Kenny Rogers was an American singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, and entrepreneur. He was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013. Though he was most successful with country audiences, Rogers charted more than 120 hit singles across various music genres, topped the country and pop album charts for more than 200 individual weeks in the United States alone, and sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. In what is almost an entirely separate career, it could be said that no Christmas playlist would be complete with out at least a couple dozen songs from Kenny Rogers. Having released a total of 9 Holiday albums and numerous original tracks. Selling an incredible 5 million albums.
In a 2015 interview with Rachel Martin from NPR, she asked him how he became the 'Christmas Guy" Mr. Rogers responded by saying "I've never been overtly religious, but I've always been deeply spiritual and Christmas gives me a chance to feel all of the things that I really feel." I believe that's true for a lot of us, Christmas is that one time of year where we are given a chance to take part in traditions of yesteryear. To come together putting hard feelings and disputes aside for the sake a joy and family. This sentiment is expanded on his first Christmas album in the song "Kentucky Homemade Christmas"
"It's just another homemade Christmas in Kentucky Just odds and ends I fashioned with my heart and with my hands It's just another homemade Christmas in Kentucky Our fine and fancy homemade love, God's precious gift from up above Make up the homemade Christmas of this poor Kentucky man."
He also made his feelings about Christmas clear in another song on the same album where he states
"We don't need lights we don't need snow If we got the faith we got the hope And though the year we don't have to wait Cause it's Christmas everyday"
It's one thing to say this but to an extent Kenny Rogers also lived this.
* Since 1977 Rogers has been a leading donor to the Kenny Rogers United Cerebral Palsy Center [officially re-named The Kenny Rogers Center in 2000] a State-of-the-art Children's center focused on bettering the life and health of those born with special needs, the center is located in Sikeston Mo. Rogers continued to do benefit shows through out the decades with proceeds going back to the center, totaling over half a million dollars.
*Rogers is credited as a co-founder of the Harry Chaplin Foundation, a foundation working make the world a better place by providing funds to Arts-in-education, Community education and Agricultural and Environmental programs in the United States.
Comentarios