Kenny Rogers: A Tribute From Henri Gann (The Trekkers)

Life has a way of simplifying things. Just when we were mesmerized by the news day after day with the spread of the Corona virus and states and countries lockdown to prevent the pandemic, stock market crashes that robbed us of our paper wealth, our thoughts are halted by the news of Kenny Rogers death last night.

I have never been a fan of Kenny but when I went through his list of hits, I find myself listening to music that was once my favorite. Just listen to 'Ruby Don't Take Your Love to Town' (1969) which to this day still rhymes in my head when I think of Kenny. How about 'Islands in the Stream' (1983) with Dolly Parton. I remember hearing from others or even finding myself singing to the high pitch portion of the tune. 

And in my quiet moments sitting in an airport lounge or restaurants or driving my car through the busy traffic of the LA Freeway, I would find myself humming to the tune of 'Lucille' (1977), 'We've Got Tonight' (1983) with Sheena Easton, a song which best described as will bring tears in your eyes and likewise with 'Through the Years'(1981) and 'Don't Fall in Love' with a 'Dreamer' (1980) with Kim Carnes.

Kenny had his hit with Sheena when she was at her peak career, an unusual combination for two rock stars at that time. Dolly in 'Today' (2017) said Kenny was always like a brother to her. Kim Carnes multi Grammy journey and famous for her hit 'Bette Davis Eyes' took her duets further by doing a duet  with Kenny Rogers after a successful hit of 'Make No Mistake He's Mine' with Barbara Streisand.

Here's his family farewell release on Kenny Rogers who passed away at the age of 81 late Friday, March 20, 2020.

"Rogers passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family..

The family said they were planning a small private service out of concern for the national COVID-19 emergency."

His songs have endeared music lovers and touched the lives of millions around the world," said the statement posted by his representative Keith Hagan.

A three-time Grammy winner who sold tens of millions of records

He went on to have 24 number one hits and was a six-time Country Music Association Awards winner.

AFP News March 21, 2020.

In 2013 Rogers was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

RIP KENNY ROGERS & CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY AND LOVED ONES.

This tribute was written by Henri Gann (L.A. California).


Watching him live by Joey Koh.
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2016/08/kampong-boy-meets-kenny-rogers-sheena.html

Kampong Boy Meets Kenny Rogers Sheena Easton

Kenny Rogers has passed away on March 20th, 2020 in Los Angeles at the age of 81 years. RIP KENNY ROGERS and condolences to his family.

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Headlined:

"This  bonnie lassie breezed on the international scene with her success of Morning Train (Nine To Five) in 1981 and became one of the most popular female stars in music. 

Sheena Easton then joined up with Kenny Rogers in 1983 for a cover of Bob Seger’s We’ve Got Tonight. It became a Top Ten Hit in the US and earned her a number one single on the Country Chart. It also reached the Top Thirty Chart in the UK.

She was so hot at the time, and so gracious. She sang it so beautifully."

Watching Them LIVE in Canada:

Good friend Joey Koh, who was studying in Canada at that time, attended this particular performance with Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton while the couple were touring the country. He could not remember whether it was in Winnipeg or Toronto but vaguely recalled the year as 1983.

"It was so long ago but I need to find the pictures I took of him with my Yashica camera. I was lucky to be in the front row and took a few close-up shots of him, especially one when he bent towards the camera lens to pick a bouquet of flowers from a member of the audience who was sitting next to me."

Joey is a good friend and we studied at the same university in Manitoba, Canada. He mentioned that he wanted to buy tickets to see the recent Singapore show so he could get Rogers to autograph the photo he took and developed, "On Kodak paper in 1983." 

His favourite Kenny Rogers songs are: Lady, Island in the Stream, She Believes In Me, We've Got Tonight, The Gambler and Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer.

                       In Greensboro North Carolina by Videoenhancer

"The song, She Believes In Me speaks to my soul. It is like a journey searching to find my lady love who would really believe in me," said Joey. 

"I  thought I went with my friend whom I am still in touch with but it wasn't so. Now I can't recollect if the show was in Winnipeg or Toronto," he added.

Kampung Boy:

"I enjoyed the show very much and it was an unforgettable experience! His image of picking up the flowers in front of me, as I was looking through the camera lens, still stays vividly in my mind."

"You see Andy, it was my first LIVE concert and I don't know many popular singers then. I was a kampung boy living in a traditional family; we only tuned to the Chinese pop songs at home or on the road while listening to the car radio."

When asked what he thought of the show, he replied, "Rogers and Easton delivered as all top stars would. It was a long time ago when Kenny Rogers was 44 years old and I was still young at 18 years living in kampung Tampines. 1981 was the year I travelled out of Singapore to go to Canada to do my studies."

But today Joey deals with international land purchases :-). And that's something.

Thank you Joey for keeping in touch, 30 years to be exact.

Images: A private collection.

Video:    From You Tube

       The Kenny Rogers Kodak film negative Joey found but couldn't develop.