Age catches up with iconic Kenny Rogers
WITH his snow white beard, Kenny Rogers was the alpha male of US country music in the 1980s. Hits like We ’ ve Got Tonight put him in a league of his own..
On Tuesday night, however, Rogers was a shadow of a man he used to be. He looked frail, was limping and struggled to use his left leg, owing to a knee replacement surgery. Mercifully to his fans, the old crooner ’ s trademark hoarse voice remains untouched by old age.
Rogers gave a good show at a sold out Carnival City in Brakpan. He was in great spirits, cracking a few jokes as he poked fun at both the crowd and fellow musicians.
Mick Jagger and long time collaborator Dolly Parton, with whom he hit the 1980s high with mega hit
Islands in the Stream, were on the receiving end of Rogers ’ jokes. He jokingly dismissed the crowd ’ s attempt to sing along to one of his songs.
“People in Morocco sing better than ya ’ ll. And they don ’ t even speak English there,” he said. A man, seated in the front row, who identified himself as Jim, was spoiled by Rogers after he said he was a fan.
Rogers tossed $10 notes at him and at the end of the show, gave him a signed T-shirt.
Rogers took the crowd through his life as not only a musician but also as a family man, with photos of his twin sons Justin and Jordan beamed on the screen. He then spoke about his many friends in the music business.
“Dolly Parton is a special lady. One day we were recording a song and when it was her turn to record, she didn ’ t. She then came over, put her arms around me and said ‘ Kenny, I don ’ t think I would ever be able to perform at your funeral ’ and I said ‘ ok, we are assuming that I ’ m going first then!,” he laughed.
Rogers then took a jab at both Jagger and Willie Nelson. “One day I woke up and I was old, but Mick Jagger has got to be 103.
“My good friend Willie Nelson has got a black belt in karate and the only way I can ever make sense of that is that I didn ’ t do enough drugs in the 60s.”
Rogers sang his career-making hits including Buy Me A Rose.
Fan Maria Bolus from Johannesburg was happy with Rogers ’ performance but was “heartbroken ” to see him limping.