"The best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep."
The words of Don Schlitz have never had more meaning than following the death of veteran American singer-songwriter Kenny Rogers on Friday local time (Saturday NZ time), aged 81.
Rogers died at home in Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States, representative Keith Hagan said. He was under hospice care and died of natural causes, said Hagan.
Schlitz's words form part of The Gambler, a Grammy-winning song that became a number one hit for Rogers in 1978 and quickly became his signature song.
The smooth, Grammy-winning balladeer was known for spanning jazz, folk, country and pop with such hits as Lucille, Lady and Islands in the Stream and embraced his persona as The Gambler on records and TV.
The Houston-born performer with the husky voice and silver beard sold tens of millions of records, won three Grammys and was the star of TV movies based on The Gambler and other songs, making him a superstar in the '70s and '80s. Rogers thrived for some 60 years before he retired from touring in 2017 at age 79. Despite his crossover success, he always preferred to be thought of as a country singer.
"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 [Nelson] or Waylon [Jennings] 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."
Rogers has toured Australia and New Zealand numerous times, including his first visit as a member of The First Edition in 1973 (Rolling Through New Zealand Tour), with Dolly Parton in 1984 and 1987, with Reba McEntire in 1998, and again in 2008, 2011, 2012 and 2015.
On his 2015 tour, suitably named the Farewell Down Under Tour, Rogers entertained fans in Hamilton and Christchurch.
His Islands in the Stream duet partner, longtime friend and collaborator Parton posted a video on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter on Sunday (NZ time), choking up as she held a picture of the two of them together.
"I loved Kenny with all my heart and my heart is broken and a big ole chunk of it is gone with him today," said Parton in the video.
The Country Music Association and the Recording Academy also honoured the late artist.
"Kenny was one of those artists who transcended beyond one format and geographic borders," said Sarah Trahern, chief executive officer of the CMA. "He was a global superstar who helped introduce country music to audiences all around the world."
"As one of the first artists to successfully master the country/pop crossover, Rogers touched the lives of millions worldwide and led the way for many notable artists who followed. This is a great loss for the music industry, but his influence and legacy will continue," said Harvey Mason Jr., chair and interim president and chief executive officer of the Recording Academy.
Rogers was a five-time CMA Award winner, as well as the recipient of the CMA's Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013, the same year he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
He received 10 awards from the Academy of Country Music. He sold more than 47 million records in the United States alone, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.
A true rags-to-riches story, Rogers was raised in public housing in Houston Heights with seven siblings. While in high school, he formed a vocal group, the Scholars. As a 20-year-old, he had a gold single called That Crazy Feeling, under the name Kenneth Rogers. It was successful enough to earn him an appearance on American Bandstand, but when that early success stalled, he joined a jazz group, the Bobby Doyle Trio, as a standup bass player.
Appearing on a Houston Bandstand knockoff called The Larry Kane Show, the host encouraged him to change his name and announced him as Kenny Rogers. In the 2014 interview, Rogers recalled protesting until he heard the girls screaming. "I thought, 'I could live with that,'" he said.
But his breakthrough came when he was asked to join the New Christy Minstrels, a folk group, in 1966. The band reformed as The First Edition and scored a pop hit with the psychedelic song, Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In). Rogers and The First Edition mixed country-rock and folk on songs like Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town, a story of a Vietnam veteran begging his girlfriend to stay.
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.
The Gambler, the Grammy-winning story song penned by Schlitz, came out in 1978 and became his signature song with a signature refrain: "You gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em."
The song spawned a hit TV movie of the same name and several more sequels featuring Rogers as professional gambler Brady Hawkes and led to a lengthy side career for Rogers as a TV actor and host of several TV specials.
"I think the best that any songwriter could hope for is to have Kenny Rogers sing one of your songs," said Schlitz, who also co-wrote the other Parton-Rogers duet You Can't Make Old Friends. "He gave so many career songs to so many of us."
Schlitz noted that some of Rogers' biggest hits were songs that had been recorded previously, but his versions became the most popular.
The Gambler had been recorded six other times before Rogers and Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town, by Mel Tillis, was also recorded by other artists before Rogers.
Other hits included You Decorated My Life, Every Time Two Fools Collide with Dottie West, Don't Fall In Love with a Dreamer with Kim Carnes, and Coward of the County. One of his biggest successes was Lady, written by Lionel Richie, a chart-topper for six weeks straight in 1980.
Richie said in a 2017 interview with the Associated Press that he often didn't finish songs until he had already pitched them, which was the case for Lady.
"In the beginning, the song was called, 'Baby'," said Richie. "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."
Over the years, Rogers worked often with female duet partners, most memorably, Parton. The two were paired at the suggestion of the Bee Gees' Barry Gibb, who wrote Islands in the Stream.
"Barry was producing an album on me and he gave me this song," Rogers told the Associated Press in 2017.
