NEWS
How Kenny Rogers influenced music
18 May 2020
The late Kenny Rogers is well-regarded for his ability to tell a story through his songs. While many musicians stick to a single genre, the celebrated singer wasn’t afraid to tackle country, pop, folk and psychedelia. His ability to crossover into distinct styles with ease resulted in some of the most-loved songs in the industry, such as “Lucille” and “Lady.” Keep reading for an insight into how Kenny Rogers influenced music.
Iconic Harmonies
If you think of some of the greatest musical duets of all time, it is likely that Kenny Rogers springs to mind. He recorded “Islands in the Stream” with Dolly Parton, “We’ve Got Tonight” with Sheena Easton, and “Don’t Fall in Love with Me” with Kim Carnes.
The iconic duets also didn’t happen by chance, as Kenny Rogers had a passion for vocal collaborations. During a 2013 episode of The Big Interview with Dan Rather, the musician stated he loved experimenting with various harmonies since he heard his sister, Geraldine, singing them at the family’s church. He reportedly had never heard a harmony before that day but knew straight away he wanted to perform music the same way.
Besides recording iconic duets, Kenny Rogers came up with lesser-known tracks with various R&B artists, including Gladys Knight and James Ingram. His music also influenced other artists, as the likes of Anthony Hamilton and Wyclef Jean have used various passages from his songs in their own hits.
Islands in the Stream is one of the greatest duets of all time.
Storytelling Songs
While Kenny Rogers became synonymous with harmonies throughout his career, many of his biggest and best songs told descriptive stories. In fact, the legendary singer once claimed he split his songs into two categories: love songs and narrative ballads.
For instance, “You Decorate My Life” is a classic love song that will undoubtedly give you goose bumps, while “The Gambler” is a narrative ballad and one of his biggest hits ever.
Rogers also stated most of his songs have a social significance, which is clear when you listen to his haunting hits “Reuben James” and “Coward of the County.”
The New Wave in Country Music
Kenny Rogers popularized country music, which he listened to from an early age. He was first introduced to the genre by his mother, who was a fan of Hank Williams. However, as mentioned earlier, he wasn’t afraid to dip his toe into other genres, as he had played bass in a jazz trio, the Bobby Doyle Three, and in the folk band, New Christy Minstrels. Rogers also experimented in psychedelia in the band First Edition, which led to the hit 1967 single “Just Dropped in (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)”, which Jimi Hendrix reportedly loved.
Despite remaining in First Edition for many years, Kenny Rogers enjoyed greater solo success and developed a unique country sound, which revived the genre. For instance, “Lucille” was his first hit, telling the story of a man who picked up a woman in the bar and the song was followed by “The Gambler”, which many would state was his signature song.
In fact, “The Gambler”, released in 1978, which went platinum in the U.S. five times, was so successful and offered such an emotional story that it was later adapted into a successful movie of the same name.
Despite his success in country music, many executives at United Artists Records doubted his ability, as they believed he was too old to enjoy success in the genre. He was, after all, 38 years old when he released his first country single “Lucille” in 1977. They also believed he was too pop to hold sway over country music fans. However, fans soon warmed to his husky voice and descriptive lyrics, which helped to commercialize the genre. Kenny Rogers’ appearance at Glastonbury is a prime example of his worldwide commercial appeal, as he was a hit at the much-loved music festival in England. In fact, “Islands in the Stream” was so well-received that he sang it twice. There was also no doubting that he enjoyed every single minute of his performance, which proved the impact his songs had on both the music industry and its fans.
Musical Legacy
While Kenny Rogers is sadly no longer with us, he lives on in the many hits he recorded during the 1970s and 1980s. His sincere vocals, iconic collaborations and emotional lyrics led him to sell over 100 million records worldwide throughout his career. He also secured an incredible 21 number 1 country hits, which includes “Islands in the Stream” that was composed by the Bee Gees and performed alongside the queen of country, Dolly Parton.
His songs also led to Kenny Rogers receiving three Grammy Awards, which is an immense honor for any artist. However, it is likely he experienced much pride when he received a lifetime achievement from the Country Music Association and when he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013.
