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Kenny Rogers: Cards on the Table

Documentary chronicling Kenny Rogers's remarkable rise to the top of his game and the golden era of country music he ushered in, featuring interviews and performance footage.

Examining the life and career of the artist who 'knows when to hold 'em and knows when to fold 'em', this documentary chronicles Kenny Rogers's remarkable rise to the top of his game and the golden era of country music he ushered in.

With an exclusive, candid interview from Rogers himself and performance footage gathered on his recent Through the Years tour, this honest and eye-opening film provides a backstage pass to a remarkable 50-year career of performing and recording.

Associates and luminaries provide personal insight into how the poor, music-obsessed boy from Houston, Texas went on to become a superstar with over 120 million albums sold worldwide. Singer, songwriter and producer Kim Carnes recalls how the New Christy Minstrels folk group - of which she and Kenny were members in the late 1960s - was like a 'school on the road' that provided them both with a springboard from which to explore other musical ambitions. Actor and musician Mickey Jones recounts his time with Kenny in the band The First Edition, whose hit single Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) made Kenny an unlikely poster boy for the psychedelic generation. Longtime friend Lionel Richie reveals how a trip to the bathroom played a crucial role in the recording session for Lady, one of Kenny's biggest hits.

Away from music, the programme reveals how Kenny's drive and ambition - what he describes as his 'impulsive-obsessive' nature - led to success in other fields: according to the renowned photographer John Sexton, the country music legend was determined to master the art of photography (Kenny was recently awarded an honorary Master of Photography degree by the Professional Photographers Association).

For over half a century, Kenny has kept us entertained with some of the best-known and best-loved music ever recorded. With a career spanning everything from jazz to folk, 60s psychedelia to R&B, perhaps his real legacy lies in the fact that he introduced a trailblazing pop sensibility to country music.

1 hour

Last on

Fri 18 Nov 2022 23:40
±«Óãtv Four

Clip

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:01

    Kenny Rogers & The First Edition

    Lucille

  • 00:02

    Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton

    Islands In The Stream

  • 00:03

    The Johnson Family Singers

    Precious Memories

  • 00:04

    The Carter Family

    The Church in the Wildwood

  • 00:05

    Ray Charles

    What IÂ’d Say

  • 00:06

    The Scholars

    Beloved

  • 00:07

    Kenny Rogers

    IÂ’ve Got a Lot to Learn

  • 00:07

    Kenny Rogers

    That Crazy Feeling

  • 00:07

    The Bobby Doyle Three

    It's a Most Unusual Day

  • 00:08

    The Bobby Doyle Three

    My Mammy

  • 00:09

    The Bobby Doyle Three

    DonÂ’t Feel Rained On

  • 00:09

    The New Christy Minstrels

    I Know Where IÂ’m Going

  • 00:10

    The New Christy Minstrels

    Green Green

  • 00:10

    The New Christy Minstrels

    This Land is Your Land

  • 00:11

    Kenny Rogers & The First Edition

    I Found a Reason

  • 00:11

    Kenny Rogers & The First Edition

    I Got a Funny Feeling

  • 00:13

    Kenny Rogers & The First Edition

    Just Dropped in (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)

  • 00:15

    Kenny Rogers & The First Edition

    Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town

  • 00:17

    Kenny Rogers & The First Edition

    SomethingÂ’s Burning

  • 00:21

    Johnny Cash

    A Thing Called Love

  • 00:22

    Kenny Rogers

    Love Lifted Me

  • 00:23

    Kenny Rogers

    Lucille

  • 00:27

    Kenny Rogers

    Till I Get it Right

  • 00:28

    Kenny Rogers

    The Gambler

  • 00:32

    Kenny Rogers

    Coward of the County

  • 00:32

    Kenny Rogers

    No Good Texas Rounder

  • 00:33

    Kenny Rogers & Kim Carnes

    DonÂ’t Fall in love with a Dreamer

  • 00:36

    Commodores

    Sail On

  • 00:37

    Kenny Rogers

    Lady

  • 00:42

    Kenny Rogers & Sheena Easton

    WeÂ’ve Got Tonight

  • 00:44

    Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton

    Islands In The Stream

  • 00:47

    USA for Africa

    We Are the World

  • 00:48

    Kenny Rogers

    The Pride is Back

  • 00:50

    Kenny Rogers

    ‘²Ñ±ð°ù¾±³¦²¹

  • 00:52

    Kenny Rogers

    Daytime Friends

  • 00:54

    Kenny Rogers

    Coward of the County

  • 00:55

    Kenny Rogers

    Lucille

  • 00:56

    Kenny Rogers

    Sweet Music Man

  • 00:57

    Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton

    Islands In The Stream

Credits

Narrator Nemone Metaxas
Producer Ryan Minchin
Director Ryan Minchin
Executive Producer Steve Freer
Executive Producer Paul Bullock

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