Kenny Rogers Early Morning Double Shot

Posted: March 23, 2020 at 6:05 am

Over the weekend we lost a true music icon, Kenny Rogers.  He was 81.  Today we will feature him on the “Early Morning Double Shot”.  One of his signiture hits, and one forgotten one.

Kenny Rogers was born August 21st 1938 in Houston, Texas. He was the fourth of eight children born to Lucille and Edward Floyd Rogers.

Rogers started his musical career in the 1960s in a number of different rock and folk groups, including a doo-wop ensemble called The Scholars, the already-established New Christy Minstrels and his own First Edition, who scored a Top 5 psychedelic hit (“Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)”) in 1968. The group continued with country hits like “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town” (1969). After leaving the First Edition in 1976, Rogers became a solo act with the albums Love Lifted Me and Kenny Rogers.

While his solo accomplishments continued to fuel his career, Rogers teamed up with Dottie West in the ’70s for a series of successful albums. The pair remained close friends until West’s 1991 death. Rogers worked with many other notables throughout his career, including Dolly Parton, Sheena Easton, and Kim Carnes.

His many hit records include “The Gambler,” “Lady,” “Islands in the Stream,” “Lucille,” “Coward of the County,” “She Believes In Me,” “We’ve Got Tonight,” “Daytime Friends,” “Through the Years,” “Love Will Turn You Around,” “You Decorated My Life,” “Crazy,” “Every Time Two Fools Collide” and “Buy Me a Rose.”

“The Gambler” was made into a series of TV movies, with Rogers playing the the title role. “Coward of the County” was also adapted for television.

Rogers, who retired from touring in 2018, leaves behind his fifth wife, Wanda Miller, their two children and three children from previous marriages.