Historical Figure
Kenny Rogers
1938–2020
American country singer (1938–2020)
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"Late Night with Conan O'Brien on Album Sales" — 1997
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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.
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.
In Their Own Words (9)
A smart man isn't necessarily one who knows all the answers, but knows where to find them.
Kenny Rogers Going Home (1995), 1995
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
When you're not here by my side There is nothing in this world for me. I guess I'm crazy Crazy for you can't you see.
"Crazy" (co-written with Richard Marx) on What About Me? (1984), 1984
Right when a man's, doin all that he planned And he thinks he's got just what he needs Life will deliver, a shot that will shiver him Drivin him down to his knees Make him start giving, living, livin' again. Well it's your mind, that tricks you in believin' everytime Love will turn you around, turn you around Well it's your heart, that talks you into stayin' where you are Love will turn you around, turn you around.
"Love Will Turn You Around" (co-written with Thom Schuyler, David Malloy and Even Stevens), on Love Will Turn You Around (1982), 1982
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
Artifacts (15)
A military album, containing over one thousand portraits of commissioned officers who served in the Spanish-American war
pub. [from old catalog] co. L. R. Hamersly
Annals of the Sinnott, Rogers, Coffin, Corlies, Reeves, Bodine and allied families (IA annalsofsinnottr01sinn)
Sinnott, Mary Elizabeth, 1866- [from old catalog] Leach, Josiah Granville, 1842-1922, [from old catalog] ed
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