Kenny Rogers
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Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers (born August 21, 1938 in Houston , Texas , † March 20, 2020 in Sandy Springs , Georgia ) was an American country singer , songwriter and actor who worked in the music industry for 60 years . With 21 number one successes in the American country singles charts and over 100 million records sold, he is one of the most successful singers worldwide . His best-known songs include Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town , Lucille , The Gambler , Coward of the County and Islands in the Stream .
Career
Beginnings
During his high school years, Rogers occasionally performed as a singer with his student band. He released his first single That Crazy Feeling / We'll Always Have Each Other in 1957 as Kenneth Rogers on the Houston-based Kix label. That Crazy Feeling became a local hit. In mid-1957 he played two more singles for Imperial Records as a member of the Scholars , but they were not very well received. It was a similar story for Rogers' next two solo singles for Carlton Records . All of these early recordings were in DooWop rock 'n' roll style, with Rogers later switching to country music after rock 'n' roll popularity waned. After a guest appearance on the Dick Clark Show in 1958, he released his following albums under the name Kenny Rogers.
Before turning to country music, Rogers played jazz for ten years and became a member of the Bobby Doyle Trio in the late 1950s. During this time he also learned to play the double bass . When the jazz band broke up in the 1960s, he joined a folk group known as the New Christy Minstrels . Kim Carnes , who played an essential role in Rogers' later career, was also a member of this band. In 1967 he founded the band The First Edition with Carnes and two other members; this line-up was later renamed Kenny Rogers & the First Edition, which was great until the mid-1970s with hits like Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) , Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town or Reuben James Had success. Many television appearances and concerts followed until the band broke up in 1976.
breakthrough
Then Ken Kragen (Kenny Rogers' manager from 1976 to 2000) organized a meeting with Larry Butler, a music producer with the record company Capitol Records Nashville. This signed a contract with two plates with Kenny Rogers, and 1976 was followed by the first single, Love Lifted Me , which rose in the US charts. The album of the same name was initially unsuccessful, but the single Lucille soon followed , which was number one in the US country charts and in Great Britain. Lucille was also successful in Germany and reached the top 10. The song was also covered in German by Michael Holm in 1977 .
1970s
The cooperation with Larry Butler is considered the most successful in Rogers' music career. After the first number one hit, the duo produced the next album Daytime Friends in 1977 . The theme song became the next number one hit. Kenny Rogers rarely tried his hand at songwriting. On the album he released his self-written song Sweet Music Man , which is about himself and affects his hippie image. The piece made it to number 9 on the country charts. There is also a cover version of the Eagles song Desperado on the album .
In 1978 Don Schlitz wrote the country song The Gambler , which Kenny Rogers released. This song was so successful that it started the first miniseries in US television history. A total of five gambler western films were made between 1978 and 1994, in which Kenny Rogers played the leading role under the name Brady Hawkes. The Gambler and Kenny Rogers' favorite ballad She Believes in Me came in at number one.
That same year, Rogers ran into Dottie West by chance . The pair's first duet, Every Time Two Fools Collide , also became a number one hit. The album of the same name also contained two other number one songs All I Ever Need Is You and What Are We Doin 'in Love? . In addition, the tracks Anyone Who Isn't Me Tonight reached number 2 and Till I Can Make It on My Own number 3 on the country charts.
Kenny Rogers and Larry Butler completed the album Kenny in three days in 1979 . Among the ten songs is Rogers' internationally most successful song Coward of the County , which was filmed in addition to the number one success. In Germany this western film is known under the title Tag des Zorns . You Decorated My Life was another number one song from the album.
1980s
The 1980s were Roger's musical climax. In 1980 he worked with Kim Carnes , who was not only active as a singer but also as a songwriter. Together with Dave Ellingson, the duo wrote eleven new songs for the album Gideon , which Larry Butler produced with Kenny Rogers. It contained the duet Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer , which Rogers recorded with Kim Carnes. The piece reached number 3 on the country charts. His most successful and well-known single in German-speaking countries was also a duet: Islands in the Stream with Dolly Parton reached number 25 in the German charts in 1983.
Together with Larry Butler, Rogers had twelve top ten hits between 1976 and 1980. "At some point we realized that we were always producing the same songs with just different words," said Kenny Rogers in an interview. He wanted to go to a different musical territory. Inspired by Ray Charles ' album Modern Sound of Country Music , on which the R&B singer sang country songs, Kenny Rogers wanted to sing an R&B song as a country singer and asked Lionel Richie for help. A few days later, Richie had the song Lady ready for him, which hit number one on both the country and pop charts. A friendship developed from the collaboration with Richie and they decided in the same year to work on a new album together. Richie wrote four songs for the planned album ( The Good Life , So in Love with You , Goin 'Back to Alabama - with Michael Jackson as background singer - and Without You in My Life ). The aim was to turn away from the familiar country image of the Butler-Rogers cooperation and get into pop. The theme song Share Your Love as well as I Don't Need You and Through the Years became number one successes. In addition, Prince wrote the song You're My Love under his pseudonym at the time, Joey Coco , which Rogers released on his 1986 album They Don't Make Them Like They Used To .
