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Kenny Rogers 1938 - 2020

Oh so sad, I'm not really a fan of country music (other then Johnny Cash), but I have to say I did enjoy some of his songs.
 
Solomani said:
He knew when to hold 'em.
And he knew when to fold 'em.

Rest in peace.



https://variety.com/2020/music/obituaries-people-news/kenny-rogers-dead-dies-1203541233/

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kenny-rogers-grammy-winning-singer-actor-dies-at-81-1285800
Click to expand...

Soon as I read this thread title it's exactly what I thought! My very first introduction to anything country.

As a child I had thought this guy would live on forever. He really was a great artist and a stand-up guy. If Dolly Parton is still around it must be sad for her ... the duets they had, you can see they both were good friends.

MacNut said:
Would Kenny be considered the first successful crossover country artist?
Click to expand...

I'd say so! Probably also one of the first successful country duets (with Dolly) as well.

EDIT:
(Had to give a listen to this full way through).

RIP Kenny ... enjoy playing cards with the best gambler of them all behind the pearly gates.
 
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DeepIn2U said:
Soon as I read this thread title it's exactly what I thought! My very first introduction to anything country.

As a child I had thought this guy would live on forever. He really was a great artist and a stand-up guy. If Dolly Parton is still around it must be sad for her ... the duets they had, you can see they both were good friends.



I'd say so! Probably also one of the first successful country duets (with Dolly) as well.

EDIT:
(Had to give a listen to this full way through).

RIP Kenny ... enjoy playing cards with the best gambler of them all behind the pearly gates.
Click to expand...
Back in the days when I used to go gambling in the casinos I used to play "The Gambler" on my smartphone when I was sitting at the tables.
 
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MacNut said:
Would Kenny be considered the first successful crossover country artist?
Click to expand...

I think Elvis might have beat him to it by a few years, although that might be splitting hairs. To me, Elvis's early stuff always had a touch of country that became more pronounced as he was more successful(in my mind all of his late 60s and later stuff was country) while Kenny Rogers was still a pop singer.

There were some other people in the "not really sure where they're trying to go" category around that time. Glen Campbell was another one around that time.

Still, though, whether Kenny Rogers was the first or not, he definitely was an early one in people who went that way.
 
bunnspecial said:
I think Elvis might have beat him to it by a few years, although that might be splitting hairs. To me, Elvis's early stuff always had a touch of country that became more pronounced as he was more successful(in my mind all of his late 60s and later stuff was country) while Kenny Rogers was still a pop singer.

There were some other people in the "not really sure where they're trying to go" category around that time. Glen Campbell was another one around that time.

Still, though, whether Kenny Rogers was the first or not, he definitely was an early one in people who went that way.
Click to expand...
I always think of Elvis as more gospel blues than country. I don't know if Glen Campbell had the appeal that Kenny did. Plus Kenny hit it big in the 80s when ballads were coming of age. He crossed over at just the right time. Much like Taylor Swift did.
 
His name alone instantly conjures images in your head does't it, and then the legacy of his writing and music that will go on for generations. He was the image of wholesome for me, and that's rare, because I'm professional musician, I know how unwholesome most really are. RIP Kenny, thanks for the great tunes and all those memories.
 
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This man’s music coloured my formative years through the late 70s. Truly I can’t imagine some of my experiences without his tunes as backdrop. RIP, Gambler. You gave me an ace that I could keep.
 
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