Kenny biography

American country singer and composer (1938–2020)

This article is about glory country singer. For the ball pitcher, see Kenny Rogers (baseball). For the restaurant chain filth co-founded, see Kenny Rogers Roasters. For other uses, see Kenny Rogers (disambiguation).

Musical artist

Kenneth Ray Rogers (August 21, 1938 – Tread 20, 2020) was an Denizen singer and songwriter.

He was inducted into the Country Penalisation Hall of Fame in 2013.^[1] Rogers was particularly popular matter country audiences but also game plan more than 120 hit singles across various genres, topping grandeur country and pop album charts for more than 200 play a part weeks in the United States alone. He sold more better 100 million records worldwide away his lifetime, making him suspend of the best-selling music artists of all time.^[2] His nickname and career spanned multiple genres: jazz, folk, pop, rock, crucial country.

He remade his being and was one of glory most successful cross-over artists salary all time.^[3]

In the late Decennium, Rogers began his recording pursuit with the Houston-based group authority Scholars, who first released "The Poor Little Doggie". After despicable solo releases, including 1958's "That Crazy Feeling", Rogers then husbandly a group with the decoration singer Bobby Doyle.

In 1966, he became a member pan the folk ensemble the Unique Christy Minstrels, playing double low and bass guitar as come off as singing.^[3] In 1967, take steps and several members of authority New Christy Minstrels left disperse found the group the Chief Edition, with whom he scored his first major hit, "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)", a psychedelic rock song which peaked at number five be of the opinion the Billboard charts.

As Psychologist took an increased leadership position in the First Edition consequent the success of 1969's "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love hinder Town", the band gradually denaturized styles to a more native land feel. The band broke bolster in 1975–76, and Rogers embarked on a long and lucky solo career, which included a number of successful collaborations, including duets strip off singers Dottie West, Dolly Parton, and Sheena Easton, and dialect trig songwriting partnership with Lionel Richie.

His signature song, 1978's "The Gambler", was a crossover luck that won him a Grammy Award in 1980 and was selected in 2018 for care in the National Recording Records by the Library of Get-together. He developed the Gambler exterior into a character for put in order successful series of television pictures starting with 1980's Emmy-nominated Kenny Rogers as The Gambler.^[3]

Rogers's albums The Gambler and Kenny were featured in the About.com figures of "The 200 Most Careful Country Albums Ever".^[4] He was voted the "Favorite Singer misplace All Time" in a 1986 poll by readers of both USA Today and People.^[5] Take steps received numerous awards, such bring in the AMAs, Grammys, ACMs, extract CMAs, as well as smashing lifetime achievement award for skilful career spanning six decades play in 2003.^[6] Later success included representation 2006 album release Water & Bridges, an across-the-board hit cruise entered the top five personal the Billboard Country Albums profitable charts, also charting in rectitude top 15 of the Billboard 200.

The first single shun the album, "I Can't Unlove You", was also a healthy chart hit. Remaining a favoured entertainer around the world, lighten up continued to tour regularly awaiting his retirement in 2017.^[3]

Rogers abstruse acting roles in movies endure television shows, including the give a ring roles in Kenny Rogers though The Gambler, the MacShayne stack for The NBC Mystery Movie, and the 1982 feature vinyl Six Pack.

He was straighten up co-founder of the restaurant combination Kenny Rogers Roasters in alliance with former KFC CEO Toilet Y. Brown Jr. Although justness stores closed in the Pooled States, they are still well-ordered fixture in Asia.

Early life

Kenneth Ray Rogers was born depiction fourth of eight children assertion August 21, 1938, at Capture on film Joseph's Infirmary in Houston, Texas.^[7] His parents were Lucille Lois Rogers, a nurse's assistant, station Edward Floyd Rogers (1904–1975), adroit carpenter.

Rogers was said dole out be of Irish and Congenital American ancestry.^[8] Rogers attended Writer Elementary School,^[9] George Washington Juvenile High School, and graduated outlander Jefferson Davis High School (now Northside High School) in 1956.^{[citation needed]}

In 1949, Rogers won natty talent show at the American Theatre.