Conclusion
While many artists make the mistake of imitating other musicians, Kenny Rogers focused on creating an original, eclectic sound true to his childhood and musical influences. By drawing on a range of styles and collaborating with different musicians, he developed a discography that many budding and established singers would be proud to own. What’s more, his hit songs popularized a niche genre and influenced other artists, which led to the various awards and critical acclaims he received throughout his many decades in the music industry.
Iconic Harmonies
If you think of some of the greatest musical duets of all time, it is likely that Kenny Rogers springs to mind. He recorded “Islands in the Stream” with Dolly Parton, “We’ve Got Tonight” with Sheena Easton, and “Don’t Fall in Love with Me” with Kim Carnes.
The iconic duets also didn’t happen by chance, as Kenny Rogers had a passion for vocal collaborations. During a 2013 episode of The Big Interview with Dan Rather, the musician stated he loved experimenting with various harmonies since he heard his sister, Geraldine, singing them at the family’s church. He reportedly had never heard a harmony before that day but knew straight away he wanted to perform music the same way.
Besides recording iconic duets, Kenny Rogers came up with lesser-known tracks with various R&B artists, including Gladys Knight and James Ingram. His music also influenced other artists, as the likes of Anthony Hamilton and Wyclef Jean have used various passages from his songs in their own hits.
Islands in the Stream is one of the greatest duets of all time.
Storytelling Songs
While Kenny Rogers became synonymous with harmonies throughout his career, many of his biggest and best songs told descriptive stories. In fact, the legendary singer once claimed he split his songs into two categories: love songs and narrative ballads.
For instance, “You Decorate My Life” is a classic love song that will undoubtedly give you goose bumps, while “The Gambler” is a narrative ballad and one of his biggest hits ever.
Rogers also stated most of his songs have a social significance, which is clear when you listen to his haunting hits “Reuben James” and “Coward of the County.”
The New Wave in Country Music
Kenny Rogers popularized country music, which he listened to from an early age. He was first introduced to the genre by his mother, who was a fan of Hank Williams. However, as mentioned earlier, he wasn’t afraid to dip his toe into other genres, as he had played bass in a jazz trio, the Bobby Doyle Three, and in the folk band, New Christy Minstrels. Rogers also experimented in psychedelia in the band First Edition, which led to the hit 1967 single “Just Dropped in (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)”, which Jimi Hendrix reportedly loved.
Despite remaining in First Edition for many years, Kenny Rogers enjoyed greater solo success and developed a unique country sound, which revived the genre. For instance, “Lucille” was his first hit, telling the story of a man who picked up a woman in the bar and the song was followed by “The Gambler”, which many would state was his signature song.
In fact, “The Gambler”, released in 1978, which went platinum in the U.S. five times, was so successful and offered such an emotional story that it was later adapted into a successful movie of the same name.
Despite his success in country music, many executives at United Artists Records doubted his ability, as they believed he was too old to enjoy success in the genre. He was, after all, 38 years old when he released his first country single “Lucille” in 1977. They also believed he was too pop to hold sway over country music fans. However, fans soon warmed to his husky voice and descriptive lyrics, which helped to commercialize the genre. Kenny Rogers’ appearance at Glastonbury is a prime example of his worldwide commercial appeal, as he was a hit at the much-loved music festival in England. In fact, “Islands in the Stream” was so well-received that he sang it twice. There was also no doubting that he enjoyed every single minute of his performance, which proved the impact his songs had on both the music industry and its fans.
Musical Legacy
While Kenny Rogers is sadly no longer with us, he lives on in the many hits he recorded during the 1970s and 1980s. His sincere vocals, iconic collaborations and emotional lyrics led him to sell over 100 million records worldwide throughout his career. He also secured an incredible 21 number 1 country hits, which includes “Islands in the Stream” that was composed by the Bee Gees and performed alongside the queen of country, Dolly Parton.
His songs also led to Kenny Rogers receiving three Grammy Awards, which is an immense honor for any artist. However, it is likely he experienced much pride when he received a lifetime achievement from the Country Music Association and when he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013.
Conclusion
While many artists make the mistake of imitating other musicians, Kenny Rogers focused on creating an original, eclectic sound true to his childhood and musical influences. By drawing on a range of styles and collaborating with different musicians, he developed a discography that many budding and established singers would be proud to own. What’s more, his hit songs popularized a niche genre and influenced other artists, which led to the various awards and critical acclaims he received throughout his many decades in the music industry.