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Kenny Rogers music biography continued...

include awards for both his musical ability and charity work receiving Grammy's, AMA's, ACM's and CMA's. Aside from being a singer, he is also a songwriter, producer, photographer, actor, and businessman.

The country superstar was born Kenneth Donald Rogers in Houston, Texas on August 21, 1938. Rogers was raised in one of the poorest areas of town along with his seven siblings. During high school he learned how to play the guitar and fiddle, later joining a doo-wop band named the Scholars. After graduation, he released a few singles on local independent label Carlton. The popularity of the track "That Crazy Feeling" landed him a spot on American Bandstand. He briefly attended the University of Texas, eventually dropping to play bass for a jazz band. After playing in two different bands, he was signed to Mercury acquiring a solo record contract. The singles that were released on Mercury failed and Rogers was soon dropped from the label. In 1966 he joined the New Christy Minstrels.

After playing with the folk group for roughly a year, he withdrew along with band members Mike Settle, Terry Williams, and Thelma Camacho. In 1967 the four along with new drummer Mickey Jones formed The First Edition which was later renamed Kenny Rogers and The First Edition. Their first hit was "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In). Rogers quickly became known as "Hippie Kenny" due to his thin, psychedelic appearance. In 1969, their second Top Ten hit "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" was unfortunately their last. A little while after leaving Reprise Records and signing to his own new label, Jolly Rogers, Kenny left the band in 1974.

In 1975 the singer embarked on his solo career with United Artists. His musical style was a blend of country and pop with a bigger focus on adult contemporary pop. Love Lifted Me was the first album to be released earning itself a spot on the album charts. The second self-titled album "Kenny Rogers" scored a hit single with "Laura (What's He Got That I Ain't Got). However, the next breakthrough single "Lucille" topped the charts reaching number one in twelve countries pushing the album to first place on the Billboard Country Album Chart.

The Gambler in 1978 was Rogers' next major selling album and the singer kept generating hit after hit. He also had a number of Top Ten duets with artists Dottie West, Kim Carnes, Sheena Easton, and Dolly Parton. Every album that Kenny released between 1976 and 1984 was either certified gold or platinum. He eventually signed to RCA records in 1983 for a record breaking US $20 million advance. The new label debut was Eyes That See in the Dark, which was produced by the BeeGees. Although still generating several chart topping singles, music critics noted that Rogers' songs were not being received as well as his previous hits.

Throughout his music career, Rogers also gained recognition as an actor appearing in movies such as Six Pack, The Gambler, Christmas in America, and Coward of the County. In 1991, he became an entrepreneur starting up the restaurant chain Kenny Rogers Roasters along with former CEO of Kentucky Fried Chicken John Y. Brown. He has also been successful as a photographer with three published books containing his work. Rogers recently became the oldest artist in the history of country music to top the charts with his number one hit single "Buy Me a Rose".