Buffalo Rogers is a local musician and an OCCC student taking classes toward a pre-law bachelor’s degree in anticipation of going to law school at the University of Oklahoma. He said his interest is in intellectual property.

“I want to protect ideas,” Rogers said. “And I want the ability to write nasty letters for my friends.”

Rogers won the award for raising the most money in the 2015 talent show at OCCC.

“I play Alternative Country, Americana kind of music,” he said. “I play in Texas, Colorado and this region. Sometimes I have a band but generally I play solo.”

He knows what it’s like to lose the rights to his own creation because he didn’t seek legal protection for it.

“The music industry is changing because of the Internet,” Rogers said. “I lost rights to a song I wrote (because it wasn’t copyrighted).

“I would like to go to work for a performance rights organization such as ASCAP or BMI. They protect copyright laws for performers

“If ‘Space Cowboy’ is played 300 times, BMI counts it and makes sure the money is appropriated to the right places.”

He said the Internet has taken place of the established music industry, which has brought problems and benefits.

“It’s becoming easier to book your own shows (through the Internet),” he said.

Rogers said the most important thing in his life is his family.

“I will have been married to my wife, Kelly, for five years in November. We have a two-and-a-half-year-old son named Leroy.

“He’s my man cub. He’s hell turned loose in a new store shirt,” Rogers said.

It was through his wife Rogers became involved in community work for the homeless.

Rogers volunteers with a program called A Place In Time, he helps maintain a census of the non-sheltered homeless people in Oklahoma City.

“There is what’s called a shelter camp and a field camp. Field camp is where we go out and find the ones who can’t stay in the shelter for whatever reason, usually substance abuse.”

Rogers is a burly man who stands 6 feet 5 inches. He said he has no concerns for his personal safety going out to work with people living on the fringes of society.

He believes the work is worthwhile and quite rewarding.

Rogers said his next local show will be at 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 9 at the Blue Door, 2805 North Mckinley Ave. For more information you can follow him at https://www.facebook.com/buffalo.rogers