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Kenneth Ray Rogers (born August 21, 1938) is an American singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, and entrepreneur. He is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.[1]
Though he has been most successful with country audiences, Rogers has charted more than 120 hit singles across various music genres, topped the country and pop album charts for more than 200 individual weeks in the United States alone, and has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time.[2] On September 25, 2015, Rogers announced on NBC's Today Show that he was retiring from show business after a final tour to spend more time with his wife and twin boys.
Two of his albums, The Gambler and Kenny, are featured in the About.com poll of "The 200 Most Influential Country Albums Ever".[3] He was voted the "Favorite Singer of All-Time" in a 1986 joint poll by readers of both USA Today and People.[4] He has received numerous awards such as the AMAs, Grammys, ACMs and CMAs, as well as a lifetime achievement award for a career spanning six decades in 2003.[5]
Later success includes the 2006 album release, Water & Bridges, an across the board hit, that hit the Top 5 in the Billboard Country Albums sales charts, also charting in the Top 15 of the Billboard 200. The first single from the album, "I Can't Unlove You", was also a sizable chart hit. Remaining a popular entertainer around the world, the following year he completed a tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland, telling BBC Radio 2 DJ Steve Wright his favorite hit was "The Gambler". He has also acted in a variety of movies and television shows, most notably the title roles in Kenny Rogers as The Gambler and the MacShayne series as well as his appearance on The Muppet Show.[6][7] He is also a co-founder of the restaurant chain Kenny Rogers Roasters.
Though he has been most successful with country audiences, Rogers has charted more than 120 hit singles across various music genres, topped the country and pop album charts for more than 200 individual weeks in the United States alone, and has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time.[2] On September 25, 2015, Rogers announced on NBC's Today Show that he was retiring from show business after a final tour to spend more time with his wife and twin boys.
Two of his albums, The Gambler and Kenny, are featured in the About.com poll of "The 200 Most Influential Country Albums Ever".[3] He was voted the "Favorite Singer of All-Time" in a 1986 joint poll by readers of both USA Today and People.[4] He has received numerous awards such as the AMAs, Grammys, ACMs and CMAs, as well as a lifetime achievement award for a career spanning six decades in 2003.[5]
Later success includes the 2006 album release, Water & Bridges, an across the board hit, that hit the Top 5 in the Billboard Country Albums sales charts, also charting in the Top 15 of the Billboard 200. The first single from the album, "I Can't Unlove You", was also a sizable chart hit. Remaining a popular entertainer around the world, the following year he completed a tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland, telling BBC Radio 2 DJ Steve Wright his favorite hit was "The Gambler". He has also acted in a variety of movies and television shows, most notably the title roles in Kenny Rogers as The Gambler and the MacShayne series as well as his appearance on The Muppet Show.[6][7] He is also a co-founder of the restaurant chain Kenny Rogers Roasters.
Kenny Rogers - Wikipedia
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Watch Kix’s 2013 interview with Kenny Rogers. Kix talks with Kenny about the business of music, his relationship with Dolly Parton, and his iconic career.
Thank you my friend Maj Marty Hogan for making us aware that August 21 is the anniversary of the birth of American singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, and entrepreneur Kenneth Ray Rogers.
