Kenny Rogers

=== Early career ===
In a recording career dating back to the 1950s, Rogers moved from teenage rock and roll through psychedelic rock to become a country-pop crossover artist of the 1970s and 1980s. He had a minor solo hit in 1957 called "That Crazy Feeling".<ref name="DeYoung" /><ref name=journal>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news-journal.com/news/2017/apr/01/kenny-rogers-to-join-texas-country-music-hall-of-f/ |title=After six decades, Kenny Rogers knows it's time to fold 'em|website=News-journal.com |date=April 6, 2017 |access-date=April 7, 2017 |author=Tunis, Walter}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube | id=kuApd7nQ65s | title=Kenny Rogers – That Crazy Feeling (1957)}}</ref> After sales slowed down, Rogers joined a [[jazz]] group called [[Bobby Doyle (jazz vocalist)|the Bobby Doyle Three]], who were frequently hired by clubs due to their fan following. The group recorded for [[Columbia Records]]. They disbanded in 1965, and a 1966 jazzy rock single Rogers recorded for [[Mercury Records]], called "[[Here's That Rainy Day]]", failed. Rogers also worked as a producer, writer and session musician for other performers, including country artists [[Mickey Gilley]] and [[Eddy Arnold]]. In 1966, he joined [[the New Christy Minstrels]] as a singer and double bass player.<ref name="DeYoung" />

Feeling that the Minstrels were not offering the success they wanted, Rogers and fellow members Mike Settle, Terry Williams, and Thelma Camacho left the group.<ref name="DeYoung" /> They formed [[Kenny Rogers and The First Edition|the First Edition]] in 1967 (later renamed "Kenny Rogers and the First Edition"). They were later joined by Kin Vassy. They chalked up a string of hits on both the pop and country charts, including "[[Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)]]" (Rogers doing lead vocals and bass—and famously used in the dream sequence of the [[Coen brothers]]' ''[[The Big Lebowski]]''),<ref name="DeYoung" /> "[[But You Know I Love You]]", "[[Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town]]", "Tell It All, Brother", "Reuben James", and "[[Something's Burning (song)|Something's Burning]]".<ref name="DeYoung" /><ref name=journal />

When the First Edition disbanded in 1976, Rogers launched his solo career.<ref name="DeYoung" /><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Gordon |first1=Dave |title=Kenny Rogers prepares to hang up his microphone |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39784924 |access-date=March 21, 2020 |work=BBC News |date=May 8, 2017}}</ref> He soon developed a more middle-of-the-road sound that sold to both pop and country audiences. He charted more than 60 top 40 hit singles (including two number ones—"Lady" and "Islands in the Stream"). His music has been featured in top-selling movie soundtracks, such as ''[[Convoy (1978 film)|Convoy]]'', ''[[Urban Cowboy]]'', and ''[[The Big Lebowski]]''.<ref name="Big Lebowski soundtrack">{{Cite web|title=The Big Lebowski: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack|url=https://www.amazon.com/The-Big-Lebowski-Original-Soundtrack/dp/B000001EYO|website=Amazon.com|date=February 13, 1998 |access-date=May 9, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Urban Cowboy Soundtrack">{{Cite web|title=Urban Cowboy: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack|url=https://www.amazon.com/Urban-Cowboy-Original-Picture-Soundtrack/dp/B000002H4B/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1336598742&sr=1-1|website=Amazon.com| date=February 13, 1995 |access-date=May 9, 2012}}</ref>