His ballads say “what every man wants to say and what every woman wants to hear.’’
Kenny Rogers, a three-time Grammy Award winner and six-time Country Music Awards winner sang his way into the hearts of millions by telling the story of Lucille and two men caught in the labyrinths of love. His signature song 'The Gambler' is full of life lessons and wisdom. One should know what to throw away and what to keep, he sang in his husky voice.
“You've got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run
You never count your money
When you're sittin' at the table,’’ says the gambler the narrator met up with on a train bound for nowhere. The song changed lives.
His passing has definitely left a huge empty space in the world of music, said Ricky Kej, a Grammy award winner based in Bengaluru in an interview to THE WEEK. “His music is still very popular and his lyrics always tell a great story in a signature 'tell it like it is' coolness'. That's what I liked best,’’ he said.
Ricky’s favourites include 'The Gambler', 'Coward of the county' and 'Lady'. “His collaborations with Dolly Parton, the Gibb brothers of the Bee Gees and Lionel Richie speak volumes of the degree of respect he had in the music industry,’’ Kej recalled.
Neecia Majolly, an acclaimed pianist and founder trustee of the Majolly Music Trust, confesses she is not a great fan of country music. However she couldn’t help falling in love with Rogers' songs. “He had a soulful voice and a lovely personality, and my family and I enjoyed listening to him quite a bit. He also did wonderful duets with Dolly Parton. Their voices used to blend so beautifully,’’ recalled Majolly.
Rogers life story was as inspiring as his songs. “He didn't follow the crowd nor bowed down before the structures of domination,’’ observes Prof. Jerrin Chandan, an award winning short filmmaker and teacher at St Joseph’s Evening College, Bengaluru. “People like him walk the roads less traveled by and by doing thus challenge people to do so,’’ adds Chandan.
Chandan's favourite Rogers song is 'The Coward of the County'.
“Everyone considered him the coward of the county…….
Something always told me they were reading Tommy wrong,’’ Chandan keeps humming those lines while driving.
27-year-old Eddy Valentine, a freelance photographer and country music aficionado based in Bengaluru, is yet to come to terms with the death of his favourite singer. “Rogers has left a legacy to every artist and has showed them how to do it right..He told us stories through his songs.’’
Valentine says he will love Rogers forever for telling him that you can’t always win and that you must know when to walk away.
It was a life well spent Rogers. Sleep well!
