By David Meikle (62.252.128.6 - 62.252.128.6) on Friday, August 09, 2002 - 08:07 pm:

Does anyone remember Roger from their Motown days?

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Friday, August 09, 2002 - 09:21 pm:

David,
Do you know what his function was in the company?

By Steve Litos (209.100.86.4 - 209.100.86.4) on Friday, August 09, 2002 - 09:57 pm:

He was a songwriter who co-wrote "You're My Everything" & "I Wish It Would Rain" with Norman Whitfield. He was discussed in the Temptations/Norman Whitfield magazine article in Mojo Magazine. I belive he killed himself not long after "I Wish It Would Rain" was a hit.

By John Lester (213.1.128.97 - 213.1.128.97) on Saturday, August 10, 2002 - 07:05 am:

If you listen to the lyrics in his songs, I think you can get a good idea what was happening in poor Roger Penzabene's life.

It would appear that he was smitten like no other and I often think about that lady that caught his attention - I wonder what she thought about those songs - listen to the words of "I Wish It Would Rain" or "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)" for example. Although, to be honest, I personally find it really hard to listen to the words to those songs without getting really emotional

By Ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Saturday, August 10, 2002 - 07:13 am:

I was only reading Otis Williams' comments about "Rain" (on the My Girl compilation) yesterday. The story behind the song makes the record all the more poignant, especially with David's heart-felt performance.

By Davie G (213.251.162.249 - 213.251.162.249) on Saturday, August 10, 2002 - 06:58 pm:

I remember an interview with, I think, Jimmy
Ruffin in which he talked about Roger. He was
black but looked white which caused him no end
of grief as he was barely accepted in either
group. A sad, sad story.

By Gabriele (212.171.164.226 - 212.171.164.226) on Sunday, August 11, 2002 - 01:52 pm:

I am interesting 'bout this guy too...
good (and sad at the same time)to know something about him

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6 - 62.252.128.6) on Sunday, August 11, 2002 - 08:40 pm:

Thanks for the detail folks.

By Motown (24.247.244.50 - 24.247.244.50) on Sunday, August 11, 2002 - 08:50 pm:

If only he hadn't committed suicide, I wonder how many other hits he could've/would've wrote.

By soulboy (213.105.242.198 - 213.105.242.198) on Sunday, August 11, 2002 - 10:16 pm:

For that relatively brief moment in time he certainly had a lot of talent.I am quite sure there would have been others if he had lived.