CityLife

Worth a gamble on Kenny

Kenny with his adoring fans at the Apollo in 2003

"HOW’S my new best friend?” That’s how the king of country music, Kenny Rogers, jovially greets me.

He’s referring to a previous conversation, but his affable sense of humour doesn’t seem to have changed much which is good news for the fans who can see him this weekend in Manchester.

Since 1976, when he went solo, Kenny has chalked up 25 American number one hit records, 60 Top 40 American hit singles and 50 of his albums have charted.

With a staggering list of 40 hit singles and enduring success in the country music popularity polls, the silver-haired country star never takes anything for granted.

“My career was hardly an overnight success story but I’ve worked hard and been very fortunate. Country music has changed dramatically but basically the love for this musical style binds us together.

“Manchester audiences also seem to have an affinity with my kind of country which is music to my ears.”

Kenny will celebrate 50 years in the business at the M.E.N. Arena. “I can’t believe it’s 50 years since I first started out on my musical journey and the fans will hear all their favourite songs.”

He adds, referring to an interview with Lionel Richie earlier this month: “I also can’t believe I’m following in the wake of Lionel Richie.

"I don’t know if he told you but he wrote Lady for me, my second big solo hit in 1980 after Lucille in 1977.

"In fact Lionel and I made a whole album together called Share Your Love which was a real success and we’ve remained friends ever since.”

Poker-faced Kenny jokes: “I think the next time you see Lionel you should remind him that he stayed in a cottage in the grounds of my home for weeks and I’m still waiting for the rent!”

Born in Houston, Texas, the fourth of seven children, Kenny’s dad was a carpenter and his mother was a nurse.

Although money was tight when he graduated from high school, instead of getting a proper job, Kenny joined a band called The Scholars and then when they disbanded The Bobby Doyle Trio who earned a fair bit playing clubs.

He joined The New Christy Minstrels and later, with some other band members, formed The First Edition.

Hippie Kenny, as he was known in those days, had long brown hair, an ear-ring and wore pink sun-glasses. He became known as one of the first country stars to combine a more popular sound into his music.

“I’ve been lucky in being able to predict trends, although not necessarily follow them. With The First Edition we had a great number one hit with Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town followed by Something’s Burnin’ and Reuben James, all of which seemed to appeal to country and pop fans alike.”

Since 1976, when he went solo, Kenny has chalked up 25 American number one hit records, 60 Top 40 American hit singles and 50 of his albums have charted.

Desperado

Hits included Desperado, Love Lifted Me, All I Ever Need Is You as well as While The Feelin’s Good. International success was assured with The Gambler and Coward of the Country.

Kenny’s also enjoyed considerable success collaborating with high profile female vocalists from different musical genres.

With country singer Dottie West he had success with Every Time Two Fools Collide and What Are We Doin’ In Love.

Whilst in 1983, with Sheena Easton, We’ve Got Tonight was a smash hit as was What About Me with Kim Carnes and James Ingram.

Back in 1983 Kenny worked with Barry Gibb of Bee Gees fame, ostensibly on one record but they ended up making an album together.

The song was Islands In The Stream which had originally been written for Diana Ross but was recorded by Kenny and Dolly Parton and became one of their biggest hits.

“Dolly and I come from similar backgrounds and have remained great friends over the years. Even when we haven’t met for a while, we just pick up the conversation where we left off – it’s one of those friendships.”

Kenny’s Heart of the Matter album was produced by legendary British record producer George Martin ensuring another American number 1 hit.

A position also achieved by his Greatest Hits album in 1985.

Between ’83 and 1990, he charted 23 Top 40 singles and 10 Top 40 Albums.

Amongst them major hits like Crazy and Something Inside So Strong which, like so many of his other records, went gold.

For three years he owned and headlined at Branson’s 4,000- thousand seat Grand Palace Theatre.

The Real West

Wishing to extend his range he hosted The Real West for The History Channel and made a jazz album harking back to his early passion.

In 1999 Kenny recorded more hits with The Greatest followed by There You Go Again. That same year he produced We’ve Got It All for the popular television series Home Improvement which starred Tim Allen.

Kenny was back at number 1 in the American charts in 2000 with Buy Me A Rose which he recorded with Alison Krauss and Billy Dean becoming, at 61, the oldest artists in country music, to reach that spot.

He held that position for three years until 70 year old Willie Nelson succeeded him with Beer For My Horses – only in America!

A 50th anniversary album was released last year to coincide with this current tour.

But Kenny enthuses: “I intend to make an album called Friends Re-United, after this tour, in which we’ll reprise several successful collaborations. I’ll enjoy that and I think the fans will too.”

Several of Kenny’s songs have been featured in movies like Convoy, Urban Cowboy and The Big Lebowski, while Runaway Girl featured in Trackdown.

He even turned movie star in Six Pack, in which he played a racing driver and starred in Christmas In America, Coward of the Country and perhaps the most successful of all, The Gambler, based on his hit record, which became a mini-series.

A shrewd businessman, Kenny’s been involved in the restaurant business opening his own chain in 1991 with Kenny Rogers Roasters, but famously failed to pick out his own brand on a television show.

He treated that jape with typically good-natured charm, as indeed he does with the numerous nation-wide Kenny Rogers look-alike competitions.

Now living in Atlanta, at 70 Kenny remains an iconic figure in country music and has won practically every award possible. Married five times, he has a daughter Carole and four sons. He chuckles at the thought of them.

“Kenny Junior is successfully writing music for television, Christopher is a professional student and then there’s the twins Justin and Jordan who at four are an absolute delight.”

When he’s not performing or playing with the twins, Kenny’s favourite hobby is photography with four books already published.

“The last one is called Faces and Places. No doubt there’ll be enough material from this tour for another book – this time on the UK and Manchester!”

Self-effacing about his charity work, Kenny believes in pay-back time and quotes Bill Gates. “The measure of a man is not in how much he owns – but in how much he gives back.”

Kenny Rogers plays the M.E.N. Arena on Sunday, March 29. £37.50. Call 0844 847 8000.