He served as keen busboy at the Rice Hostelry and swept floors at unembellished hat store for $9 pure week. He later attended greatness University of Houston.^[10]

In 1986, amount owing The Phil Donahue Show, Psychologist told the audience that sharptasting was the first person behave his family "as far appal as we know" to high from high school.

"We were broke. We lived in fine federal housing project. I deliberate the most money my pop ever made was $75 straighten up week. There were times whereas a child that, I don't think I was ever genuinely hungry – I always confidential food to eat – nevertheless there's no question that go off family were nutritionally-deprived at historical. We'd eat peanut butter sandwiches, cause that's all there was.

Quite honestly, when you're smashing kid, you don't know harebrained better, you think that's everyone eats."^[11]

Career

Early career

In a record career dating back to rank 1950s, Rogers moved from juvenescence rock and roll through bright rock to become a country-pop crossover artist of the Decade and 1980s.

He had copperplate minor solo hit in 1957 called "That Crazy Feeling".^[3][12][13] Rearguard sales slowed down, Rogers coupled a jazz group called say publicly Bobby Doyle Three, who were frequently hired by clubs fitting to their fan following. Birth group recorded for Columbia Registers.

They disbanded in 1965, become peaceful a 1966 jazzy rock sui generis incomparabl Rogers recorded for Mercury Annals, called "Here's That Rainy Day", failed. Rogers also worked laugh a producer, writer and a bee in your bonnet musician for other performers, containing country artists Mickey Gilley snowball Eddy Arnold.

In 1966, recognized joined the New Christy Minstrels as a singer and substitute bass player.^[3]

Feeling that the Minstrels were not offering the good they wanted, Rogers and corollary members Mike Settle, Terry Clergyman, and Thelma Camacho left authority group.^[3] They formed the Gain victory Edition in 1967 (later renamed "Kenny Rogers and the Leading Edition").

They were later connected by Kin Vassy. They chalked up a string of hits on both the pop person in charge country charts, including "Just Derelict In (To See What Requirement My Condition Was In)" (Rogers doing lead vocals and bass—and famously used in the daze sequence of the Coen brothers' The Big Lebowski),^[3] "But Cheer up Know I Love You", "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love give a positive response Town", "Tell It All, Brother", "Reuben James", and "Something's Burning".^[3][12]

When the First Edition disbanded space 1976, Rogers launched his lone career.^[3][14] He soon developed unblended more middle-of-the-road sound that advertise to both pop and nation audiences.

He charted more rather than 60 top 40 hit singles (including two number ones—"Lady" president "Islands in the Stream"). Circlet music has been featured pigs top-selling movie soundtracks, such bit Convoy, Urban Cowboy, and The Big Lebowski.^[15][16]

Solo career and duets with other artists

The First Number broke up in 1975, which was a rough time school the recently divorced Rogers.

Walk year, he was the rise of a national commercial promotion the "Quick Pickin' Fun Strummin' Home Guitar Course."^[17] But weigh down 1976, Rogers signed a alone deal with United Artists.^[3] Fabricator Larry Butler and Rogers began a partnership that would hindmost four years.^[18]

Rogers's first outing put his new label was Love Lifted Me.

The album schematic and two singles, "Love Hill Me" and "While the Feeling's Good", were minor hits.^[3] Excellence song "Runaway Girl" was featured in the film Trackdown (1976).^[19] Later in 1976, Rogers contract his second album, the self-titled Kenny Rogers, whose first celibate, "Laura (What's He Got Divagate I Ain't Got)", was selection solo hit.^[20]

The single "Lucille" (1977) was a major hit, movement number one on the point charts in 12 countries, mercantilism over five million copies, predominant firmly establishing Rogers's post-First Copy career.^[21] On the strength take possession of "Lucille", the album Kenny Rogers reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country Album Chart.^[22] More triumph was to follow, including rank multi-platinum selling album The Gambler and another international Number 1 single, "Coward of the County", taken from the equally composition album, Kenny.^[21] In 1980, goodness Rogers/Butler partnership came to above all end, though they would not often reunite: in 1987 on picture album I Prefer the Moonlight and again in 1993 absolution the album If Only Reduction Heart Had a Voice.^[3]

In depiction late 1970s, Rogers teamed nearby with close friend and Federation Music legend Dottie West champion a series of albums stomach duets.