21st century
On the occasion of his 50 years of activity in the music industry, Rogers released the album Kenny Rogers: 50 Years with the small record company Cracker Barrel in 2008 . In October 2009 the next best-of album The First Fifty Years was released , which includes Tell Me That You Love Me, a duet with Dolly Parton . Goodbye (written by Lionel Richie) and Loving You Is a Natural Thing to Do are other new pieces on the album. That same year he had a guest appearance as the narrator of an audio book on the fifth episode of the fifth season of How I Met Your Mother .
On April 10, 2010 the biography show The First Fifty Years was recorded, in which stars like Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, Wynonna Judd , Chris Isaak , Sheena Easton and other prominent singers honored Rogers for his five decades of service. Rogers said as the final sentence on his anniversary album: "Now I'm working on the next fifty years" ( Now I'm working on the next 50 years).
In 2013, Kenny Rogers was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame . In 2015 he announced his retirement because he wanted to take care of his family more and went on a long farewell tour. He gave his official farewell concert on October 25, 2017 in the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, where he was supported by colleagues such as Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie and Kris Kristofferson . The appearances announced as part of an extension of his farewell tour for 2018 were canceled in April 2018 for health reasons. Rogers has been married five times and has five children. He died in March 2020 at the age of 81.
Discography
Studio albums
| year | title |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 DE
|
 AT
|
 CH
|
 UK
|
 US
|
Country
|
|||
| 1968 | The First Edition | - | - | - | - |
US118 (15 weeks) US |
- |
First published: 1967
as The First Edition, producer: Mike Post |
| 1969 | The First Edition '69 | - | - | - | - |
US164 (4 weeks) US |
- |
First published: 1969
as The First Edition |
| Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town | - | - | - | - |
US48 (18 weeks) US |
- | ||
| 1970 | Something's Burning | - | - | - | - |
US26 (24 weeks) US |
- |
First published: 1969
Producers: Jimmy Bowen, Kenny Rogers, Mike Post with The First Edition |
| Tell it all, brother | - | - | - | - |
US61 (16 weeks) US |
- |
First published: 1970
Producers: Jimmy Bowen, Kenny Rogers with The First Edition |
|
| 1971 | Transition | - | - | - | - |
US155 (3 weeks) US |
- |
First published: September 1971
Producers: Jimmy Bowen, Kenny Rogers with The First Edition |
| 1972 | The Ballad of Calico | - | - | - | - |
US118 (14 weeks) US |
- |
First published: March 1972
Producers: Kenny Rogers, Terry Williams with The First Edition |
| 1976 | Love Lifted Me | - | - | - | - | - |
Country28 (10 weeks) Country |
First published: 1976
Producer: Larry Butler |
| 1977 | Kenny Rogers | - | - | - |
UK17 (7 weeks) UK |
US30th  (25 weeks)US |
Country1 (120 weeks) Country |
First published: 1976
Producer: Larry Butler |
| Daytime Friends | - |
AT63 (1 week) AT |
- | - |
US39 (21 weeks)US |
Country2 (68 weeks) Country |
First published: July 1977
Producer: Larry Butler |
|
| 1978 | Love or Something Like It | - | - | - | - |
US53  (12 weeks)US |
Country1 (36 weeks) Country |
First published: July 1978
Producer: Larry Butler |
| Every Time Two Fools Collide | - | - | - | - |
US186 (3 weeks)US |
Country1 (56 weeks) Country |
First published: 1978
with Dottie West , Producer: Larry Butler |
|
| 1979 | The Gambler |
- | - | - | - |
US12 × 5
(112 weeks)US |
Country1 (137 weeks) Country |
First published: November 1978
Producer: Larry Butler |
| Kenny | - |
AT17 (4 weeks) AT |
- |
UK7th (10 weeks)UK |
US5 × 3
(53 weeks)US |
Country1 (74 weeks) Country |
First published: 1979
Producer: Larry Butler |
|
| Classics | - | - | - | - |
US82 (23 weeks)US |
Country3 (47 weeks) Country |
First release: 1979
Producer: Larry Butler with Dottie West |
|
| 1980 | Gideon | - | - | - | - |
US12 (34 weeks)US |
Country1 (45 weeks) Country |
First published: 1980
Producers: Kenny Rogers, Larry Butler |
| 1981 | Share your love | - | - | - | - |
US6th (50 weeks)US |
