Kenny Rogers

The Legendary Career

Kenny Rogers is an iconic name in country music history. Born Kenneth Donald Rogers in 1938 in Houston, Texas, Rogers took an interest in music from a young age. He formed his first band while still in high school and after graduation, he began pursuing a career in music professionally.

In the 1960s, Rogers joined the folk group The New Christy Minstrels. He left to form The First Edition, which scored hits like “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)”. As the lead singer of The First Edition, Rogers began establishing himself as a charismatic vocalist and talented storyteller.

Rogers went solo in 1976 and soon became one of the most successful country-pop crossover acts of all time. He topped charts with songs like “Lucille”, “The Gambler”, and “Islands in the Stream” (with Dolly Parton). Throughout his career, Rogers has released over 120 hit singles and sold more than 165 million records worldwide.

Some of Rogers’ major albums include The Gambler (1978), Kenny (1979), Share Your Love (1981), We’ve Got Tonight (1983), and If Only My Heart Had a Voice (1993). He is known for narrative songs that tell compelling stories.

Rogers has won 3 Grammys, 18 American Music Awards, 8 Academy of Country Music Awards, and numerous other honors. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013. Beyond music, Rogers has also acted in several films and TV shows.

Now in his 80s, Rogers retired from touring in 2017. His decades-long career left an indelible mark on country music. With his signature raspy voice and stellar songwriting, Rogers became a true icon who inspired generations of artists. Though retired, his music continues to be enjoyed by fans old and new.

Discography

Albums

  • There You Go Again (2000)
  • Ruby Don’t Take Your Love to Town (2003)
  • They Don’t Make Them Like They Used To (1986)
  • Branson City Limits (1998-03-03)
  • Christmas Wishes from Kenny Rogers (1981)
  • Love Lifted Me (1976)
  • Endless Love (1999)
  • Heed the Call (2018)
  • Eyes That See in the Dark (1983-10)
  • Love Songs, Volume 2 (2000)
  • Christmas in America (1989)
  • Country Legends (1999)
  • Life Is Like a Song (2023-06-02)
  • We’ve Got Tonight (1983)
  • After Dark (1999)
  • The Love Of God (2022-03-25)
  • The Love of God (2011)
  • Daytime Friends (1977)
  • Back Home Again (1991)
  • Every Time Two Fools Collide (1978)
  • Vote for Love (1996)
  • Vote for Love 2 (1997)
  • I Prefer the Moonlight (1987)
  • Classic Country ()
  • Unchained Melody (1999)
  • Kenny (1979)
  • Classics (1979)
  • The Gift (1996)
  • The Long Arm of the Law / Make Me Wonder If I Ever Said Goodbye (1982-02)
  • Kenny Rogers Presents Love Songs Once Again at Christmas (2015-11-27)
  • Love or Something Like It (1978-07)
  • Kenny Rogers And The First Edition – The Ballad Of Calico (1972)
  • You Can’t Make Old Friends (2013-10-08)
  • Christmas Greetings (2000)
  • Once Again It’s Christmas (2015)
  • Faith (2012-05-28)
  • Country Gold (2005)
  • Timepiece (1994)
  • What About Me? (1984)
  • Water & Bridges (2006-03-21)
  • Love Will Turn You Around (1982)
  • Kenny Rogers (1976)
  • Back to the Well (2003-05-26)
  • The Gambler (1978)
  • Across My Heart (1997)
  • With Love, 20 Very Special Love Songs (1996)
  • She Rides Wild Horses (1999-05-11)
  • Love Songs [Madacy] ()
  • If Only My Heart Had a Voice (1993)
  • Share Your Love (1981-06-15)
  • With Love (1998-12-09)
  • Something Inside So Strong (1989-04-28)
  • Songs of Love (1998)
  • Christmas From the Heart (1998)
  • Have I Told You Lately ()
  • Christmas (1981)
  • Short Stories ()
  • The Heart of the Matter (1985)
  • Castle Masters Collection (2005)
  • Once Upon a Christmas (1984-12)
  • Classic Love Songs (1999-01-18)
  • Gideon (1980)
  • Amazing Grace (2012-10-09)
  • Love Is Strange (1990)
  • Calico Silver (2002-06-21)
  • Romance (2007)
  • Ruby Don’t Take Your Love to Town ()
  • The Gambler's Last Deal (2019-12-12)
  • She Believes in Me (2010)