"And I went and learned it and went into the studio and sang it for four days. And I finally looked at him and said, 'Barry, I don't even like this song anymore.' And he said, 'You know what we need? We need Dolly Parton.' I thought, 'Man, that guy is a visionary.'"
Coincidentally, Parton was actually in the same recording studio in Los Angeles when the idea came up.
"From the moment she marched into that room, that song never sounded the same," said Rogers. "It took on a whole new spirit."
The two singers toured together, including in Australia and New Zealand in 1984 and 1987, and were featured in a HBO concert special.
Over the years the two would continue to record together, including their last duet, You Can't Make Old Friends, which was released in 2013. Parton reprised Islands in the Stream with Rogers during his all-star retirement concert held in Nashville in October 2017. Longtime country music entertainers Alison Krauss, Kris Kristofferson and Reba McEntire were on the line-up, as was dear friend Richie, and more recent stars Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Idina Menzel and Elle King.
Rogers invested his time and money in a lot of other endeavours 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 MusiCares, and was part of the all-star We Are the World recording for famine relief in 1985.
By the '90s, his ability to chart hits had waned, although he remained a popular live entertainer with regular touring. Still, he was an inventive businessman and never stopped trying to find his way back onto the charts.
At the age of 61, Rogers had a brief comeback on the country charts in 2000 with a hit song Buy Me A Rose, thanks to his other favourite medium, television. Producers of the series Touched By An Angel wanted him to appear in an episode, and one of his managers suggested the episode be based on his latest single. That cross-promotional event earned him his first number one country song in 13 years.
He issued a memoir, Luck or Something Like It, in 2012, and a novel, What Are the Chances, in 2013.
As sung in The Gambler, Rogers knew when to walk away. In 2015, he announced he would retire. He folded his The Gambler's Last Deal tour in 2018 due to undisclosed health issues. In May 2019, he was admitted to hospital for dehydration. A statement posted to social media decried "wild misinformation and speculation" about Rogers' health and denied speculation he was dying.
“I hope my fans understand that I’m a father first and a singer second,” said Rogers about his planned retirement from touring, in a 2016 interview with CMT.com, mentioning at that time that he had 11-year-old twin boys with his fifth wife, Wanda Miller.
"As it turns out, I'm missing some very great parts of my boys' lives. I know as well as anybody else how that time gets away from you. And I don't want to miss it. I just worry about how much longer I'm going to be here, and I want to have time to spend with them. It's pretty simple."
A celebrated photographer, he became the International Photography Hall of Fame’s first recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.
An American and country music institution, it seems appropriate that Rogers' most recent honour was the induction of the song that he made his own, The Gambler, into the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress. The Library archives songs that are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" in the United States.
As well as being a chart-topper on the country charts in the United States, The Gambler peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 8 on the Canadian chart.
Rogers is survived by his wife, Wanda, and his sons Kennedy (Kenny Jr.), Christopher, twins Justin and Jordan, as well as two brothers, a sister and grandchildren, nieces and nephews, said Hagan.
Rogers had one daughter with his first wife, Janice Gordon. The couple married in 1958 when Rogers was 19-years-old and Carole Rogers was born later that year. The marriage between Rogers and Gordon was short-lived and they divorced in 1960. Gordon soon remarried and Rogers did not play an active role in Carole's childhood due to an arrangement he made with Gordon.
Due to the global coronavirus disease pandemic, Rogers' family are planning a small private service. A public memorial will be planned for a later date.
And when he finished speakin'
He turned back towards the window
Crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep
And somewhere in the darkness
The gambler, he broke even
But in his final words I found an ace that I could keepYou've got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run
You never count your money
When you're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin'
When the dealing's done
RIP Kenny Rogers.
MUSIC INDUSTRY, CELEBRITES REACT TO KENNY ROGERS' DEATH
Musicians (and fans) have paid tribute to American country music entertainer Kenny Rogers, who died on Saturday (NZ time), aged 81.
"In addition to his tremendous talent, Kenny was a generous and caring man, a wise mentor to so many of us. He loved his friends, his family, his fellow musicians and his fans, and they loved him, right back. Fifty years ago, The Gambler took a gamble on me and my first band from small-town Texas, and his big-hearted support launched many careers, including mine. He also gave me some of the best career advice I ever got: 'You'd better be nice to the people you meet on the way up, because you're going to meet those same people on the way back down.'" — Don Henley
"He's a musical force and a character to be reckoned with. He made a huge impact on our lives, and we will miss him greatly." — Barry Gibb
"What a career, what a talent, what a legacy. Now this world is left with a big shadow, center stage where Kenny Rogers stood. No one else can take his place. Now he's taken his place amongst the Heavenly stars. It's a very sad day for all of us. But God is smiling. Rest easy my friend." —Tanya Tucker
"No one bridged the gap between country and pop more often and better than K.R. He will be missed but his music and diverse style of story-telling will live on forever." — Billy Ray Cyrus
"The world has lost a great artist and interpreter of songs. I had the honor of announcing his election to the Country Music Hall of Fame, and was thrilled when I realized how much it meant to him. Even after all the other honors he had won, he was truly excited about this one. His accomplishments will live forever." — Bill Anderson
"I'm so sad to see Kenny Rogers go. He did so much for me as a young songwriter and we stayed friends for over 30 years. I'll really miss him. May he rest easy." — Richard Marx.
