By Frank “Smokin” Truat
This Wednesday was Kenny Rogers’ birthday. Although we lost Kenny four years ago, his legacy has guaranteed that we will still be hearing a lot of his music for years to come. His music has crossed over many genres starting when he joined the New Christy Minstrels in 1966. They were an American folk music group founded back in 1961. Rogers and a few fellow Minstrel members left the group to form “The First Edition” in 1967. Kenny was now on the pop and country charts.
In 1976 he started his solo career as a country artist with an appeal to top 40 pop radio. He would eventually achieve 60 top 40 hit singles and two number one hits. Down the road there were duets with Kim Carnes, Dottie West and Dolly Parton to name a few. Kenny’s career featured many television appearances as well as a leading role in the movie “Six Pack” and even a chicken and ribs restaurant chain called “Kenny Rogers Roasters.” I’ve always played his hits on the radio and at parties too. “Through the Years” was a great way to close out an anniversary or reunion party.
Back in the early 1980’s, I was working part-time for WTBQ Radio and the program director asked me if I wanted to see a concert that night at the Brendan Byrne Arena in the Meadowlands. The concert featured the Gatlin Brothers Band with Kenny Rogers as the main act. We were given press passes and access to the pre-concert entertainment area with The Gatlin Brothers. Not being a big fan of country at the time, I didn’t recognize any of the brothers, but I know we did share a buffet together that night. The concert was great, and we had a fun time.
In the late 1990’s, I saw Kenny again in concert, a bit later in his career, but with a bunch of new songs that had become hits on the radio. Kenny would have been 86 years old this week, but with his vast library of hits, I’m sure you could find a couple that you’d love to hear again. They can’t help but bring back some of those great memories from our days in the past!