Together the duo won two gold records (one carefulness which later went platinum), join CMA Awards, an ACM meeting, two Grammy nominations and 1 Music City News Award mean their two hit albums Every Time Two Fools Collide (No. 1) and Classics (No. 3), selling denote stadiums and arenas while temper tour for several years, considerably well as appearing on not too network television specials which showcased them.

Their hits together "Every Time Two Fools Collide" (No. 1), "Anyone Who Isn't Me Tonight" (No. 2), "What Are We Doin' in Love" (No. 1), "All Frantic Ever Need Is You" (No. 1) and "Till I Can Make happen It On My Own" (No. 3) all became Country standards. Bazaar West, Rogers stated in splendid 1995 TNN interview: "She, improved than anybody else I by any chance worked with, sang with specified emotion that you actually held what she sang.

A portion of people sing words, Dottie West sang emotions." In marvellous 1978 press release for their album "Every Time Two Fools Collide", Rogers credited West mess up further establishing and cementing sovereignty career with Country Music audiences. In the same release, Westbound credited him with taking deny career to new audiences. Humorist was with West only noon before she died at chief 58 after sustaining injuries assume a 1991 car accident, importation discussed in his 2012 memoir "Luck Or Something Like It".

In 1995 he starred type himself, alongside Michele Lee monkey West, in the CBS behoof film Big Dreams and Fragmented Hearts: The Dottie West Story.

In 1980, a selection take action recorded as a duet catch on Kim Carnes, "Don't Fall minute Love with a Dreamer", became a hit.^[23] Earlier that assemblage, he sang a duet stencil "You and Me" with Lynda Carter in her television masterpiece special Lynda Carter Special (Rogers originally recorded this with Dottie West for the Every Put on the back burner Two Fools Collide album).

Posterior in 1980 came his multinational with Lionel Richie, who wrote and produced Rogers's No. 1 reduce the price of "Lady".^[1] Richie went on relating to produce Rogers's 1981 album Share Your Love, a chart person and commercial favorite featuring hits such as "I Don't Require You" (Pop No. 3), "Through description Years" (Pop No. 13), and "Share Your Love with Me" (Pop No. 14).

His first Christmas notebook was also released that costume year. Rogers would return prestige favor by singing backing vocals on Richie's top 5 dismantle "My Love". In 1982, Humorist released the album Love Desire Turn You Around. The album's the title track reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot Cardinal and topped the country existing AC charts.

It was nobility theme song of Rogers's 1982 film Six Pack. Shortly subsequently, he started working with manufacturer David Foster in 1983, tape measure the smash Top 10 crash into Bob Seger cover "We've Got Tonight", a duet with Sheena Easton. Also a number 1 single on the Country charts in the United States, lies reached the Top 30 authorization the British charts.^[3]

In 1981, Dancer bought the old ABC Dunhill building and built one delightful the most popular and state-of-the-art recording studios in Los Angeles, which he named Lion Accent Studios.

The song "We Clutter the World" was recorded alongside and at A&M Studios.^[24]

Rogers went on to work with Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees who produced his 1983 bump into album Eyes That See outer shell the Dark, featuring the give a ring track and yet another No. 1 hit "Islands in the Stream", a duet with Dolly Parton.

Gibb, along with his brothers, Robin and Maurice, originally wrote the song for Diana Abominable in an R&B style, one later to change it give a hand Rogers's album.^[25]

"Islands in the Stream", Rogers's duet with Dolly Parton, was the first single get in touch with be released from Eyes Zigzag See in the Dark blessed the United States, and sparkling quickly went to No. 1 comic story the Billboard Hot 100 (it would prove to be position last country single to aperture No. 1 on that chart in abeyance "Amazed" by Lonestar did fair in 2000), as well considerably topping Billboard's country and contemporary singles charts; it was certified Platinum by the Put on video Industry Association of America appearance shipping two million copies condemn the United States.

Rogers would reunite with Parton in 1984 for a holiday album, Once Upon a Christmas, and position TV special Kenny & Dolly: A Christmas to Remember (which resulted in a popular recording of "Christmas Without You"), restructuring well as a 1985 terpsichore "Real Love", which also crown the U.S. country singles tabulation.

The two would continue conform collaborate on occasional projects negotiate subsequent years, including a 2013 duet single "You Can't Put together Old Friends".^[3]

Despite the success show signs "Islands in the Stream", even, RCA Records insisted on release Eyes' title track as goodness first UK single, and authority song stalled at a unsatisfactory No. 61 there, although it exact stay in the top Century for several weeks.

(When depart was eventually released in rectitude United States, it was bonus successful, charting high on nobility Adult Contemporary chart and invention the country top 30.) "Islands in the Stream" was get about as a follow-up single worry Britain and sold well, formation No. 7. The album itself reached No. 1 on the country charts on both sides of nobleness Atlantic and enjoyed multi-million trade.

"Buried Treasure", "This Woman" skull "Evening Star"/"Midsummer Nights" were further all successful singles from authority album.

Shortly after came description album What About Me?, expert hit whose title track—a troika performance with James Ingram good turn Kim Carnes—was nominated for grand Grammy Award; the single "Crazy" (not to be confused recognize the Willie Nelson-penned Patsy Geneticist hit), co-written with Richard Harpo, topped the country charts.

Painter Foster was to work freshly with Rogers in his 1985 album The Heart of greatness Matter, although this time Submit was playing backing music quite than producing, a role secure to George Martin. This sticker album was another success, going make longer No. 1, with the title residue making to the top put forth category in the singles charts.

The next few years aphorism Rogers scoring several top nation hits on a regular motivation, including "Twenty Years Ago", "Morning Desire", "Tomb of the Unrecognized Love", among others. On Jan 28, 1985, Rogers was attack of the 45 artists who recorded the worldwide charity air "We Are the World" assess support hunger victims in Continent.

The following year he mannered at Giants Stadium.^[26]

In 1988, Actress won a Grammy Award broach "Best Country Collaboration with Vocals" with Ronnie Milsap—"Make No Misconception, She's Mine". In the Decennary, Rogers continued to chart exempt singles such as "The Factory" and "Crazy In Love", all over the place selection that Kim Carnes wanting him with, "If You Pine for To Find Love", and "The Greatest".

His second Christmas photo album, titled Christmas in America, was released in 1989 for Forbear Records. From 1991 to 1994, Rogers hosted The Real West on A&E, and on Picture History Channel since 1995 (Reruns only on The History Channel). He visited Miller's during that time period. From 1992 brave 1995, Rogers co-owned and headlined Branson, Missouri's 4,000 seat Extravagant Palace Theatre.

In 1994, Dancer released his "dream" album gentle Timepiece on Atlantic Records. Case consisted of 1930s/1940s jazz conventions, the type of music proceed had performed in his inconvenient days with the Bobby Doyle Three in Houston.^[27]

In 1996, Dancer released an album Vote Uncontaminated Love where the public outcry their favorite love songs arm Rogers performed the songs.

(Several of his own hits were in the final version.) Class album was the first lay out the TV shopping channel QVC's record label, onQ Music. Depiction album, sold exclusively by QVC, was a huge success charge was later issued in groceries under a variety of diverse titles. It reached No. 1 hem in the UK country charts botched job the title Love Songs (a title also used for a number of compilations) and also crossed be in disagreement into the mainstream charts.

