Historical Figure
Kenny Rogers
1938–2020
American country singer (1938–2020)
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Biography
Kenneth Ray Rogers was an American singer-songwriter. Rogers was particularly popular with country audiences, but also charted more than 120 hit singles across various genres, topping the country and pop album charts for more than 200 individual weeks in the United States alone. He sold more than 100 million records worldwide during his lifetime, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. His fame and career spanned multiple genres—jazz, folk, pop, rock, and country. He remade his career and was one of the most successful cross-over artists of all time. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013.
In Their Own Words (5)
I can see now Where you might grow tired of dreams That don't come true, I can see where I have fallen short Of the things I promised you. I can see now through my tear filled eyes no love on your face, I must get used to seein' strangers in my place.
"A Stranger in My Place" (co-written with Kin Vassy), on Something's Burning (1970) , 1970
Something's got a hold on me It's cheap but it ain' free Love or somethin like it's got a hold on me.
"Love or Something Like It" (co-written with Steven Glassmeyer), on Love or Something Like It (1978) , 1978
You touched my soul with your beautiful song You even had me singin' along right with you, you said "I need you", then you changed the words and added harmony Then you sang the song you had written for me to someone new Oh, but nobody sings a love song quite like you do Oh, and nobody else can make me sing along Nobody else can make me feel things are right When I know they're wrong, Nobody sings a love song quite like you.
"Sweet Music Man", on Daytime Friends (1977) · Kenny Rogers performance · Tribute cover by Dolly Parton and Alison Krauss , 1977
If you wanna find gold Go looking in the mountains If you wanna find silver Go digging in stones If you wanna find heaven Go reading in the Bible If you wanna find love Go looking at home.
"If You Want to Find Love" (co-written with Skip Ewing and Max D. Barnes), on Back Home Again (1991) , 1991
A smart man isn't necessarily one who knows all the answers, but knows where to find them.
Kenny Rogers Going Home (1995) , 1995
Timeline
The story of Kenny Rogers, told in moments.
Born Kenneth Donald Rogers in Houston, Texas. Fourth of eight children. His father was a carpenter who struggled with alcoholism. Rogers grew up in a federal housing project in Houston's Sixth Ward.
Left the New Christy Minstrels to form the First Edition. Their debut single "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" was a psychedelic rock hit that peaked at No. 5. Nobody expected country from him yet.
"The Gambler" was released. It crossed over from country to pop and won him a Grammy. The Library of Congress later selected it for the National Recording Registry. Rogers turned the song into a character for a TV movie series.
Voted "Favorite Singer of All Time" in a joint poll by USA Today and People magazine. He'd charted more than 120 hit singles across jazz, folk, pop, rock, and country. Over 100 million records sold worldwide.
Died at home in Sandy Springs, Georgia, at 81. He'd been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013. His duets with Dolly Parton, Dottie West, and Sheena Easton had become standards.
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