By Jan Galletta
Staff Writer
Kenny Rogers opened McKenzie Arena (then called the Roundhouse) in 1982 and last played in Chattanooga just two years ago but will likely draw a larger crowd tonight when the headliner takes the Coca-Cola Stage at 9:30 p.m.
This time, he’ll be sporting a shorter beard, a spikier hairstyle and fewer wrinkles, thanks to a much-publicized gig with a plastic surgeon last year. Now 68, he will come as a new father of twins with his fifth wife, Wanda Miller, 39.
“The Gambler,” as the genre-jumping performer has been pegged during his four-decade career, returns on a roll.
Earlier this year, the enduring Texas troubadour released his 56th album, “Water and Bridges,” which notched No. 5 on the Top 40 chart. In April, he sang its megahit, “I Can’t Unlove You,” to some 40 million “American Idol” viewers.
Riverbend bookers were lucky to land Mr. Rogers “on the heels of his new album’s huge success,” according to Bob Bernhardt, conductor of the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera.
“He’s been doing a lot of symphony shows. He has wonderful arrangements. It’s a charming, funny, engaging and entertaining show,” he said.
“I think that people who aren’t longtime Kenny Rogers fans will be surprised at how many songs they will know. It’s stunning how many hits he has had, and he’s still sounding terrific.”
Mr. Bernhardt said he won’t be wielding the conductor’s baton when some 50 members of the CSO’s strings and brass join the show tonight.
“It’s just him (Mr. Rogers) and his group, backed up by the CSO,” Bernhardt said. “It was the same with Randy Newman and Michael McDonald when they appeared.”
Then as now, Mr. Rogers’ musical entourage and the CSO will have had a single rehearsal of some two and a half hours, according to Mr. Bernhardt. He said, “Most people are shocked by the limited amount of rehearsal time.
“But we come as professionals, prepared to play to the largest crowd that we’ll probably play to this year.”
For 14 years, Warren Hartman, 59, has served as Mr. Rogers’ conductor and said he planned to do so at Riverbend.
“The show will have all his old hits and selections from his new album,” he said. “It will be 75 to 80 minutes long.”
The Kenny Rogers resume includes three Grammy awards, five Country Music Association awards, eight Academy of Country Music Awards, 11 People’s Choice Awards and 18 American Music Awards, among other plaudits.
But another kind of Kenny Rogers hits —; as in visitors to www.menwholooklikekennyrogers.com —; also are prolific.
Jaimie Muehlhausen of Carlsbad, Calif., maintains the Web site with photos of men who resemble Kenny Rogers and tips for those who want to copy the singer’s signature look. He said the site typically draws around 2,000 visitors a day.
Currently the creative director and brand manager for skateboarder Tony Hawk Inc., Mr. Muehlhausen said he started the Kenny Rogers look-alike site some five years ago for the amusement of a few friends, who soon spread the word.
“I’ve had many thousands of photos submitted to the site, and we currently have around 900 Kennys on it,” he said.
“Some submissions come with a note saying, ‘My husband looks JUST LIKE Kenny Rogers,’” he said. “Then you check out the photo, and it’s a guy with brown hair and a mustache. Weird.”
E-mail Jan Galletta at jgalletta@timesfreepress.com
Staff Writer
Kenny Rogers opened McKenzie Arena (then called the Roundhouse) in 1982 and last played in Chattanooga just two years ago but will likely draw a larger crowd tonight when the headliner takes the Coca-Cola Stage at 9:30 p.m.
This time, he’ll be sporting a shorter beard, a spikier hairstyle and fewer wrinkles, thanks to a much-publicized gig with a plastic surgeon last year. Now 68, he will come as a new father of twins with his fifth wife, Wanda Miller, 39.
“The Gambler,” as the genre-jumping performer has been pegged during his four-decade career, returns on a roll.
Earlier this year, the enduring Texas troubadour released his 56th album, “Water and Bridges,” which notched No. 5 on the Top 40 chart. In April, he sang its megahit, “I Can’t Unlove You,” to some 40 million “American Idol” viewers.
Riverbend bookers were lucky to land Mr. Rogers “on the heels of his new album’s huge success,” according to Bob Bernhardt, conductor of the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera.
“He’s been doing a lot of symphony shows. He has wonderful arrangements. It’s a charming, funny, engaging and entertaining show,” he said.
“I think that people who aren’t longtime Kenny Rogers fans will be surprised at how many songs they will know. It’s stunning how many hits he has had, and he’s still sounding terrific.”
Mr. Bernhardt said he won’t be wielding the conductor’s baton when some 50 members of the CSO’s strings and brass join the show tonight.
“It’s just him (Mr. Rogers) and his group, backed up by the CSO,” Bernhardt said. “It was the same with Randy Newman and Michael McDonald when they appeared.”
Then as now, Mr. Rogers’ musical entourage and the CSO will have had a single rehearsal of some two and a half hours, according to Mr. Bernhardt. He said, “Most people are shocked by the limited amount of rehearsal time.
“But we come as professionals, prepared to play to the largest crowd that we’ll probably play to this year.”
For 14 years, Warren Hartman, 59, has served as Mr. Rogers’ conductor and said he planned to do so at Riverbend.
“The show will have all his old hits and selections from his new album,” he said. “It will be 75 to 80 minutes long.”
The Kenny Rogers resume includes three Grammy awards, five Country Music Association awards, eight Academy of Country Music Awards, 11 People’s Choice Awards and 18 American Music Awards, among other plaudits.
But another kind of Kenny Rogers hits —; as in visitors to www.menwholooklikekennyrogers.com —; also are prolific.
Jaimie Muehlhausen of Carlsbad, Calif., maintains the Web site with photos of men who resemble Kenny Rogers and tips for those who want to copy the singer’s signature look. He said the site typically draws around 2,000 visitors a day.
Currently the creative director and brand manager for skateboarder Tony Hawk Inc., Mr. Muehlhausen said he started the Kenny Rogers look-alike site some five years ago for the amusement of a few friends, who soon spread the word.
“I’ve had many thousands of photos submitted to the site, and we currently have around 900 Kennys on it,” he said.
“Some submissions come with a note saying, ‘My husband looks JUST LIKE Kenny Rogers,’” he said. “Then you check out the photo, and it’s a guy with brown hair and a mustache. Weird.”
E-mail Jan Galletta at jgalletta@timesfreepress.com