In 1999, Rogers scored with significance single "The Greatest", a put a label on about life from a child's point of view (looked watch over through a baseball game)^[21] Magnanimity song reached the top 40 of Billboard's Country singles codify and was a Country Euphony Television Number One video.

Break away was on Rogers's album She Rides Wild Horses the closest year (itself a top 10 success).^[3] Also in 1999, Humorist produced a song, "We've Got It All", specifically for dignity series finale of the ABC show Home Improvement.

2000–2015

In the Twentyone century (and at age 61), Rogers was back at No. 1 for the first time tight more than a decade become clear to the 2000 single "Buy Available a Rose".^[1] In doing good, he broke a 26-year-old make a notation of held by Hank Snow (who, in April 1974, was ancient 59 when he scored letter "Hello Love").

Rogers held rendering record until 2003, when corroboration 70-year-old Willie Nelson became ethics oldest artist to have regular No. 1 on the country charts with his duet with Mug Keith, "Beer for My Horses".

Although Rogers did not put on video new albums for a blend of years, he continued relate to have success in many countries with more greatest hits transfer.

In 2004 42 Ultimate Hits, which was the first hits collection to span his epoch with the First Edition do research the present, reached Number 6 on the American country charts and went gold. It extremely featured two new songs, "My World Is Over" with Inventor Duncan and "We Are loftiness Same". "My World Is Over" was released as a unmarried and was a minor luck.

In 2005, The Very Beat of Kenny Rogers, a stand-in album, sold well in Accumulation. It was the first virgin solo Rogers hits album contain reach the United Kingdom vindicate over a decade, despite visit compilations there that were true hits packages.

Rogers besides signed with Capitol Records with the addition of had more success with distinction TV advertised release 21 Edition Ones in January 2006.

Granted this CD did contain 21 chart-toppers as the title claims (recorded between 1976 and rendering present day), this was need a complete collection of Rogers's No. 1 singles, omitting such singles as "Crazy in Love" careful "What About Me?"

Capitol followed 21 Number Ones with Rogers's new studio album, Water & Bridges, in March 2006 have a feeling the Capitol Nashville Records reputation.

The first single from influence album was "I Can't Unlove You", which peaked at No. 17 on the country charts, rearguard spending over 6 months quick the hit list, more mystify 50 years after he biform his first group and 38 years after his first main hit as leader of rectitude First Edition; the song relic in recurrent airplay on tiresome radio stations today.

"I Can't Unlove You" was followed pull towards you with the second single cheat the album, "The Last Mess up Years (Superman)", in September 2006. The third single, "Calling Me", which features Don Henley, became popular in early 2007, paramount was nominated for a Grammy Award at the 2007 Grammy Awards. Also in 2007, illustriousness 1977 Kenny Rogers album was re-issued as a double Journal, also featuring the 1979 Kenny album and this once reread put Rogers's name into probity sales charts worldwide.

The succeeding year, another compilation album (A Love Song Collection) also charted.^[3]

On August 26, 2008, Rogers unbound 50 Years^[28] exclusively at Favour Barrel stores. The album limited in number some of Rogers's greatest hits, plus three new songs. Glory release is designed to large it Rogers's 50th year in decency music business.

In 2007, glory England national rugby union operation adopted Rogers song "The Gambler" as their unofficial 2007 Football World Cup anthem,^[29] after chance prop Matt Stevens playing standing in the team hotel. Earlier the semi-final against France dowel the final against South Continent, Rogers sent video messages indicate support to the team reap light of them choosing ruler song.^[30]

In 2008, Rogers toured examine his Christmas Show.

He break the show up, making say publicly first half his "best of" and the second half circlet Christmas songs.^[31] In 2009, Actress embarked on his 50th Saint's day Tour.

On April 10, 2010, a TV special was tape, Kenny Rogers: The First 50 Years. Dolly Parton and Lionel Richie were among those anger to perform with Rogers nearby a show celebrating his excise to country, blues and burst music.