"Going back to the late 70s and early 80s, we played a lot of dates together. He was one of the first artists to have a stage in the round, in the middle of the arena. He was also an accomplished photographer, and he shot some portraits of Howard and me. We really got to know Kenny through the years and are thankful for the memories. Love and prayers to his family." — David Bellamy, Bellamy Brothers
"Not just my hero, but my friend. Thank you for your guidance my brother. The world has lost the greatest storyteller." — Phil Vassar
"Hearing Kenny Rogers' magnificent voice singing MY lyrics, my music, to 'I'm Missing You,' that was definitely a highlight! When KR sang that song, he OWNED it. What a talent and what a sweet man. Kenny, you certainly made this world a better place. Rest In Peace my friend." — Steve Wariner
"Kenny was one of those legendary smoky tenors. I was fortunate to have him be a mentor on 'American Idol.' He had such wise words for another aspiring whiskey tenor. Thanks Kenny for 'Believing in me.' My condolences to his family, Ken Jr and also the Butlers for helping him create such great music." — Taylor Hicks
"The world and country music just lost a true treasure. Though I never met Kenny Rogers I was a big fan and one of my favorite recent songs of his was 'You Can't Make Old Friends' — another classic duet he did with Dolly. I think that's what we all feel like in the country music community... like we all lost an old friend." — Jenee Fleenor
"An icon that will be missed by so many. He was an inspiration to me, I loved the way he delivered a song and crossed over so many genres. 'The Gambler' was my favorite song and feel blessed to have whiteness him being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He will live on in our hearts and with his music." — Lucas Hoge
"RIP Kenny Rogers. Thanks for all the music and doing the best version of 'When You Love Someone', (and of course 'The Gambler' which is one of the best songs ever). Peace." — Bryan Adams
"Today I lost one of my closest friends. So much laughter, so many adventures to remember, my heart is broken... My prayers go out to Kenny’s family." — Lionel Richie
"Kenny Rogers was a pioneer in the music world. He was a friend of ALABAMA and will be missed by all. Rest in Peace." — Jeff Cook, ALABAMA
"Last night we lost a friend and one of the classic voices that easily melted county, rock and pop together in a way no one had done before. We will certainly miss you Kenny." — Teddy Gentry, ALABAMA
"With sadness I heard about the passing of a great Hall of Famer. Kenny Rogers was a special treasure to country music and the world. He will be missed by all." — Randy Owen, ALABAMA
"Thank you Kenny Rogers for decades of genre bending music and collaborations - for making music that travelled the globe and songs that became common threads for people from all walks of life. Go rest high brother. With love and deep appreciation." — Keith Urban
"I'm heartbroken. Kenny Rogers was a pioneer in country music and produced some tremendous hits. From his early material with The First Edition in the '60s such as Ruby and Reuben James, through the '70s with Lucille, Daytime Friends, She Believes In Me, You Decorated My Life, Coward of the County and of course, The Gambler, Kenny sung smooth, real country music. In 1980 he cemented his fame with Lady, a Lionel Richie written number-one hit on the US country, Hot 100 and adult contemporary charts. It also hit number six on the NZ Top 40. His other hits in the '80s include Don't Fall In Love with a Dreamer with Kim Carnes, Through the Years and We've Got Tonight with Sheena Easton. He was also a part of Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie's USA for Africa We Are the World recording in 1985. His most renowned hit would have to be the Bee Gees' penned Islands in the Stream, a karaoke classic, he performed with Dolly Parton. The song topped the charts in the US, Canada and Australia in 1983, and was certified platinum in the US for selling over two million physical copies. Islands was one of the highest selling singles of 1984 in Australia and a number two hit in New Zealand. Kenny may not have had many charted hits in the '90s, but this increased over recent years. He remained a firm favourite with New Zealand audiences and I'm gutted I never got the chance to see him live in concert. He toured here probably at least ten times in his 60 year career. I read yesterday that he performed the Mission Estate Winery concert in 1997. He wasn't shy of recording a few Christmas albums too, songs from which I listen to each year. Kenny was a true legend, not just in country music, but in all entertainment. My favourite song of his is The Gambler, it's my favourite song by any artist, but all his music is enjoyable to listen to. Regularly I hear that song, his signature song, and his others, on The Breeze, and I'm sure that will continue. Kenny's music will continue to endure for generations and he will be sorely missed. He is now at rest with other legends such as the late Glen Campbell, Patsy Cline, Roger Miller and Lynn Anderson." — Mark Wasley, Kenny Rogers' enthusiast
Source: Associated Press
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