Background from imdb.com/name/nm0737006/bio
"Kenny Rogers
Biography
Overview | Mini Bio | Spouse (5) | Trade Mark | Trivia (18) | Personal Quotes (2)
Overview)
Born August 21, 1938 in Houston, Texas, USA
Birth Name Kenneth Ray Rogers
Nickname Kenneth Rogers
Height 5' 10½" (1.79 m)
Mini Bio
Born in Texas, the fourth of eight children, singer Kenny Rogers grew up in a poor area of Houston where his father worked in a shipyard and his mother in a hospital. He became the first member of his family to graduate from high school. He took an interest in singing while quite young and as a teenager joined a doo-wop recording group who called themselves "The Scholars". At age 19, Kenny recorded "That Crazy Feeling" for a small Houston label, Carlton Records, and his career was off and running. Kenny joined the "New Christy Minstrels" in the mid-1960s, then splintered off with others in the popular group to form "The First Edition". Their first big soft-rock hit, "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" hit #6 on the US charts, while later successes included "Something's Burning", "Just Dropped In", "Tell It All Brother" and "Reuben James". The husky-framed singer's ingratiating personality and sensual gravel tones soon took center stage and the group eventually renamed themselves "Kenny Rogers and the First Edition". They hosted a syndicated TV variety series from 1971 to 1973 called Rollin' on the River (1971) but the pressures of taping a weekly show caused extreme friction within the group and eventually took its toll. After a couple of years of producing non-hit songs, the group disbanded in the mid-70s. Solo stardom seemed to be inevitable for Kenny and he began chalking up a string of country-tinged 'top 20' pop hits with "Lucille" (#5), "Don't Fall in Love With a Dreamer" (#4, with Kim Carnes), "Through the Years" (#13), "We've Got Tonight" (#6, with Sheena Easton) and his two #1 hit sellers "Islands in the Stream" (with Dolly Parton) and "Lady". By the late 1970s, he had sold over $100 million worth of records. The 1980s would tell a different story. Normally considered an easygoing talent, he was unflatteringly dubbed the "overweight lightweight" by Rolling Stone Magazine, and the silvery-maned Kenny soon experienced a major slump. After charting lower and lower, he wisely branched off into other successful areas. In 1980, he touched off a modest, but appealing acting career with the TV-movie Kenny Rogers as The Gambler (1980), based on his 1979 song hit. This led to four equally popular sequels. He also became a perennial star or co-star of TV seasonal specials. In addition, he published several books on photography and opened a rotisserie-chicken fast-food franchise. Less and less visible in the ensuing years, Kenny produced the 1999 album "She Rides Wild Horses", which peaked at #6 on the country charts, his highest in 15 years, and included the #1 single "Buy Me a Rose". Spending a lot of time breeding Arabian horses and cattle on a 1,200-acre Georgia farm, Kenny's seems settled with his fifth wife Wanda Miller, who he married in 1997. One of his sons, Kenneth Rogers, once followed in his father's boot steps, briefly launching his own singing career in 1989 with "Take Another Step Closer". He now is on the business end of entertainment providing music for TV and movies. Kenny's other two children are Carole and Christopher.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Gary Brumburgh / [login to see]
Spouse (5)
Wanda Miller (1 June 1997 - present) ( 2 children)
Marianne Gordon (2 October 1977 - 1994) ( divorced) ( 1 child)
Margo Gladys Anderson (22 October 1963 - 1975) ( divorced) ( 1 child)
Jean Laverne Massey (8 October 1960 - 1963) ( divorced)
Janice Gordon (15 May 1958 - 26 January 1960) ( divorced) ( 1 child)
Trade Mark
Beard
Trivia (18)
1. Singer/actor
2. He appeared in the music video and sang in the choir on the song "Voices That Care." song "We Are The World."
3. Is a well-respected photographer; was invited to the White House to create a portrait of First Lady Hillary Clinton for the 1993 CBS-TV special, A Day in the Life of Country Music (1993).
4. Established the Athens Area Homeless Shelter in 1990 in Georgia.
5. Named "Favorite Singer of All Time" in a 1986 "PM Magazine/USA Today" poll.
6. Voted "Favorite Male Vocalist" in 1989 by "People" magazine readers.
7. In March 1999 was awarded the Recording Industry Association of America's prestigious Diamond Award, celebrating sales of more than 10 million albums for his "Greatest Hits" album.
8. His high school vocal group's original song "That Crazy Feeling" landed them a spot on television's American Bandstand (1952).
9. Father of Christopher Cody Rogers with Marianne Gordon.
10. On a lark, he once performed as himself as part of the "Legends In Concert" impersonators show at the Imperial Palace Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. He sang the duet "Islands In the Stream" with the Dolly Parton impersonator. Several people from the audience interviewed after the show didn't realize that he was the real thing.
11. Identical twin sons, Justin Charles (6 pounds, 10 ounces) and Jordan Edward (5 pounds, 8 ounces) were born on Tuesday, July 6th, 2004 in Atlanta, Georgia. His wife, Wanda, is an identical twin, and twins also run in Kenny's family.
12. Co-host, with Lorianne Crook, of an infomercial for TimeLife's "Superstars of Country" collection of country music [2005].