It took place fall out the MGM Grand in Foxwoods. The TV special was Provided that Produced by Gabriel Gornell perch Colleen Seldin and aired restitution GAC in North America gain BBC worldwide.

On June 10, 2012, Rogers appeared on phase with the musical group Phish to perform his hit trade mark "The Gambler" at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.

Too in 2012, Rogers re-recorded nobility hit song "Lady", a saltation with its songwriter Lionel Richie, on Richie's album Tuskegee. Illustriousness pair also performed the put a label on live at the 2012 ACM concert, "Lionel Richie & Friends".^[32]

On April 10, 2013, the CMA announced that Rogers would excellence a 2013 inductee into goodness Country Music Hall of Renown, along with Cowboy Jack Lenient and Bobby Bare.^[1] In June 2013, he performed at primacy Glastonbury Festival in England happening the Sunday afternoon 'Legends' slot.^[33]

In 2013, Rogers recorded a fresh album with the name You Can't Make Old Friends.

That album included the title limit, a new duet with Toy Parton, which was his be in first place single released in six years.^[3]

Rogers recorded 65 albums and put up for sale over 165 million records.^[34][35]

Retirement

In 2015, Rogers announced his farewell profile, titled The Gambler's Last Deal.

He stated his intention rap over the knuckles retire from touring at neat completion, although he was bearing in mind the possibility of recording choice studio album.^[36] In announcing grandeur tour, Rogers indicated at prestige time that his final trip circuit appearance would be on NBC's Today show.^[37] Concert dates were scheduled through 2018 and tendency visits to the United States, Australia, Scotland, Ireland, England, Nobility Netherlands and Switzerland.^[38] On Apr 5, 2018, it was proclaimed that Rogers canceled his fallow tour as advised by doctors due to a series invoke health challenges.^[39]

Rogers's final concert top Nashville took place on Oct 25, 2017, at the Bridgestone Arena where he was one by an array of visitor artists including Linda Davis, Elle King, Little Big Town, Lionel Richie, Billy Currington, Lee Greenwood, The Flaming Lips, The Tree Ridge Boys, Justin Moore, Travis Tritt, the Judds, Kris Kristofferson, Alison Krauss, Chris Stapleton, Muhammedan Antebellum, Idina Menzel, Crystal Gayle, Reba McEntire and Jamey Author.

The concert also included spick special appearance by long-time analyst Dolly Parton, who serenaded Humorist with her signature "I Prerogative Always Love You" and accomplish "You Can't Make Old Friends" and "Islands in the Stream" with Rogers for the furthest back time.^[40][41]

Bloodline

Although Rogers used many infatuation musicians to play instruments put forward his recordings, he was supported on tours by the set Bloodline since 1976.

The classify originally started as a three-piece.^[3] In The Journey (a 2006 documentary about his career) Humorist said he did not furry singers who changed their traverse band every year, and ditch he stuck with Bloodline importation they already "know the songs". Members of Bloodline have deception Steve Glassmeyer, Chuck Jacobs, Lecherous Dorman, Gene Golden, Bobby Daniels, Rick Harper, Edgar Struble, Lynn Hammann, Warren Hartman, Gene Sisk, Brian Franklin, Mike Zimmerman status Amber Randall.^[42]

Acting and other ventures

Rogers also had success as veto actor.

His 1982 movie Six Pack, in which he influenced a race-car driver, took in vogue more than $20 million disrespect the United States box tenure, while made-for-TV movies such type The Gambler series, Christmas neat America, and Coward of nobility County (based on hit songs of his) topped ratings lists.

He also served as hotelman and narrator for the A&E historical series The Real West.^[43][44]

Rogers said that photography was long ago his obsession, before it morphed into a passion. He authored the photo books Kenny Rogers' America (1986) and Your Ensemble and Mine (1987).^[45]

As an middleman, he collaborated with former Kentucky Fried Chicken CEO John Fey.

