Kenny Rogers Wasn't Supposed to Be "The Gambler"
It is almost impossible to imagine Kenny Rogers without “The Gambler.” The song became so closely associated with him that it seems as if it must have been written specifically for Kenny.
But it wasn't. And, believe it or not, Kenny Rogers initially tried to get Willie Nelson to record it.
The song had been written by a 23-year-old Don Schlitz, who was working as a computer operator in Nashville. Schlitz wasn't even a professional songwriter yet. He later recalled writing most of the song in his head while walking home from work on a hot August day. He eventually sat down at his typewriter and finished it—but even he wasn't sure it was any good.
In fact, Schlitz thought the song had plenty of problems. It was too long. It wasn't a love song. It wasn't particularly fast. And it didn't have a conventional ending. He later said, “Nobody would touch it.”
Eventually the song found its way to Kenny Rogers. But Kenny apparently didn't immediately think, "This is my next hit."
Instead, he played it for his friend Willie Nelson and suggested that Willie record it. Willie liked the song—but passed. He was already performing Red Headed Stranger, another lengthy story song, and apparently didn't want to take on another one.
So Kenny recorded it himself.
And here's where things get interesting.
Kenny later said he was “really lucky to have the chance to record it when I did.” He also explained that neither he nor Don Schlitz was actually much of a gambler. Kenny put it rather humorously: “I can't win enough to excite me, but I can lose enough to depress me.”
What Kenny understood was that the song wasn't really about gambling. It was about life.
Kenny once explained that his songs generally fell into two categories: “story songs that have social significance” or songs that express feelings people recognize in themselves. “The Gambler” managed to do both.
And perhaps that's why Kenny Rogers was the perfect person to record it—even if nobody knew that at the time. Don Schlitz later said in a Library of Congress blog that Kenny's voice gave the song its meaning. “You hear the meaning of the story in Kenny's voice,” Schlitz explained. “He put the wisdom in there.”
The rest, as they say, is music history.
The song Kenny almost gave away became his signature song. It won him a Grammy, inspired television movies, and gave generations of listeners some advice they could remember even if they never played a hand of poker. And every time Kenny sang those famous words, he reminded us of something rather appropriate:
Sometimes you don't know what you've got until you give it a chance.
Want to learn more? This Tuesday, Sept 29 The Rock and Roll Professor is presenting Kenny Rogers: Country Storyteller and Crossover Superstar. Click here for more details.
Have a great week. Rob
Comments