Wanda sent me a note this week asking about her favorite from years ago, Kenny Rogers.  In the three years I've been writing this article, it may seem that I have been hard on the Urban Cowboy phase of country that began in the late 1970's. I entered country radio at the same time UC was gaining huge favor.  The success of UC is not lost on me, I was part of it.  It brought us many new fans, but it hung on too long.  Few artists benefited more from the pop country culture than Mega Star, Kenny Rogers.  I proudly played all his songs for decades on great radio stations across the country

His First Country Hit - A Smash

With that said, let's clear this up right now.  Kenny Rogers was a Mega Star in every definition of the word.  His popularity is undeniable, and his legacy is sealed in stone without any question.  His fans loved him passionately then, and they still do long after his passing. Rogers did us a whole lot of good by defining country for many who were brand new to us, and made it a safe place for them if Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, and Conway Twitty were not their cup of tea.  He gave us tremendous national mainstream exposure when country had a very tough time getting any.  His incredible and distinctive voice set him apart from the typical country star at the time.

Early Country Success  - One Of My Favs From Him

Truth is, we all loved Rogers in those days.  He had ton of big songs, he was very likable and made his way into TV and the movies and as country fans we were thrilled for the representation.  He was recording music solo as far back as the late 1950's with no real success.  Then he moved into joining some groups and small bands.  After his time with The New Christie Minstrels and the pop group The First Edition, he branched out on his own, and charted country for many years, and it all started in 1977 with the monster song, Lucille.   It was a major hit record and gave way to many others that all have become household common knowledge. 

This Song Defined Rogers For Generations

Now what is also fact is that Rogers became incredibly popular for decades, but his real huge run on the country charts lasted about 10 years with many major hit songs.  His music was not really "country"  but many of the story songs that defined him were country in nature.  Many of his very popular ballads were piano driven, string section laden, emotive songs that were honest and pointed directly at the heart.  He recorded a ton of duets with many other stars of the era and took many of those songs to the top. That list includes Dottie West, Sheena Easton, Ronnie Milsap, Kim Carnes, James Ingram and many others.  Rogers was favorite in concert too embracing the audience with his sharp sense of humor, slick storytelling, an overall affable personality.  I saw Rogers many times in concert, and each time fans laughed, cried and hung on his every spoken and sung word.

This Song Was From The Urban Cowboy Movie Soundtrack

Rogers was a staple on our charts without question during Urban Cowboy as it hung on for a number of years until the Neo (new) Traditionalists showed up and country pivoted very quickly and mercilessly sharp to a far more country sound.  Rogers was among the very established older artists of that moment, whose chart success came to screeching halt as tons of new stars were now dotting the country chart landscape starting in 1986 or so.  The new stars were younger and so were the new listeners they brought to us, and they were looking for something very different.  It was shocking how fast it all turned over.

Hit Songs Don't Get Much Bigger Than This

But I always felt that Rogers saw that coming.  He was very much like Dolly Parton and later Reba McEntire in the fact that he knew that he wasn't going to be a recording star forever, as no one is.  With his success he had become a part of our society with his massive popularity, his extensive work on TV and in the movies. He was now pop culture, and not really a current country artist.  He still performed in the proper venues and the fans kept coming to see him.  Fact it, we all still loved Kenny Rogers, even it he wasn't on the charts anymore. 

With The Gatlin Brothers  - Terrific!

Rogers was also still insanely popular with those who loved to hear him sing his powerful ballads.  Lady is a song that will be played and loved for future generations, and songs like The Gambler, its lyrics became more than words in a song, they became part of our pop culture. Islands In The Stream, his duet with Dolly was everyone's favorite song at one time.  Rogers also recorded with dozens of other stars in and out of country as his legend grew, including The Bee Gees on his Eyes That See In The Dark album, which is terrific.  For me, that album is the best example and sheer definition of early to mid 80's pop country.  Best album of its kind without any question. To me, that album defined him and the era at the same time.  Worth a download.

Lady - One Of Country's Biggest Ballads

Rogers is the undisputed leader to me, of a group of artists that we all played and had success with. He defined country for many  -  for what country was at that time.  And what it was, was pop that was leaning country, BUT had the courage lyrically to be very deep and honest, far more than standard pop songs of the time.  It was adult for sure.  Country in the years shortly there after would be nothing like Rogers and others as it drifted back with new stars, with an edgier guitar driven sound, as we put the piano away, with a far more country image and gigantic stage shows.

What A Hit!

But with 40 some albums, 30 ish number ones, and album sales of 120 million, Kenny Rogers was a Mega Star when we didn't have many, or any.  He is one of the biggest selling male arists of all time regardless of genre.  And he remained very popular with his fans for decades after the big days on the radio were over. Rogers led a very colorful life being married five times, had five children, and passed away in 2020, he was 81.  Kenny Rogers had a career that was seven decades long, simply staggering.

Big Ballad  - A Real Favorite

Thanks Kenny, for everything you did.  At that moment  -  We needed you ...