13. His duet "Islands in the Stream", with fellow country singer Dolly Parton was ranked the #1 on CMT 100 greatest country duets of all time.
14. Sang "Lady" with Lionel Richie playing piano.
15. He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6666 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
16. On Oct. 27, 2013, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
17. His mother was Lucille Rogers, and his siblings included brothers Lelan Rogers & Roy Rogers, and sister Sandy Rogers.
18. Member of The New Christy Minstrels and The First Edition before launching a solo career that produced 20 top-40 hits from 1977-84. The singer, guitarist and bassist specialized in easy listening music with a country flavor.
Personal Quotes (2)
1. Don't be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.
2. [on performing with Dolly Parton] Working with Dolly is a great rush for me because we are good friends, and we have been, forever. We just flirted a lot. I can't explain it, but flirting is more electric than passion. It's the anticipation. She does it better than anybody I've ever seen, and it's just good fun."
The Back Forty: Kenny Rogers
"Watch Kix’s 2013 interview with Kenny Rogers. Kix talks with Kenny about the business of music, his relationship with Dolly Parton, and his iconic career."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68R346yEOrI
FYI Maj Robert Thornton CPT Scott SharonSFC Greg Bruorton SFC Michael Young 1stSgt Eugene Harless MSgt Ken "Airsoldier" Collins-Hardy 1SG Carl McAndrews SPC Douglas Bolton SSG David Andrews Sgt John H. SGT Mark Halmrast Cynthia Croft Sgt Vance Bonds PO1 H Gene Lawrence SGT Brent Scott CW5 John M. CMSgt (Join to see) PO2 Kevin Parker
Background from imdb.com/name/nm0737006/bio
"Kenny Rogers
Biography
Overview | Mini Bio | Spouse (5) | Trade Mark | Trivia (18) | Personal Quotes (2)
Overview)
Born August 21, 1938 in Houston, Texas, USA
Birth Name Kenneth Ray Rogers
Nickname Kenneth Rogers
Height 5' 10½" (1.79 m)
Mini Bio
Born in Texas, the fourth of eight children, singer Kenny Rogers grew up in a poor area of Houston where his father worked in a shipyard and his mother in a hospital. He became the first member of his family to graduate from high school. He took an interest in singing while quite young and as a teenager joined a doo-wop recording group who called themselves "The Scholars". At age 19, Kenny recorded "That Crazy Feeling" for a small Houston label, Carlton Records, and his career was off and running. Kenny joined the "New Christy Minstrels" in the mid-1960s, then splintered off with others in the popular group to form "The First Edition". Their first big soft-rock hit, "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" hit #6 on the US charts, while later successes included "Something's Burning", "Just Dropped In", "Tell It All Brother" and "Reuben James". The husky-framed singer's ingratiating personality and sensual gravel tones soon took center stage and the group eventually renamed themselves "Kenny Rogers and the First Edition". They hosted a syndicated TV variety series from 1971 to 1973 called Rollin' on the River (1971) but the pressures of taping a weekly show caused extreme friction within the group and eventually took its toll. After a couple of years of producing non-hit songs, the group disbanded in the mid-70s. Solo stardom seemed to be inevitable for Kenny and he began chalking up a string of country-tinged 'top 20' pop hits with "Lucille" (#5), "Don't Fall in Love With a Dreamer" (#4, with Kim Carnes), "Through the Years" (#13), "We've Got Tonight" (#6, with Sheena Easton) and his two #1 hit sellers "Islands in the Stream" (with Dolly Parton) and "Lady". By the late 1970s, he had sold over $100 million worth of records. The 1980s would tell a different story. Normally considered an easygoing talent, he was unflatteringly dubbed the "overweight lightweight" by Rolling Stone Magazine, and the silvery-maned Kenny soon experienced a major slump. After charting lower and lower, he wisely branched off into other successful areas. In 1980, he touched off a modest, but appealing acting career with the TV-movie Kenny Rogers as The Gambler (1980), based on his 1979 song hit. This led to four equally popular sequels. He also became a perennial star or co-star of TV seasonal specials. In addition, he published several books on photography and opened a rotisserie-chicken fast-food franchise. Less and less visible in the ensuing years, Kenny produced the 1999 album "She Rides Wild Horses", which peaked at #6 on the country charts, his highest in 15 years, and included the #1 single "Buy Me a Rose". Spending a lot of time breeding Arabian horses and cattle on a 1,200-acre Georgia farm, Kenny's seems settled with his fifth wife Wanda Miller, who he married in 1997. One of his sons, Kenneth Rogers, once followed in his father's boot steps, briefly launching his own singing career in 1989 with "Take Another Step Closer". He now is on the business end of entertainment providing music for TV and movies. Kenny's other two children are Carole and Christopher.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Gary Brumburgh / [login to see]
Spouse (5)
Wanda Miller (1 June 1997 - present) ( 2 children)
Marianne Gordon (2 October 1977 - 1994) ( divorced) ( 1 child)
Margo Gladys Anderson (22 October 1963 - 1975) ( divorced) ( 1 child)
Jean Laverne Massey (8 October 1960 - 1963) ( divorced)
Janice Gordon (15 May 1958 - 26 January 1960) ( divorced) ( 1 child)
Trade Mark
Beard
Trivia (18)
