Country music’s defining icon, Kenny Rogers has passed away peacefully in his sleep over the weekend (20th March) at the age of 81. The Rogers family confirmed the loss of the prolific hit-maker in a statement, saying:
"The Rogers family is sad to announce that Kenny Rogers passed away last night at 10:25PM at the age of 81. Rogers passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family."
"The family is planning a small private service at this time out of concern for the national COVID-19 emergency," the statement continued. "They look forward to celebrating Kenny's life publicly with his friends and fans at a later date."
From his swooning doo-wop debut in the 1950s to the country music megastardom that followed, Kenny Rogers’ golden, husky voice always cut straight to the heart, as did his down-home narrative signwriting style which unified fans across generations and genres, won him countless awards and secured his top-tier position in the music business for more than four decades.
Iconic hits like “The Gambler,” “Lady,” “Coward of the County,” “Through the Years,” country music’s pioneer pop crossover hits, making Rogers one of the genre’s earliest mainstream superstars. “I did songs that were not country but were more pop,” he said in 2016. “If the country audience doesn’t buy it, they’ll kick it out. And if they do, then it becomes country music.”
Kenny Rogers | “The Gambler”
Rogers' signature song, "The Gambler” turned a poker player's hard-won wisdom into one of the most telling truths of all-time with – "You've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em" – and personifies Rogers’ legacy, transcendent of any one category, style or medium. He was a musician, a story-teller, an actor and cultural signpost; immortalised forever in pop culture strongholds. A household name for decades, recognizable for his concerts, television specials, films, and even fast-food restaurants; Rogers’ wise and rebellious spirit is a cult classic in itself.
Kenny Rogers’ continued to make new music into the 2000s – most notably playing Glastonbury’s Sunday afternoon legends slot in 2013. His career is marked by a number of high-profile collaborations – from Lionel Richie to Sheena Easton and his shimmering smash duet with Dolly Parton, “Islands In the Stream.”
Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton | “Islands In The Stream”
While it’s tough to choose just one highlight of such a truly golden career, “Islands in the Stream,” written by the Bee Gees is a hard mark to pass. “Some of the highlights of my life were the duets,” he told Rolling Stone. “I sing better on duets than I do by myself.”
Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton | “Love Is Strange”
Kenny and Dolly kept it real to the end, confirmed in their excellent duet “You Can’t Make Old Friends” from his 2013 album of the same name.
Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton| “You Can't Make Old Friends”
With a yearning vocal tone, and knowing presence, Rogers was a natural ballad singer, as he demonstrated beautifully on, “If I Ever Fall in Love Again” a duet with Anne Murray which appeared on his 1989 album, Something Inside So Strong.
Kenny Rogers & Anne Murray | “If I Ever Fall in Love Again”
In every tale, Kenny shrugs it off and celebrates the moral at the expense of his good fortune, orders more whiskey and raises his glass to the inevitability of fate. His songs were based around mid-life drama and world-weary perspective but always served as a reminder to keep an ace up your sleeve.
Kenny Rogers | “[Something Inside] So Strong”
Among the countless honours, Kenny Rogers collected throughout his celebrated career were three Grammys, six Country Music Association awards and eight Academy of Country Music awards. In 2013 he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Kenny Rogers | “When You Love Someone”
Country music has lost one of its wisest, warmest and most graciousness voices, undoubtedly one of the brightest stars in music history and a true King of Country. His family and friends are in our thoughts during this difficult time.
Warner Music Nashville CEO, John 'Espo' Esposito released a heartfelt statement remembering the country music megastar, saying:
“I’m sure you’ve all heard the sad news of the passing of country icon Kenny Rogers. Kenny played a pioneering role in bringing country into the pop mainstream, and his music and his fans transcended genre – from country to rock, pop to R&B. We at Warner Music were blessed to be part of Kenny’s musical life at several points in his phenomenal career -- going all the way back to 1967, when Kenny Rogers and the First Edition signed to Reprise and released their first hit single, “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In),” followed by a string of albums.”
“As a solo artist, Kenny released a trio of albums on Reprise in the late-‘80s/early-‘90s, and then we had the good fortune to bring him into the Warner Nashville family in 2013. We were the final label he signed with, and home to his two final studio albums before he retired in 2018. In that short time, I came to know Kenny as one of the warmest, funniest, and most genuine people on the planet. When he walked our halls, it was a joy to watch the smiles of all who experienced his charm and his humanity. That we had the chance to work with that wonderful music man was a thrill and a memory of a lifetime! Above all, he was the consummate artist, whose golden, husky voice and amazing songs touched and moved people across the globe. He will be deeply missed.”
One of Kenny’s final albums, You Can’t Make Old Friends, was released in 2013 and is a shining example of the rough-edged shine that has earned him legions of fans for the better part of a century. Listen to You Can’t Make Old Friends on Spotify:
Listen to You Can't Make Old Friends on Apple Music:
