Kenny Rogers and My Love of Country Music. With his coming death anniversary, in March, I want to reflect on the late Kenny Rogers and my love of Country Music. As a kid, I was fascinated by Classic Country Music. I don’t know why, but it helped that it was popular where I grew up. Kenny Rogers, then, was not exactly Classic Country, but he strengthened my love of it.
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Growing up in southern Africa, we got our share of American popular culture. It created a sense of awe for the United States. While Rock, Soul, R&B was cool, American Country Music was cool on a different level. The music, the songs, stories it told wove a magical story of every day struggles, toils, and emotions of the men and women as they built this great country. It was fascinating stuff. There was even a radio program I enjoyed listening to called “How the West Was Sung.” It interwove stories of early pioneers in the Untied States and Country Music. While the stories were interesting, I couldn’t get enough of the music. The honest, down to earth style of singing, lyrics, and music was magic.
More about that later. This time I want to talk about Kenny Rogers.
“Lucille:” Kenny Rogers’ First Solo Hit
“Lucille” was Kenny Rogers first solo hit and made him popular the world over. And it was the first time I heard him in 1977.
It describes an encounter with a woman in a Toledo bar. She’s given up on life with her farmer husband seeking something new. Her husband walks in and criticizes her for leaving him and their four children at a difficult time in his life. The narrator describes how their situation affects him – and world approved.
YouTube / Michael Tee
Kenny Rogers inimitable style took the song to the top of the charts in many countries. We almost missed out on this hit as Kenny’s mother was named Lucille, and she was not happy. His age, nearing 40, was also something recording studios were not comfortable with as a solo artist. Thankfully, he prevailed, launching on a wonderful career.
Kenny Rogers – A Quick Background
Born 21 August, 1938 in Houston, Kenneth Ray Rogers was the middle of eight siblings in a relatively poor family.
As a teenager into music, he went through the rock & roll/psychedelic music phase, and also dabbled in jazz for a bit. As a newcomer, he was also a sessions musician for other artists along with writing and producing music. His first country-pop band of note was First Edition in the late 60s. They had some hits where Kenny, with his rich, “raspy” voice was first noticed. Some of Kenny Rogers later hits have their roots with First Edition.
YouTube / jack moore
Listening to some of their hits from then tells you that Kenny could be headed for bigger things. When First Edition disbanded in 1976, this prophecy came to fruition as he embarked on a solo career.
His Finest Years
Kenny Rogers’ finest years were likely the ones when he embarked on a solo career after First Edition disbanded. But it was not as easy as that.
Going solo is almost like starting a new musical career. Kenny was into his mid 30s. To most recording studios an artist launching a solo career at this age was a gamble. But Kenny Rogers was determined to make it on his own. And we’re glad he did as from 1977 through just before his retirement in 2017, he churned out a large number of albums. Much of them include his take on work done by others and collaborations with the likes of Dottie West, Linda Ronstadt, Kim Carnes, Lionel Richie, and Dolly Parton.
The Kenny Rogers Legacy
The most appealing thing I like about Kenny Rogers music is the wonderful emotive vocals that captivate you with an engaging story-telling style. Probably not everyone’s cup of tea, but remember what I said about the songs that tell stories about ordinary working people and their experiences. Some of them carry a moralistic theme which appealed to middle America and what the world admires about Country Music.
Sure, there is folk music in other countries, but American Country Music is unique and likely emulated around the world. And Kenny Rogers was right in the middle of its renaissance as it straddles into the mainstream pop genre. One might say he is one of the pioneers who inspired other big names who migrated from Country to Pop.
Some of My Favorite Kenny Rogers Hits
In 1986, I bought an album of some of his best music until then. If you’re unaware of the magic of Kenny Rogers’ music, this album would be a perfect way to appreciate him. Or, a great way to remind yourself of his greatness. Some Americans were surprised when they saw I enjoyed his music. They were unaware how far US Country music and Kenny Rogers is appreciated abroad.