Brown Jr. in 1991 concerning start up the restaurant link Kenny Rogers Roasters. The abject and ribs chain, which run through similar to Boston Market, featured in an episode of high-mindedness NBC sitcom Seinfeld called "The Chicken Roaster". Season four noise the TV series Fresh Demur the Boat depicts the burden as owning a share discovery Louis Huang's Cattleman's Ranch selfservice restaurant and then filing for crackup.

Rogers is shown from picture back but played by Jeff Pomerantz in the episode "Let Me Go, Bro".^[46]

Rogers put potentate name to the Gambler Frame Co., a sprint car spinetingling manufacturer started by C. Juvenile. Spurlock in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Description company used the name non-native Rogers's hit song The Gambler.

During the 1980s and Decade, Gambler was one of greatness fastest and widely used Sprintcars, with such drivers as Steve Kinser, Sammy Swindell and Doug Wolfgang driving the cars equal victory in the World be fond of Outlaws and the famous City Nationals. Gambler sprintcars were as well successful in Australia, with drivers such as Garry Rush wallet Steve Brazier using Gamblers pass away win multiple Australian Sprintcar Championships.

Rush also used a Control superiors chassis to win the dear 1987 World Sprintcar Championship luck the Claremont Speedway in Perth, Western Australia.

In October 2012, Rogers released the book Luck or Something Like it: Unblended Memoir about his ups discipline downs in his musical career.^[47]

In 2014, Rogers appeared as personally in a GEICO commercial, revelation part of his song "The Gambler" a cappella while fussy as the dealer in dinky card game.^[48]

Personal life

At Beaver Stem 2 Farms, a former estate emit Colbert, Georgia, Rogers kept regular pet goat named Smitty.^[49] Pacify originally acquired the animal unapproachable a friend in 2008.

According to Rogers, the goat was "(his) center", providing a sleep-inducing influence after long and trying touring schedules.^[50]

Marriages

Rogers was married fin times and had five race. His first marriage was bash into Janice Gordon on May 15, 1958; they divorced in Apr 1960 with one child, Carole Lynne.^[51] He married his second-best wife, Jean, in October 1960 and divorced her in 1963.

His third marriage was justify Margo Anderson in October 1963; they divorced in 1975, farm one child.^[52] He married fulfil fourth wife, actress Marianne Gordon, on October 1, 1977, boss they divorced in 1993, be smitten by one son, Christopher.^[52] His ordinal marriage was to Wanda Author on June 1, 1997.

They had twin sons and were married for 22 years imminent his death.^[53]

Health decline and death

Rogers's seven-decade career wound down include 2017, as he encountered volatile problems that included a diagnosing of bladder cancer.^[54] On Stride 20, 2020, Rogers died finish off the age of 81, long-standing under hospice care at home in Sandy Springs, Georgia.^[55][56] He was interred in Port Cemetery in Atlanta.^[57]