Country1 (64 weeks) Country |
First published: 1981
Producers: Lionel Richie , Brenda Harvey Richie |
| 1982 | Love Will Turn You Around | - | - | - | - |
US34 (24 weeks)US |
Country5 (38 weeks) Country |
First published: 1982
Producers: Kenny Rogers, David Malloy, Val Garay, Brent Maher, Randy Goodrum |
| 1983 | We've Got Tonight | - | - | - | - |
US18 (... weeks) US |
Country3 (35 weeks) Country |
First published: 1983
Producers: David Foster , Kenny Rogers, Brent Maher, Randy Goodrum, James Carmichael, Lionel Richie |
| Eyes That See in the Dark | - |
AT9 (12 weeks) AT |
CH14 (10 weeks) CH |
UK53 (19 weeks) UK |
US6th × 2
(38 weeks)US |
Country1 (43 weeks) Country |
||
| 1984 | Duets | - | - | - | - |
US85 (11 weeks)US |
Country43 (15 weeks) Country |
First published: 1984
Producers: David Foster, Kenny Rogers, Larry Butler with Sheena Easton , Kim Carnes and Dottie West |
| What About Me? | - | - | - |
UK97 (1 week) UK |
US31 (31 weeks)US |
Country9 (38 weeks) Country |
Released December 1984
Producers: David Foster, Kenny Rogers |
|
| 1985 | The Heart of the Matter | - | - | - | - |
US51 (28 weeks)US |
Country1 (33 weeks) Country |
First published: October 1985
Producer: George Martin |
| 1986 | They Don't Make Them Like They Used To |
- | - | - | - |
US137 (15 weeks) US |
Country16 (26 weeks) Country |
First published: December 1986
Producers: Jay Graydon, Burt Bacharach , Carole Bayer Sager , David Malloy |
| 1987 | I prefer the moonlight | - | - | - | - |
US163 (4 weeks) US |
Country18 (27 weeks) Country |
First published: August 1987
Producers: Brown Bannister, Richard Landis, Rob Galbraith, Larry Butler |
| 1989 | Something Inside So Strong | - | - | - | - |
US141 (8 weeks)US |
Country10 (62 weeks) Country |
First published: May 1989
Producers: Jim Ed Norman, Steve Dorff |
| 1990 | Love is strange | - | - | - | - | - |
Country21 (30 weeks) Country |
First published: September 1990
Producer: Jim Ed Norman |
| 1991 | Back Home Again | - | - | - | - | - |
Country42 (20 weeks) Country |
First published: December 1991
Producers: Jim Ed Norman, Eric Prestidge |
| 1997 | Across My Heart | - | - | - | - |
US193 (1 week) US |
Country26 (14 weeks) Country |
First published: July 15, 1997
Producers: Jim Mazza, Brent Maher |
| 1999 | She Rides Wild Horses | - | - | - | - |
US60 (56 weeks)US |
Country6 (104 weeks) Country |
First published: May 11, 1999
Producers: Kenny Rogers, Jim Mazza, Brent Maher, Jim McKell |
| 2000 | There You Go Again | - | - | - | - |
US121 (3 weeks) US |
Country17 (36 weeks) Country |
|
| 2003 | Back to the well | - | - | - |
UK100 (1 week) UK |
- |
Country52 (3 weeks) Country |
First published: May 26, 2003
Producers: Brent Maher, Joe Chemay, John Guess, Kenny Rogers |
| 2006 | Water & Bridges | - | - | - | - |
US14 (15 weeks) US |
Country5 (43 weeks) Country |
First published: March 21, 2006
Producer: Dann Huff |
| 2011 | The Love of God | - | - | - | - |
US27 (8 weeks) US |
Country7 (15 weeks) Country |
First published: March 7, 2011
|
| 2012 | Amazing Grace (US) / Faith (EU) | - | - | - | - | - |
Country32 (15 weeks) Country |
First published: October 9, 2012
Producers: Kyle Lehning, Warren Hartman |
| 2013 | You Can't Make Old Friends | - | - | - | - |
US43 (4 weeks) US |
Country9 (12 weeks) Country |
Initial release: October 8, 2013
Producers: Dann Huff, Kyle Lehning, Warren Hartman |
gray hatching : no chart data available for this year
Awards
| year | Award | category |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | CMT Music Awards | Album of the Year - Water & Bridges |
| 2005 | CMT Music Awards | Favorite All Time Country Duet - Islands in the Stream with Dolly Parton |
| 2004 | CMT's 100 Greatest Cheating Songs | Greatest Cheating Songs - Ruby Don't Take Your Love to Town (# 6) |
| 2003 | Lifetime Achievement Award | International Entertainment Buyers Association |
| 2003 | CMT's 100 Greatest Country Songs | Greatest Country Song - The Gambler (# 26) |
| 2002 | CMT's 40 Greatest Men of Country Music | Greatest Men of Country Music (19th place) |
| 2000 | TNN Music Awards | Career Achievement Award |
| 1999 | BBC's Greatest Country Singer | Greatest Country Singer (2nd place) |
