Here is the biography of Kenny Rogers:
Born in Houston, Texas on August 21, 1938, Kenny Rogers was the fourth of eight children born to a carpenter father and a mother who was a hospital nurse's assistant. He grew up in a poorer section of Houston and became the first member of his family to graduate from high school.
As a teenager, Kenny joined a doo-wop recording group called "The Scholars" and later recorded his first solo song, "That Crazy Feeling," for a small Houston label. He then joined the "New Christy Minstrels" as a singer and double bass/bass guitar player before forming the rock group "The First Edition" with others from the group in 1967.
The First Edition enjoyed worldwide success, appearing on popular TV shows and hosting their own variety series. However, the pressures of taping a weekly show caused friction within the group, and they disbanded in 1976. Kenny went on to have a successful solo career, chalking up a string of country-tinged 'Top 20' pop hits and selling over $100 million worth of records.
In the 1980s, Kenny branched off into acting, starring in several TV-movies and westerns. He also tried his hand at film, starring in the movie "Six Pack" in 1982. However, he returned to TV-movies and eventually appeared as himself in two TV country-flavored biopics.
In addition to his music and acting career, Kenny also became a successful entrepreneur, publishing several books on photography and opening a rotisserie-chicken fast-food franchise. He also produced the 1999 album "She Rides Wild Horses," which peaked at #6 on the country charts.
Kenny spent much of his free time breeding Arabian horses and cattle on his 1,200-acre Georgia farm and had five children with his fifth wife, Wanda Miller. He made one last concert tour, "The Gambler's Last Deal," in 2015 before retiring due to health issues. He passed away on March 20, 2020, at the age of 81.
