In My Song You’ll Live Again

Category: News/Obituary

Country Music Hall of Fame member Kenny Rogers has died.  

The legendary performer passed away yesterday (3/20) at his home in Georgia, surrounded by family.  He was rumored to have been suffering from cancer (although he had denied that) and died, per reports, “of natural causes under hospice care.” 

Kenny Rogers’ career was interesting, to say the least.  In the 60s he rose to prominence as the bass player and lead singer of a rock band by the name of The First Edition.  What was peculiar about this: they scored country hits with the Mel Tillis-penned “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town” and the Barry Etris/Alex Harvey composition “Reuben James.” 

During that time Rogers served as “executive producer,” per the album credits, for the first and only album by a Texas band called Shiloh.  The members of the band included future MCA Nashville president Jim Ed Norman and future Eagles drummer/singer Don Henley.

In the 70s Rogers’ solo career took off with “story songs” like “Lucille” and “The Gambler.”  He also went into acting, dong movies based on the latter song.

Rogers retired from performing in 2018, citing health reasons.  Tabloid papers reported Rogers was dying from bladder cancer last year, which Rogers took to social media to refute. 

Most people will be remembering the death of the titular character in “The Gambler” to remember Rogers, but I chose the opening line of his 1970 First Edition hit “Reuben James”:  “In my song you’ll live again.” 

Kenny Rogers was 81.