The entertainment world is in mourning today with the passing of Kenny Rogers. The Houston, Texas native -- who carved out a successful pop/rock career with backing band the First Edition in the late 1960s, before segueing into a leading role as a massively popular country solo star -- passed away from natural causes on Friday night (Mar.
20) at the age of 81, a statement from his PR confirms. The fourth of eight children to Edward Floyd and Lucille Lois Rogers (born August 21, 1938), the future superstar grew up in the projects of Houston.
One of his favorite ways to escape reality was music. Eddy Arnold was one of his early favorites, but just before he became a teenager, he caught a live performance of Ray Charles.