Singles

  • Blaze of Glory / The Good Life (1981)
  • Sail Away / We Could Have Been the Closest of Friends (1978-11)
  • While the Feeling’s Good / I Would Like to See You Again (1976)
  • I Don’t Need You / Without You in My Life (1981)
  • Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town / Reuben James (1984)
  • Daytime Friends / Lying Again (1977)
  • Don’t Fall in Love With a Dreamer / I Can’t Make You Love Me (1991)
  • This Woman / Buried Treasure (1983)
  • Lucille / Till I Get It Right (1976)
  • Laura (What’s He Got That I Ain’t Got) / I Wasn’t Man Enough (1976)
  • Real Love / I Can’t Be True (1985)
  • Goodbye Marie / Abraham, Martin and John (1983)
  • Lay My Body Down / Crazy in Love (1990)
  • Daytime Friends / We Don’t Make Love Anymore (1977)
  • The Gambler / San Francisco Mabel Joy (1979)
  • So in Love With You / Share Your Love With Me (1981)
  • I Don’t Need You / Through the Years (1986)
  • You and I / I Will Always Love You (1983)
  • You Decorated My Life / Lady (1993)
  • Love Will Turn You Around / I Want a Son (1982)
  • You Are So Beautiful / I Remember You (1994)
  • When You Put Your Heart in It (1988)
  • Coward of the County / I Want to Make You Smile (1979-10)
  • Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town '91 (1991)
  • Love Lifted Me / Home-Made Love (1975)
  • Home‐Made Love / There’s an Old Man in Our Town (1975)
  • Through the Years (1981)
  • The Factory / One More Day (1987)
  • All My Life / Farther I Go (1983)
  • Everytime Two Fools Collide / We Love Each Other (1978)
  • What About Me? / The Rest of Last Night (1984-10)
  • Islands in the Stream / I Will Always Love You (1983)
  • Scarlet Fever / What I Learned From Loving You (1983)
  • Bed of Roses / I’ll Be There for You (1991)
  • Unchained Melody (2000)
  • Planet Texas / When You Put Your Heart in It (1988)
  • Kentucky Homemade Christmas / Carol of the Bells (1981)
  • The Vows Go Unbroken / One Night (1989)
  • I Prefer the Moonlight / We’re Doin’ Alright (1987)
  • Crazy / The Stranger (1984)
  • Tomb of the Unknown Love / Our Perfect Song (1986)
  • Evening Star / Midsummer Nights (1983)
  • Love or Something Like It / Starting Again (1978)
  • Buy Me a Rose / I Can’t Make You Love Me (2000)
  • Share Your Love With Me / Greybeard (1981)
  • Make No Mistake, She’s Mine / You’re My Love (1987)
  • Here’s That Rainy Day / Take Life in Stride (1966)
  • What I Did for Love / If I Knew Then What I Know Now (1990)
  • The Pride Is Back / Didn’t We? (1986)
  • Lady / Sweet Music Man (1980)
  • The Greatest Gift of All / White Christmas (1984)
  • Have I Told You Lately / Lady (1998)
  • Goodbye Marie / No Good Texas Rounder (1979)
  • Anyone Who Isn’t Me Tonight / You and Me (1978)
  • Christmas in America (1989)
  • Love Is What We Make It / A Stranger in My Place (1985)
  • I Believe in Santa Claus / Christmas Without You (1984)
  • Through the Years / Don’t Fall in Love With a Dreamer (1992)
  • Maybe / If I Knew Then What I Know Now (1989)
  • Lucille / The Gambler (1992)
  • All I Ever Need Is You / (Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song (1979)
  • Don’t Fall in Love With a Dreamer (1980)
  • Twenty Years Ago / The Heart of the Matter (1987)
  • I Don’t Call Him Daddy / We’re Doin’ Alright (1987)
  • This Woman / Eyes That See in the Dark (1984)
  • Eyes That See in the Dark / Buried Treasure (1983-09)
  • Christmas Without You / White Christmas (1984)
  • Ruby Don’t Take Your Love to Town / Lucille (1984)
  • Bad Enough / Farther I Go (1983)
  • This Woman / What About Me? (1984)
  • For You Alone / I’ve Got a Lot to Learn (1958)
  • You Decorated My Life / One Man’s Woman (1979-09-10)
  • Twentieth Century Fool / It Turns Me Inside Out (1985)
  • One Place in the Night / Sayin’ Goodbye (1980)
  • We’ve Got Tonight / You Are So Beautiful (1983)
  • If You Want to Find Love / Sunshine (1991)
  • She Believes in Me / Morgana Jones (1979-04-16)
  • What About Me / Heart to Heart (1984)
  • Morning Desire / People in Love (1985)
  • You Were a Good Friend / I Don’t Need You (1983)
  • Crazy / Morning Desire (1986)
  • If I Ever Fall in Love Again / Just Another Woman in Love (1989)
  • They Don’t Make Them Like They Used To / Just the Thought of Losing You (1986)
  • Write Your Name (Across My Heart) / See Me Through (1997)
  • The Gambler / Momma’s Waiting (1978)
  • Lady / Love or Something Like It (1980)
  • Sweet Music Man / Lying Again (1977-11)
  • Runaway Girl / Home-Made Love (1976)
  • That Crazy Feeling / We’ll Always Have Each Other (1958)
  • Medley: Winter Wonderland / Sleigh Ride (1984)
  • (Something Inside) So Strong / When You Put Your Heart in It (1989)
  • The Gambler / You Decorated My Life (1979)
  • Together Again / Baby I’m a Want You (1979)
  • Tie Our Love (in a Double Knot) / Real Love (1985)
  • A Love Song / The Fool in Me (1982)
  • Love the World Away (1980)
  • Someone Must Feel Like a Fool Tonight / Sunshine (1991)
  • Coward of the County / You Decorated My Life (1980)
  • Jole Blon / Lonely (1959)
  • Love Is Strange / Walk Away (1990)