To me there’s no better way to appreciate Kenny Rogers life and achievements, without playing some of my favorites from him. Incidentally all available on the Kenny Rogers Twenty Five Greatest Hits album I purchased back then and still prize.
“Reuben James”
We kick off with this wonderful song that’s so reflective of Kenny Rogers’ style. Apparently, Kenny was not keen on the song initially, but was urged on by lyricist, late Alex Harvey, who describes his real-life experience in it. While the song sounds American, Alex was actually Scottish from Glasgow! Eventually Kenny Rogers took to the song when he was with First Edition and it is now linked to his name.
YouTube / Kenny Rogers
“Scarlet Fever”
Off his 1983 album “We’ve Got Tonight,” Scarlet Fever reached No. 5 on the Country Charts, but only reached 90 on the Billboard Charts. Which is a pity, because it’s a true classic sung so beautifully by Kenny. A fine example of Country Music. The writer, Mike Dekle, was actually an insurance salesman who was motivated to song writing by other greats. This was likely his first big hit.
YouTube / Kenny Rogers
“We’ve Got Tonight”
Since I’ve mentioned the album, let’s check one of Kenny Rogers’ many wonderful duets. This one with Sheena Easton going by the same name. A well-loved song, despite not charting as high as it should have. Their vocal styles complement each other wonderfully. Originally written and sung by Bob Segar.
YouTube / videoenhancer
“I Don’t Need You”
This is one of the songs that came out of Kenny Rogers’ collaboration with Lionel Richie in 1981. However, the song was not written by either of them. It is written by the late Rick Christian, an English Folk, later Rock artist. Lionel Richie’s production style is palpable in the song, and its combination with Kenny Rogers’ vocals make this another classic.
YouTube / PopStirizE
“Ruby Don’t Take Your Love to Town”
Returning to his narrative style, and original hit with First Edition when he first adopted it. Wonderfully done emotive piece that some also feel is also a subtle anti-war message. You can literally feel Kenny Rogers’ putting his raw emotions into this one. Backing up the cool lyrics by Mel Tillis is the music production by Kenny that brings the song to life.
YouTube / Kenny Rogers
“Coward of the County”
Another wonderful song that is relatable to the style of Kenny Rogers and what made him so famous. Wonderful pacifist message with violence as a last resort. Released in 1979, the song became a bog crossover hit, and also inspired a TV movie in 1981. There’s another story to this as one of the co-lyricists, late Roger Bowling seems to have used the name Gatlin on purpose to insult Larry Gatlin and his brothers.
YouTube /BestClassicCountryMusic
“Love Will Turn You Around”
Co-Written by Kenny Rogers and used on the movie “Six Pack” that he starred in, in 1982. It became another monster hit for him. And it’s easy to understand why. It reached the top of both the Billboard Country and Adult Contemporary charts that year.
YouTube / aManOnaJourney
“The Gambler”
Released in 1979, and written by Don Schlitz, “The Gambler’ is likely the most popular and enduring song from Kenny Rogers. Wonderful lyrics that use gambling as a metaphor for tackling the trials and tribulations of life. Bringing together the wild west and timeless philosophy, it’s not surprising that in 2018, the Library of Congress declared it as being “culturally, historically, or artistically significant.” It won CMA Song of the Year, Grammy for the Country Song of the Year in 1979, and was used in a series of “Gambler” TV Movies through the 80s.
Upon his passing, one cannot but emotionally connect this song with Kenny Rogers, In fact it peaked again over the period of his passing.
YouTube / Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers Lives On
It was a sad day when Kenny Rogers passed away on March 20th, 2020. He built an enormous legacy for Country and Crossover fans the world over. Though retired in 2017, it still came as a bit of a shock. I felt his passing at the start of the COVID Pandemic was cruel. The world was so distracted by what was going on. If not for the Pandemic, we would have taken much more time out to reflect on this great artist.
He re-affirmed my love for Country Music. I don’t follow it as much currently as it has evolved, But Classic Country and Kenny Rogers will remain timeless for me. I’ll touch on my other Classic Country favorites on another post.
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