Actor-singer Kenny Rogers, the smooth, Grammy-winning balladeer who spanned jazz, folk, country and pop with such hits as “Lucille,” “Lady” and “Islands in the Stream” and embraced his persona as “The Gambler” on record and on TV died Friday night. He was 81.
“You either do what everyone else is doing and you do it better, or you do what no one else is doing and you don’t invite comparison,” Rogers told The Associated Press in 2015. “And I chose that way because I could never be better than Johnny Cash or Willie or Waylon at what they did. So I found something that I could do that didn’t invite comparison to them. And I think people thought it was my desire to change country music. But that was never my issue.
After the group broke up in 1974, Rogers started his solo career and found a big hit with the sad country ballad “Lucille,” in 1977, which crossed over to the pop charts and earned Rogers his first Grammy. Suddenly the star, Rogers added hit after hit for more than a decade. “In the beginning, the song was called, ‘Baby,'” Richie said. “And because when I first sat with him, for the first 30 minutes, all he talked about was he just got married to a real lady. A country guy like him is married to a lady. So, he said, ‘By the way, what’s the name of the song?’” Richie replies: “Lady.”
Coincidentally, Parton was actually in the same recording studio in Los Angeles when the idea came up. Rogers invested his time and money in a lot of other endeavors over his career, including a passion for photography that led to several books, as well as an autobiography, “Making It With Music.” He had a chain of restaurants called “Kenny Rogers Roasters,” and was a partner behind a riverboat in Branson, Missouri. He was also involved in numerous charitable causes, among them the Red Cross and MusicCares, and was part of the all-star “We are the World” recording for famine relief.
Source: Entertainment Trends (entertainmenttrends.net)
One of the best ever!
A legend in country music.. so many memories in my life with his music playing!!! RIP Sir 🙏💔😢🙏💔😢🙏💔😢🙏💔😢
Class Countryboy... Proud patriot...
I saw him in concert in Tampa, Fl, 1985 amazing voice...I will always love him, and of course Dolly Parton! 1fan!🦋
He died happy I’m sure
RIP to one of the giants.
Greatest of all time, legend, my role model, super star, country music king, my favorite country music star, to mention but a few....life well lived. Rest in peace
Good news,he had so much plastic in his face it will last forever...Just sayin..
This is a coffin. I know. It does look different than we're used to.
frankp316 Rest in Peace sir. I enjoyed your music and acting during the 80's a great deal. You were one of kind and that Ace up the sleeve. God Bless you.
I love this picture. He helped me as a child, to endure my parents divorce with “Lucille”. Ironically, my mothers name was Lucille. RIP.
I saw him in concert in the 70's in OKC. May he R.I.P.
chrisgb002000 Dam you 2020
chrisgb002000 Rip Kenny 😩
Sorry he was a superstar all through his life abs still is right now.
foxxfir RIP Kenny... you were a giant of my times.... you and your songs will live on. A true legend in music and folk.
RIP Kenny!!!
GID have mercy on his soul.
“The Gambler” is one of my favorite movies. I love the song as well. My heart is so broken right now.
🙏
Seriously he ONLY won 3 Grammys That’s insane with all of his Amazing songs 💔
RIP🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
💔😭
😭 😭 he’s honestly in a better place than this world rn
And all this time, I thought he was famous for roasting chickens. He was a singer, too? Cool!
Damn. R.I.P to the legend
💔😰 RIP Mr. Rogers. My deepest condolences to the family & friends of the Musical Icon Mr.Kenny Rogers.
Bad year continues..😭😭😭
emilykholcomb Rip, Kenny
❤️
I grew up in his music. A true musical genius. RIP Gambler. You are and will always be a legend
So sorry. R.I.P.
😢😢😢
RIP Kenny Rogers literally in tears listening to Desparado with this sad news.
❤️🙏🏼
RIPKennyRogers
Sad
Njugunah01 R.I.P ❤️
You will be missed😅
2020...
Vaya con Dios, my brother.
😿
RIP, Legend.
I LOVE KennyRogers He is a LEGEND in Country music 💯 I hope the media will focus on his life at this time and his passing doesn't get a side-mention bc of the god damned Covid19.
Ohhhhh, que pena!
Loved Kenny R I P you wonderful man 💔
Rest In Peace 😥
MFortet !!!
My condolences to the family & friends of the Musical Icon Mr.Kenny Rogers..
REST IN PEACE, KENNY
—Kenny... 😢
RIP
Seriously, 2020 is just so bloody terrible 😩 So many great songs. My brother and I watched the movie “Six Pack” over and over when we were kids RIPKENNY
And chicken restauranteur.
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