Rogers, Kenny (1938-2020), was an American singer who mixed pop, country, and folk music styles. He recorded a hit song called “The Gambler” (1979) that became especially popular, and starred in a series of television movies based on the song, beginning with The Gambler (1980).
Kenneth Ray Rogers was born on Aug. 21, 1938, in Houston. While attending the University of Houston, he joined the Bobby Doyle Trio, a jazz combo, as a vocalist. He sang with the trio from 1959 to 1966, when he joined a folk singing group called the New Christy Minstrels. With other members of the Minstrels, Rogers formed a singing group known as the First Edition, in 1967. The First Edition recorded a number of hit songs, including “I Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)” (1968), “Ruby (Don’t Take Your Love to Town)” (1969), and “Something’s Burning” (1970). The group changed its name to Kenny Rogers and the First Edition in 1969. Rogers left the group in 1975 to begin a career as a solo performer.
Rogers had an impressive string of hits in the late 1970’s and 1980’s, notably “Lucille” (1977), “She Believes in Me” (1979), “You Decorated My Life” (1979), “Coward of the County” (1980), “Don’t Fall in Love with a Dreamer” (with Kim Carnes, 1980), “Lady” (1980), “Islands in the Stream” (with Dolly Parton, 1983), “We’ve Got Tonight” (with Sheena Easton, 1983), “Crazy” (1984), “Morning Desire” (1985), “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier” (1986), “Twenty Years Ago” (1986), “I Prefer the Moonlight” (1987), and “The Factory” (1988).
In addition to his singing and “Gambler” TV movies, Rogers starred in TV films playing a detective named McShayne. He also starred or co-starred in many TV music specials. Rogers was an accomplished photographer, and two books of his photographs were published. He wrote a memoir, Luck or Something Like It (2012). Rogers was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013. He retired from his performing career in 2015. Rogers died on March 20, 2020.
