Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: StefanieJones on March 21, 2020, 08:25:29 AM

Title: RIP Kenny Rogers
Post by: StefanieJones on March 21, 2020, 08:25:29 AM
So sad to read this today. Have covered many of his songs over the years.  Fairly young, too.
Title: Re: RIP Kenny Rogers
Post by: hankster on March 21, 2020, 08:34:17 AM
His songs were a staple on the circuit when I was on the road many years ago. Sad to hear.
Title: Re: RIP Kenny Rogers
Post by: edwardofhuncote on March 21, 2020, 08:46:12 AM
Just heard it a few minutes ago. I've been purposefully avoiding the constant barrage of streaming news in favor of musicI like, so it was a shock to hear. Another multi-talented guy, there.
Title: Re: RIP Kenny Rogers
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on March 21, 2020, 01:55:13 PM
Another multi-talented guy, there.

I was never really a fan, but yeah - the guy had a successful jazz career before he was a big pop star before he was a massive "country" icon; you don't do that without some chops.

Peter
Title: Re: RIP Kenny Rogers
Post by: edwardofhuncote on March 21, 2020, 02:50:34 PM
A bit of a niche' acting too. It was that seam of movies that kinda' fit 'guys that wrote the soundtrack' type. He had some game... they weren't destined to be American classics but still, not just anybody can do music, movies, and television. I'm always fascinated by people who figure out how to make it work with entertainment.
Title: Re: RIP Kenny Rogers
Post by: KR on March 21, 2020, 06:00:47 PM
Kenny was a good bass player. He played upright and a nice Tele bass back in the day.
Title: Re: RIP Kenny Rogers
Post by: lbpesq on March 21, 2020, 10:22:56 PM
Not much of a fan, but I’ve always remembered him as the first guy I ever saw wearing an earring - back when he was dropping in to see what condition his condition was in with the First Edition (before they were “Kenny Rogers & the First Edition”).  And his chicken was prominently featured in a classic Seinfeld.

May the Four Winds Blow You Safely Home

Bill, tgo
Title: Re: RIP Kenny Rogers
Post by: StefanieJones on March 22, 2020, 09:37:39 AM
How could I have forgotten about the First Edition...

*sigh*
Title: Re: RIP Kenny Rogers
Post by: bigredbass on March 22, 2020, 05:41:14 PM
A yardstick I use is whether an artist keeps a touring band and road crew once they're big enough to do whatever they want, and KR kept many, many people in his band and crew together for years, and treat them like family.

He was exceptionally smart business-wise, and the best advice I heard from his was the classic ' Be nice to them on the way up, 'cause you're sure going to need them to be nice to you on the way back down'.  Gave a young Texan wannabe Don Henley his first break, and gold-plated Lionel Ritchie, among so many he gave a hand-up.

He had a huge run with those duets when he was the biggest thing out there, but I always loved this David Foster produced (and written by Richard Marx) trio with Kim Carnes and James Ingram, 'What About Me?'.

Title: Re: RIP Kenny Rogers
Post by: pauldo on March 22, 2020, 06:33:52 PM
Joey, I am glad to hear that, and it makes a lot of sense.
I once heard Kenny mention a quote that he obviously heard from someone else, but words that reflect his apparent character based on your recollection.

Something like this...
We are 3 people; one is who we think we are; one is how others see us and the last one is who we really are.  The goal is to have all 3 balanced.