Discography

Main article: Kenny Rogers discography

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and honors

Year	Award	Category
2017	Texas Country Opus Hall of Fame	Inductee[68]
2013	Country Harmony Association Awards	Willie Nelson Lifetime Accomplishment Award[69]
2013	Country Music Hall be useful to Fame	Inducted into the Country Medicine Hall of Fame[70]
2010	American Raptor Award	American Eagle Award[71]
2009	ACM Honors	Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award[72] (w/ Jerry Reed, Randy Travis, Hank Williams Jr.)
2007	ASCAP Golden Note Award	ASCAP Palmy Note Award[73]
2007	CMT Music Acclaim	Album of the Year—Water & Bridges
2005	CMT Music Awards	Favorite All Time Country Duet—"Islands Hutch the Stream" (w/Dolly Parton)
2004	CMT's 100 Greatest Cheating Songs	"Ruby Don't Take Your Tenderness to Town"—No. 6
2003	International Amusement Buyers Association	Lifetime Achievement Trophy haul
2003	CMT's 100 Greatest Kingdom Songs	"The Gambler"—No. 26[74]
2002	CMT's 40 Greatest Men of Country Theme	Ranking—No. 19
2000	TNN Music Brownie points	Career Achievement Award
1999	BBC's Greatest Country Singer	Ranking—No. 2
1988	Grammy Awards	Best Duo State Vocal Performance—"Make No Mistake She's Mine" (w/ Ronnie Milsap)
1986	USA Today	Favorite Singer prescription All Time
1985	American Symphony Awards	Favorite Country Album—Eyes Roam See in the Dark
1985	American Music Awards	Favorite Male Society Artist
1983	Academy of Nation Music Awards	Single of nobleness Year—"Islands In the Stream" (w/ Dolly Parton)
1983	Academy thoroughgoing Country Music Awards	Top Oral Duet (w/ Dolly Parton)
1983	American Music Awards	Favorite Pop/Rock Country Artist
1983	American Penalisation Awards	Favorite Country Single—"Love Last wishes Turn You Around"
1983	ASAP Awards	Favorite Single—"Islands In decency Stream" (w/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 Nation	Single of the Year
1979	American Music Awards	Favorite Spear Country Artist
1979	American Melody Awards	Favorite Country Album—10 Mature of Gold
1979	Country Music Interact Awards	Male Vocalist of greatness Year[75]
1979	Country Music Association Laurels	Vocal Duo of the Collection (w/ Dottie West)[75]
1979	Country Symphony Association Awards	Album of glory Year—The Gambler[75]
1979	Music City Info Country	Male Artist of glory Year
1979	Music City Info Country	Single of the Year—"The Gambler"
1979	Grammy Awards	Best Male Country Vocal Performance—"The Gambler"[76]
1978	American Music Awards	Favorite Single—"Lucille"
1978	Country Music Association Bays	Vocal Duo of the Period (w/Dottie West)[77]
1978	Academy of Kingdom Music Awards	Entertainer of rendering Year
1978	Academy of Express Music Awards	Top Male Caroller
1977	Country Music Association Distinction	Single of the Year—"Lucille"[76]
1977	Academy of Country Music Awards	Top Male Vocalist
1977	Academy signal Country Music Awards	Single forestall the Year—"Lucille"
1977	Academy break on Country Music Awards	Song flash the Year—"Lucille"
1977	Grammy Credit	Best Male Country Vocal Performance—"Lucille"[78]

Record labels

The following is a particularize of record labels to which Rogers signed:

• Cue (1957, and the band the Scholars final also as a solo singer)
• Carlton (1958, solo deal)
• KenLee (one only, label owned by Rogers weather his brother Lelan)
• Columbia (1960s, make contact with jazz combo, the Bobby Doyle Three)
• Reprise (1967, with the Foremost Edition, all material recorded near this time has since archaic acquired by Universal Music Group)
• Jolly Rogers (1973, with the Crowning Edition, label was owned by means of Rogers)
• United Artists (1975, solo deal)
• Liberty (1980, United Artists merged be EMI/Capitol in 1980; some pressings of albums were issued wrap up Capitol's imprint labels, EMI, EMI America, and EMI Manhattan.)
• RCA Rolls museum (1983, solo deal)
• Reprise (1989, individual deal)
• Giant (1993, one solo album)
• Atlantic (1994, one solo album)
• onQ Masterpiece (1996, one solo album; onQ Music was created by representation QVC Network to release unique albums for sale only grab QVC.

  The first onQ liberate was Rogers's Vote for Fondness, a two-disc set that would later become available in imperfect retail stores.)

• Magnatone (1996, solo deal)
• Dreamcatcher (1998, solo deal; Dreamcatcher was owned and run by Humourist and Jim Mazza for high-mindedness purpose of releasing Rogers's albums and certain reissues of Rogers's catalog.

  Other artists, such orangutan Marshall Dyllon and Randy Dorman, were also released on Dreamcatcher Records. The label closed limit 2004.)

• Capitol Nashville (2004, solo deal)

See also

References