Kenny Rogers

Kurt L Moore

Worldwide musical favorite, Kenny Rogers, the living definition of the phrase “American icon,” appeared recently at the Grand Palace.

Kenny had a young man named Billy Dean as his opening act. Billy blindsided the audience with a stellar performance of his hits and related interesting and entertaining stories about how his songs came about.

Billy Dean, originally from Florida, started out as a songwriter and back-up vocalist. He began by writing songs for performers such as the Oak Ridge Boys, Shelly West and others. Dean had written “Somewhere In My Broken Heart,” Randy Travis recorded it and didn’t release it so Billy recorded it and also released it. It shot to number one and was voted “Song of the Year” at the Academy of Country Music Awards in 1992. Since that time, Billy Dean has had numerous TV and movie appearances and has had several charted songs.

I spoke with Billy Dean after his performance and found him to be a very sincere, humble and down-to-earth fellow. I enjoyed my chat with him very much, was impressed with him, and would like to have that opportunity again one day. He is definitely the type of person one would want as a closely trusted neighbor.

Kenny Rogers, as we know him today, had humble beginnings, August 21, 1938, in the projects of Houston, Tex. and as the fourth of eight children had a burning desire to escape that scant way of life. He and his seven brothers and sisters lived in virtual poverty while he went to school, learned to play the guitar, the fiddle, and as a senior, formed a band called The Scholars. Incidentally, Kenny was the first member of his family to graduate high school. Recordings made by his band, on the Carlton label, earned him a spot on American Bandstand and at the age of 19, he recorded his first million record sales with, “Crazy Feeling.” Then a jazz player, by the name of Bobby Doyle, took Kenny under his wing as Kenny joined the Bobby Doyle Trio.

In 1966 Kenny joined the New Christy Minstrels, who practiced a minstrelsy form of music, derived from it’s roots, going back to the 1820s. The original Christy Minstrels was brought about when Edwin “Pop” Christy, the composer of “Goodnight Ladies,” formed the group in 1844. Hence the term for Kenny’s group, “New” Christy Minstrels.

Kenny stayed with the Minstrels for a year and then along with a couple other Minstrels, splintered off to form a new group called the First Edition. The First Edition lasted for several years, even having their own syndicated TV show called, “Rollin’ on the River.” For several varied reasons, the group disbanded in the mid-seventies and Kenny went his own way. For a few years he struggled to find his niche and identity in the world of music and soon after recorded a little song called “Lucille.” That song shot to the top, and the rest, from then till now, as they say, is history.

For about ten years, Kenny did not record a song that didn’t chart. He was the King Midas of music. Everything he touched turned to gold or platinum. What a way to start off a solo career.

In the 90s as his singing career seemed to be tapering off, Kenny branched out into other fields of endeavor. He became an award-winning photographer, an author of children’s books, an actor, (remember the Gambler series of movies), and a fast food chicken king in parts of the country.

When Kenny walked onto the Grand Palace stage, you knew instinctively and without introduction, it was Kenny Rogers. Even though I had heard his songs for decades, it was great to see them being performed by the songster-gambler himself. Kenny was very relaxed and very much at ease, as you would imagine him to be. Gone were the youthful looks and the full beard, having been replaced gracefully, over musical decades, by character lines in his face, a measured and trimmed goatee on his chin and an easy loping gait onstage that can only be developed through years of success and confidence.

Kenny segued from one charted hit to another in the space of time allotted him and everyone ate it up with delight. Kenny, as with other elder statesmen in the field of music, made us once again realize that musical ability and success knows no generational boundaries and is certainly not reserved for the younger performers alone.

Kenny is soon to be 66, and much like Harland Sanders, the Kentucky Fried Chicken wizard, started a new career. He and his fifth wife Wanda recently became the proud parents of twin boys. That has to be the ultimate new career for Kenny who has branched off into so many different avocations. He seems to be quite happy about it and will probably be spending a little more time at home getting to know his latest label productions, Justin Charles Rogers and Jordan Edward Rogers. He has three children from previous marriages that are pretty much grown up and on their own.

Kenny Rogers is one of the ultimate American music legends and icons. He has provided us with decades of wonderful music that will be with us for many generations to come.

Kenny Rogers has recorded solo since 1976, but in that time has also created memorable recordings with some of the industry greats, such as Dottie West and Dolly Parton. He has, in his career, garnered awards almost too numerous to mention: 18 American Music Awards, 11 People’s Choice Awards, 5 CMA Awards and then People Magazine’s readers voted him their “Favorite Male Vocalist.” Following suit, PM Magazine, after a nationwide poll, named Rogers their “Favorite Singer of all Time.”

Kenny Rogers is the ultimate American success story. From squalid beginnings in the poverty-ridden projects of Houston to the top of the music industry’s tallest mountain, Kenny Rogers has earned and taken every step himself.

The Horatio Alger Award, founded in 1947, is given to individuals who have distinguished themselves with success despite adversity and who, as well; encourage young people to pursue their dreams through higher education. In a 1990 ceremony, Kenny Rogers was presented with that prestigious award. Kenny is extremely proud of that award just as we are extremely proud for and of Kenny.

Editor’s note: Kenny, upon receiving the Horatio Alger Award, joined other notables such as; Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Gene Autry, Bob Hope, Carol Burnette, Ronald Reagan, Dwight Eisenhower and of course, the Colonel himself, master of 11 herbs and spices, Harland Sanders.

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