Kenny Rogers, The #32 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Two

 

(Continued from Part One)

 

In 1980, Rogers partnered with Lionel Richie for Kenny's biggest career hit, "Lady".  The classic dominated the Singles chart for six weeks, sold over one million copies, and is one of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*.

Included on his Greatest Hits album, "Lady" helped the project reach Diamond status and has now sold over 12 million copies in the U.S. alone.  Rogers earned American Music Awards for Favorite Pop/Rock Album and Favorite Country Album for his Greatest Hits package and he was nominated for three more Grammys--Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male (for "Lady") and Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group (for "Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer").

Kenny starred in the television movie The Gambler, based on his hit song, the first of five such movies.

 Rogers purchased the former ABC Dunhill building and founded a state-of-the-art recording studio called Lion Share, later used by such artists as Michael Jackson, Chicago, Rod Stewart and Richie.  Richie produced Kenny's 1981 album Share Your Love.  The lead single "I Don't Need You" climbed to #1 on the AC chart and #3 overall.

 

The album reached #6 and gave Kenny four straight Platinum releases and seven consecutive Gold albums.  The title song, originally a hit for Aretha Franklin, also hit #1 Adult Contemporary and #5 in Canada.  Gladys Knight sings backing vocals on this winner.

 Rogers pulled a third big hit off the album with "Through The Years", a #1 Adult Contemporary smash.  It was written by Steve Dorff and Marty Panzer, who both had previous credits prior to combining for this effort.  Dorff wrote several songs for Anne Murray, including "I Just Fall In Love Again" while Panzer co-wrote with Barry Manilow, including "It's A Miracle" and "This One's For You".

Later that year, Kenny also released the album Christmas, which has now sold over two million copies.

 Rogers released the album Love Will Turn You Around in 1982.  The title song was featured in Kenny's movie Six Pack and earned a Grammy Award for Favorite Country Single and a nomination for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male.  Rogers also won American Music Awards for Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist and Favorite Country Male Artist for "Love Will Turn You Around", which topped both the AC and Country charts.

 

In 1983, Rogers released the compilation 20 Greatest Hits, which has sold over four million copies.  He began working with producer David Foster in a partnership that resulted in the album We've Got Tonight, another million-seller.  For the title song, Foster brought in Sheena Easton, and Kenny and Sheena scored a #2 Adult Contemporary hit that peaked at #6 overall.

 

Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees produced Rogers' 1983 album Eyes That See in the Dark.  Kenny and Dolly Parton achieved a rare triple #1 in both the United States and Canada (#1 Popular, #1 Adult and #1 Country) with "Islands In The Stream", which has topped two million in sales.  Rogers and Parton earned a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.

Kenny and Dolly also won American Music Awards for Favorite Country Single and Favorite Country Band, Duo or Group while Rogers won awards for Favorite Country Male Artist and Favorite Country Album.  Kenny landed a Grammy nomination for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male, for "All My Life".

 

It was one of Kenny's most successful albums, reaching #2 in New Zealand, #5 in Canada and #6 in the U.S. and selling over two million copies.  "This Woman" rose to #2 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

 Rogers won American Music Awards for Favorite Male Country Artist and Favorite Country Album.  The title song gave Kenny three Top 5 hits on the Adult chart from the album.

Rogers released the album What About Me? in 1984, his eighth consecutive Platinum and 11th straight Gold studio album.  Kenny, Carnes and James Ingram combined for a #1 AC hit.

Kenny's work with West, Parton and Easton is highlighted on his compilation album Duets, another million-seller.  Kenny reunited with Parton for the 1984 album Once Upon a Christmas, which has gone over two million in sales.

 Famed producer George Martin came in to work with Kenny on his 1985 album The Heart of the Matter, which extended that streak to 12 straight Gold studio albums.  "Morning Desire" hit #8 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

 Rogers and Parton reunited for the title song from Dolly's 1985 album Real Love, which earned a nomination for Best Vocal Performance by a Country Duo or Group at the Grammy Awards

Rogers and Parton also recorded a holiday album and television special, Once Upon a Christmas in 1985.  

Kenny joined 44 other artists to record the classic charity song "We Are The World" to benefit victims of famine in Africa.  The song, recorded at Rogers' Lion Share studio, held on to the #1 position for four weeks and has sold over two million copies.

Rogers released the albums They Don't Make Them Like They Used To in 1986 and I Prefer the Moonlight in 1987, neither of which were well-received, although the title song from the former earned a nomination for Best Original Song from a Motion Picture (Tough Guys) at the Golden Globe Awards.  Kenny came back for the 1989 album Something So Strong, another Gold album.

 Rogers and Ronnie Milsap combined for the song "Make No Mistake, She's Mine", which captured a Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals.

Kenny turned the 1989 album Christmas in America into Gold.  He released the compilation album 20 Great Years, which has gone over one million in sales.

Five studio albums followed from 1990 to 1997 with not near the airplay that Kenny once achieved.  Kenny did collect another Platinum album for his compilation Daytime Friends  - The Very Best of Kenny Rogers.

In 1991, Rogers co-founded the restaurant chain Kenny Rogers Roasters.  From 1992-1995, Kenny co-owned the Grand Palace Theatre in Branson, Missouri.  

 

Rogers and his fourth wife, Marianne Gordon, divorced in 1993.  Kenny married Wanda Miller on June 1, 1997.  That year, he released the album She Rides Wild Horses, his first Platinum album in 15 years.  One of the favorites among Kenny's fans is "The Greatest". 

Rogers released five studio albums since.  In 2002, Rogers released a compilation which included his work with the First Edition, 42 Ultimate Hits.

Rogers signed a new recording contract with Capitol and released the studio album Water & Bridges in 2006.

In 2012, Kenny released the book Luck or Something Like It:  A Memoir.  Rogers and Parton were nominated for Best Vocal Performance by a Country Duo or Group at the Grammy Awards for "You Can't Make Old Friends".

On September 25, 2015, Rogers announced that he was retiring after a final tour to spend more time with his family.  He had plans to tour the U.S., Australia, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Switzerland, but on April 5, Rogers announced that he was canceling his remaining tour on the advice of doctors due to his health.  

In a joint poll of the readers of USA Today and People in 1986, Rogers was voted as the "Favorite Singer of All-Time". 

On March 20, 2020, Kenny died from natural causes at the age of 81 at his home in Sandy Springs, Georgia.

Kenny achieved 32 career Popular hits, with nine reaching the Top 10 and two #1's.  He excelled on the much-larger Adult Contemporary market, with 43 hits, an amazing 25 of which landed in the Top 10, and eight #1 songs.

Rogers' body of work includes 65 albums and he has sold over 120 million albums.

Kenny had two Grammy Awards (from 17 nominations) and 19 American Music Awards out of 25 nominations and also was nominated for a Golden Globe.