I had the opportunity to meet another member of Pop Music Royalty and History at Book People. My Midwestern memories wouldn’t have been the same without this man. The days involving our numerous drives between Springfield, IL and Champaign-Urbana, IL in preparation for moving were peppered with numerous listenings of “The Gambler.” Dad was a huge WMAQ-AM fan during its Country period. Kenny had many crossover hits too.
So Kenny was in Austin to promote his first novel What Are the Chances, not an autobiography. What’s it about? I have no strong idea yet but I will read it. I did take some time skim through the beginning. Chances appear to be set in the mid Seventies, there’s a mention of Gilley’s and poker. My friend Pablo said he heard it was going to be a sequel to the many fictions based around Kenny’s song character. Neat.
Kenny was in great spirits and really awesome to meet in person. I let him know how his music was a part of my childhood. He answered, “Is that good?” I laughed, of course, they were unforgettable times (in the car traveling with my parents). Too bad it took me at least a decade to realize I would miss those days. I also let him know my doctor saw him perform in 1969 at a festival in Louisville with his original backing band the First Edition (I said the Rotary Club). Kenny lit up there, said he and his new band do a new edition of “Ruby.” I immediately got a solid, greatest hits collection from Waterloo Records. This will help me get the ear worms of his duet with Sheena Easton out of my head!
Thanks Mr. Rogers for all the cool stuff you’ve done! The Muppet Show; crossover duets with Dolly Parton, Sheena, Kim Carnes, the Commodores, Alison Krauss and Ronnie Milsap; made-for-TV movies and having such a smooth, distinctive voice. His hit “Coward of the County” created a funny anecdote I wish I remembered to tell him. One night as the song was playing, my brother asked Dad what the bullies did to the character’s wife Becky. I noticed the hurried discomfort in Dad’s voice, “Uhh, they beat her up really bad Brian.”