A renowned singer, song writer, actor, producer, businessman and photographer with the accolade of having charted more than 70 hit singles and the holder of the title of having two of the most influential albums ever.

Kenny Rogers was born Kenneth Donald Rogers on August 21^st 1938 in Houston, Texas, the fourth of eight children born to Floyd Rogers, a carpenter in a shipyard, and his wife Lucille, a nurse.

After becoming the first member of his family to graduate, he left Jefferson Davis High School and began his musical career. By the mid 1950’s Kenny was singing with The Scholars, although he was not their lead singer they still gained some success with one single. ‘Poor Little Doggie’.

When the band split, Kenny went solo and in 1958 he scored a minor hit with ‘The Crazy Feeling’ before joining a new jazz based band, The Bobby Doyle Trio. After they once again disbanded Kenny went on to join the New Christy Minstrels, a band that included Gene Clark, later of The Byrds and Larry Ramos of ‘The Association’.

In 1967, together with some ex-members of, The Bobby Doyle Trio, Kenny went on to form The First Edition with whom he scored many of his best known hits, ‘Ruby Don’t Take Your Love to Town’, Reuben James’ and Just Dropped In’.

After nearly a decade with The First Edition, Kenny signed a solo deal with United Artists and it was while with that label that he achieved possibly his biggest hit, ‘Lucille’ in 1977. The single went to number one in 12 countries around the world.

In the late 1970’s Kenny released several albums with his close friend, country singer Dottie West. Rogers and West had several hits together until the pair were involved in a car crash that ultimately claimed Dottie’s life. In a biopic movie, Kenny starred with Michele Lee in the ‘Dottie West Story’, ‘Big Dreams and Broken Hearts’.

Teaming up with another massive 1980’s singing star, Lionel Richie, saw Kenny achieving a number one hit with ‘Lady’ and releasing two albums, ‘Share Your Love’ and I Don’t Need You’.

Once again, teaming up with the right people at the right time, Kenny began recording and producing with the Bee Gees who helped him have his number one hit, ‘Islands in the Stream’ on which he duetted with Dolly Parton.

By the 1980’s Kenny had once again duetted with the Scottish lass, Sheena Easton to record the hit, ‘We’ve Got Tonight’ which had previously been recorded by Bob Seger.

Lending his voice to charity, Kenny was one of the 45 artists who recorded ‘We Are the World’ in an effort to raise funds for Africa. The song written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson featured Billy Joel, Diana Ross, La Toya Jackson, Ray Charles and Willie Nelson.

Along with is successful singing career Kenny has also had success as an actor appearing in the 1982 comedy movie ‘Six Pack’ with Diane Lane and Anthony Michael Hall and in the made for TV movie ‘Coward of the County’.

Kenny’s other passion in life is photography and it was in that capacity that he was invited to The White House in 1993 to create a portrait of First Lady Hillary Clinton for a CBS television special. He is also the author of two successful photography books, ‘Kenny Rogers’ America’ and ‘Kenny Rogers, Your Friends are My Friends’ a collection of celebrity photographs.

2007 saw Kenny being nominated for a Grammy Award at the 2006 Grammy Awards and the 1977 "Kenny Rogers" album was re-issued as a double play CD.

Kenny has been married five times and is currently married to Wanda, a twin, with whom he had identical twin boys, Justin and Jordan, born in 2004.

ABB