Genres: Seasonal,Country,Jazz,Pop,Instrumental,Christian/Gospel

Kenny Rogers was born in Houston, Texas.  In the mid-1950s he was a member of a Doo-Wop trio, and in the 1960s, he released a couple of solo singles and joined a  jazz group.  When that died out, he got work as a session musician in a recording studio.  In 1967, Rogers and some friends formed The First Edition.

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Kenny Rogers

'The Gambler' series has always held a special place in my heart. I loved making those films that grew out of a character in one of my favorite songs. There is no better way to commemorate the 25th anniversary of 'The Gambler's' debut than this incredible, comprehensive campaign that Time Life has put together.

The Beginning

Kenny Rogers was born in Houston, Texas.  In the mid-1950s he was a member of a Doo-Wop trio, and in the 1960s, he released a couple of solo singles and joined a  jazz group.  When that died out, he got work as a session musician in a recording studio.  In 1967, Rogers and some friends formed The First Edition.  They recorded some moderately successful singles, including Something's Burning and Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town.  

When the group split in 1976, Kenny Rogers launched his solo career.  He signed with United Artists and joined a partnership with producer Larry Butler.  In 1976, Rogers released his debut album, Love Lifted.  The album was only a moderate commercial success, with two minor hit singles:  Love Lifted Me and While the Feeling's Good.  

A Successful Career

Kenny Rogers released a second album in 1976, simply entitled Kenny Rogers.  The album's single, Lucille, went to #1 on the pop charts and sold 5 million copies.  The album certified platinum.  He released four more albums in the 1970s, including the quadruple platinum The Gambler in 1978, which included the title track.

Rogers' success and popularity continued to grow in the 1980s.  In 1981, Lionel Richie produced a number of hit singles for Rogers, including Lady, I Don't Need You, and Through the Years.  1983 brought a new lucrative partnership, this time with Barry Gibb to release Eyes that See in the Dark.  His #1 hit duet with Dolly Parton, Islands in the Stream, appeared on this album.  Kenny Rogers released seven albums in the 1980s that were commercially successful, both on the country charts and on the pop charts.

Branching Out

Rogers has continued to record, with nine more albums since 1989, but not with remarkable sales numbers of the earlier years.  However, in the 1990s, he began to branch out into television and movies as well as music.  In the early 1990s, Rogers hosted The Real West on A&E and The Movie Channel, and he played the title role in the recurring movie serial based on his song, The Gambler.  

Since 1977, Kenny Rogers has won forty-one awards, including Grammy awards, Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association awards, and American Music awards, to name a few.  In 2003, the International Entertainment Buyers Association honored him with the Lifetime Achievement Award.  Kenny Rogers is currently working on an album with Dolly Parton to be released in 2010.

Did you know . . .

1. A television special is set to air in 2010, titled, Kenny Rogers:The First 50 Years.

2. From 1970 through 2010, Rogers has contributed to forty-three movie and television soundtracks.

3. Kenny Rogers has written two children's books, entitled The Greatest and The Toy Shoppe.

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