| 1997 | Diamond Award | For the album Greatest Hits (sold 12,000,000 times in the US) |
| 1988 | Grammy Awards | Best Duo Country Vocal Performance - Make No Mistake She's Mine (with Ronnie Milsap ) |
| 1986 | USA Today | Favorite Singer of All Time |
| 1985 | American Music Awards | Favorite Country Album - Eyes That See in the Dark |
| 1985 | American Music Awards | Favorite Male Country Artist |
| 1983 | Academy of Country Music Awards | Single of the Year - Islands in the Stream (with Dolly Parton ) |
| 1983 | Academy of Country Music Awards | Top Vocal Duet - (with Dolly Parton ) |
| 1983 | American Music Awards | Favorite Pop / Rock Country Artist |
| 1983 | American Music Awards | Favorite Country Single - Love Will Turn You Around |
| 1983 | ASAP Awards | Favorite Single - Islands in the Stream (with Dolly Parton ) |
| 1982 | American Music Awards | Favorite Country Album - Greatest Hits |
| 1981 | American Music Awards | Favorite Pop / Rock Male Artist |
| 1981 | American Music Awards | Favorite Country Album - The Gambler |
| 1981 | American Music Awards | Favorite Country Single - Coward of the County |
| 1980 | American Music Awards | Favorite Male Country Artist |
| 1980 | American Music Awards | Favorite Country Album - The Gambler |
| 1980 | Music City News Country | Single of the year |
| 1979 | American Music Awards | Favorite Male Country Artist |
| 1979 | American Music Awards | Favorite Country Album - 10 Years of Gold |
| 1979 | Country Music Association Awards | Male Vocalist of the Year |
| 1979 | Country Music Association Awards | Vocal Duo of the Year (with Dottie West ) |
| 1979 | Country Music Association Awards | Album of the Year - The Gambler |
| 1979 | Music City News Country | Male Artist of the Year |
| 1979 | Music City News Country | Single of the Year - The Gambler |
| 1979 | Grammy Awards | Best Male Country Vocal Performance - The Gambler |
| 1978 | American Music Awards | Favorite single - Lucille |
| 1978 | Country Music Association Awards | Vocal Duo of the Year - (with Dottie West ) |
| 1978 | Academy of Country Music Awards | Entertainer of the Year |
| 1978 | Academy of Country Music Awards | Top male vocalist |
| 1977 | Country Music Association Awards | Single of the Year - Lucille |
| 1977 | Academy of Country Music Awards | Top male vocalist |
| 1977 | Academy of Country Music Awards | Single of the Year - Lucille |
| 1977 | Academy of Country Music Awards | Song of the Year - Lucille |
| 1977 | Grammy Awards | Best Male Country Vocal Performance - Lucille |
Web links
- Official website (English)
- Kenny Rogers at Allmusic (English)
- Literature by and about Kenny Rogers in the catalog of the German National Library
- Kenny Rogers in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Kenny Rogers at Allmusic (English)
- Kenny Rogers and the First Edition at Discogs (English)
- Kenny Rogers at Discogs (English)
- Portrait of the singer
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b CMT.com Staff: Country Hall of Fame Elects Kenny Rogers, Bobby Bare, Jack Clement . In: CMT News . cmt.com. April 10, 2013. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
- ↑ CMN Hamburg: guest role How I Met Your Mother . In: Country Music News . countrymusicnews.de. October 8, 2009. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
- ^ Cindy Watts: Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton drop the mic on his final performance. Retrieved December 5, 2019 (American English).
- ↑ Mark Savage: Kenny Rogers cancels tour over health . April 5, 2018 ( bbc.com [accessed December 5, 2019]).
- ↑ Kenny Rogers is dead. In: Spiegel Online . Retrieved March 21, 2020 .
- ↑ Chart sources: DE AT CH UK US
- ^ The Billboard Albums by Joel Whitburn , 6th Edition, Record Research 2006, ISBN 0-89820-166-7 .
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Rogers, Kenny |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Rogers, Kenneth Donald (real name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American country singer, songwriter, and actor |
| DATE OF BIRTH | August 21, 1938 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Houston , Texas |
| DATE OF DEATH | March 20, 2020 |
| Place of death | Sandy Springs , Georgia |