended in divorce. His children, regrettably, added to his woes.

@Roy Rogers - Yellow Rose of Texas/LiliDVLima/YouTube.com

Loss

It is impossible to describe the sorrow that comes with losing a child, and Rogers and Evans experienced it when their biological daughter, Robin, died in front of them from heart failure.

The news that they would not be able to have children further rocked their already-shattered lives. Rogers and Evans awoke with a fresh compassion and an unwavering love for kids and life, despite this tragedy.

@What Happened To Roy Rogers’Children?/QuotesTime/YouTube.com

Unlimited love

Today, adoption is viewed as a viable option, but back then, it was looked down upon. Roy, though, was not at all bothered by it. His nine children—five of them were adopted—were all cherished and given the same amount of love and care.

Cheryl Darlene Rogers, one of his adopted children, was a product of a prior union. The couple adopted Mimi, Dodie, Sandy, and Debbie after losing their biological daughter Robin.

@What Happened To Roy Rogers’Children?/QuotesTime/YouTube.com

Children

The trendiest pair in Hollywood for a spell, Rogers and Evans achieved great success in their respective fields. They were aware that their children would be impacted and grow up spoilt as a result.

Fortunately, Rogers and Evans set a high standard for parenting. They raised their children on a ranch, away from fame and amidst the natural world. Even though they tried to keep their kids away from Hollywood, their son Dusty appeared in two films before graduating from high school.

@What Happened To Roy Rogers’Children?/QuotesTime/YouTube.com

Making strength out of sadness

Numerous challenges had to be overcome in the personal lives of Rogers and Evans. They lost Robin to Down syndrome, and before their other daughter was two, she died of the mumps.

The parents understood the need of spreading awareness about the issue after experiencing what it is like to live with Down syndrome. In a later book, Angel Unaware, Dale Evans emphasized the care that she and Rogers provided for the infant.

@Roy Rogers’s Wife Was Responsible for His Death (Daughter Reveals All)/Most Actor & Actress Legend/ YouTube.com

Future films

Between 1935 and 1951, Roy Rogers was a household name in America. Through radio, television, or the movies, everyone had heard of him. He participated in at least two movies each year at that time.

He did, however, start to take things a little more slowly as his family grew. Even though he occasionally continued to perform in as many as eight movies per year, he gradually turned away from Hollywood's glitz and began to prioritize his family.

@Roy Rogers - Yellow Rose of Texas/LiliDVLima/YouTube.com

Riverfront field

Roy Rogers is well-liked, but his homes are also well-liked. His birthplace, the Slye family's first residence, was a tenement in Cincinnati.

Later, the structure was dismantled to make way for the Riverfront Stadium, one of the most well-known venues in the country and the home of multiple Cincinnati sports teams, including the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals and the MLB's Cincinnati Reds. Later, Rogers cracked a joke about being born on second base.

@Riverfront Stadium: Rise and Fall/Forgotten Places/YouTube.com

The Ranches of California

In 1955, Rogers and Evans bought a high ranch house and 168 acres of land close to Chatsworth, California. He and Evans moved out to the Double B Bar Ranch in Apple Valley, California, where they raised their kids after their daughter Debbie was killed in a bus accident in 1964.

When the Double B Bar Ranch was looking for a buyer in 2019, it was estimated to be worth $3.7 million.

@The Legendary Roy Rogers Ranch/AIMLESS ADVENTURES/YouTube.com

Thoughts to ponder

As we've already shown, Rogers was a very astute and successful businessman who founded a brand-name merchandise franchise. He wasn't only confined to dolls and action figures, though. He also started restaurants.

In 1968, Rogers consented to grant the Marriott Company the right to erect a chain of eateries under his name. The Mid-Atlantic and the North-East saw the emergence of Roy Rogers restaurants. There are still 48 Roy Rogers Restaurants in the US as of 2019.

@1986 Roy Rogers Restaurant Commercial/Beta MAX/YouTube.com

A place of honor

It was only fitting that Rogers was recognized for his popularity in both the musical and film industries. At the time, he was one of the most well-known artists in country music.

Rogers is the only person to have received two inductions into the Country Music Hall of Fame. His first induction was as a Sons of the Pioneers member, and his second was as Roy Rogers.

@JustAmelia04/reddit.com

Memorabilia

The popularity of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans during their lifetimes was so great that they each received their own museum. The Roy Rogers-Dale Evans museum was established in 1967 and featured a collection of artifacts that Roy himself had donated.

In Branson, Missouri, a museum dedicated to the careers of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans was established. The museum was shut down in 2009 as a result of dwindling visitor numbers.

@Roy Rogers Show - The Real Trigger and Bullet/John Daniels/YouTube.com

Public service and charities

Roy Rogers was aware of his fame, but he never let it to affect him negatively. Instead, he employed other strategies, such as charitable contributions and public appearances, to further his goals.

As Rogers was the most well-liked among the younger demographics, visiting sick children in hospitals was one of his favorite pastimes. Trigger, who could navigate hospital floors and climb stairs, would sometimes even go with him.

@SmokeTheFire/reddit.com

Father`s daughter

Three of Roger's nine children had died. The eldest child, Cheryl Darlene Rogers, grew up to resemble her father quite a little. She leads a romantic and adventurous life and shares her passion for travel, western music, and film.

She had fallen in love with Larry Barnett, whom she subsequently married. Along with their seven children, the two enjoy living together and exploring the countryside in their trailer. really resembles father and daughter.

@Exclusive "Roy Rogers was my Father" says Cheryl Rogers "My Father his Director" says Jay Dee Witney/A Word on Westerns/YouTube.com

Inspirational and influencing

It is not surprising to learn how much Roy Rogers encouraged his own children to explore the arts given how influential he was in the music and film industries at the time.

They were naturally talented actors and performers, and Mimi Rogers is the only other person who comes to mind. She developed become a legendary American actor, appearing frequently in hit TV series including Mad Men, The X-Files, and Bosch. She was also Tom Cruise's first wife, another charming actor similar to Roy.

@MaxxFisher/reddit.com

Rugged starts

Although Roy Rogers is frequently regarded as the personification of charisma and assurance, his journey to Hollywood wasn't always smooth. Due to his bashful temperament, he struggled to perform in many programs, including his own radio show, which led to difficulty and failure.

However, Roy's struggles with shyness and his triumph over it make his story both relatable and motivational. He never gave up because he was sure he could succeed.

@Roy Rogers’s Wife Was Responsible for His Death (Daughter Reveals All)/Most Actor & Actress Legend/ YouTube.com

Death

On July 6, 1998, Roy Rogers passed away in his Apple Valley, California, home. He was 86 years old and was surrounded by his wife Dale Evans and other family members.

In addition to being old and fragile, he underwent multiple cardiac operations in his final years, which contributed to his demise. He may have passed away, but "King of the Cowboys," who was adored for his incredible performances, amazing musical talent, and strong character, still lives on in our hearts.

@Roy Rogers - Happy trails/LiliDVLima/YouTube.com

Street of Fame

Rogers set boundaries in Hollywood in addition to the Country Music Hall of Fame. In recognition of his contributions to radio, film, and television, he was awarded three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

He also got a number of other honors and medals later in life. He received the Golden Boot honor in 1983. When he also earned the Golden Boot Founders' Award in 1996, this came after him.

@Roy Rogers Daughter Opens Up About His Life/Viral Nater/YouTube.com