1. Singer/actor
2. He appeared in the music video and sang in the choir on the song "Voices That Care." song "We Are The World."
3. Is a well-respected photographer; was invited to the White House to create a portrait of First Lady Hillary Clinton for the 1993 CBS-TV special, A Day in the Life of Country Music (1993).
4. Established the Athens Area Homeless Shelter in 1990 in Georgia.
5. Named "Favorite Singer of All Time" in a 1986 "PM Magazine/USA Today" poll.
6. Voted "Favorite Male Vocalist" in 1989 by "People" magazine readers.
7. In March 1999 was awarded the Recording Industry Association of America's prestigious Diamond Award, celebrating sales of more than 10 million albums for his "Greatest Hits" album.
8. His high school vocal group's original song "That Crazy Feeling" landed them a spot on television's American Bandstand (1952).
9. Father of Christopher Cody Rogers with Marianne Gordon.
10. On a lark, he once performed as himself as part of the "Legends In Concert" impersonators show at the Imperial Palace Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. He sang the duet "Islands In the Stream" with the Dolly Parton impersonator. Several people from the audience interviewed after the show didn't realize that he was the real thing.
11. Identical twin sons, Justin Charles (6 pounds, 10 ounces) and Jordan Edward (5 pounds, 8 ounces) were born on Tuesday, July 6th, 2004 in Atlanta, Georgia. His wife, Wanda, is an identical twin, and twins also run in Kenny's family.
12. Co-host, with Lorianne Crook, of an infomercial for TimeLife's "Superstars of Country" collection of country music [2005].
13. His duet "Islands in the Stream", with fellow country singer Dolly Parton was ranked the #1 on CMT 100 greatest country duets of all time.
14. Sang "Lady" with Lionel Richie playing piano.
15. He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6666 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
16. On Oct. 27, 2013, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
17. His mother was Lucille Rogers, and his siblings included brothers Lelan Rogers & Roy Rogers, and sister Sandy Rogers.
18. Member of The New Christy Minstrels and The First Edition before launching a solo career that produced 20 top-40 hits from 1977-84. The singer, guitarist and bassist specialized in easy listening music with a country flavor.
Personal Quotes (2)
1. Don't be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.
2. [on performing with Dolly Parton] Working with Dolly is a great rush for me because we are good friends, and we have been, forever. We just flirted a lot. I can't explain it, but flirting is more electric than passion. It's the anticipation. She does it better than anybody I've ever seen, and it's just good fun."
The Back Forty: Kenny Rogers
"Watch Kix’s 2013 interview with Kenny Rogers. Kix talks with Kenny about the business of music, his relationship with Dolly Parton, and his iconic career."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68R346yEOrI
FYI Maj Robert Thornton CPT Scott SharonSFC Greg Bruorton SFC Michael Young 1stSgt Eugene Harless MSgt Ken "Airsoldier" Collins-Hardy 1SG Carl McAndrews SPC Douglas Bolton SSG David Andrews Sgt John H. SGT Mark Halmrast Cynthia Croft Sgt Vance Bonds PO1 H Gene Lawrence SGT Brent Scott CW5 John M. CMSgt (Join to see) PO2 Kevin Parker
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