Throwback Thursday – Kenny Rogers The Gambler [VIDEO]

Kenny Rogers was honored this month at the CMA Awards with the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. So it seems fitting that we go back to the early years for Throwback Thursday and share the original video for Rogers' hit 'The Gambler' from 1978.

The title cut from Kenny's album, 'The Gambler,' it earned him a Grammy award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance in 1980. Bobby Bare had recorded the song earlier that same year. It was also previously recorded by writer Don Schlitz, when it went to number 65 on the charts. Rogers' version, however, went to number one on the country chart, and to number sixteen on the pop charts.

I've always equated the lyrics to this song with Rogers himself. The lyrics talk about knowing when it's time to walk away and when it's time to run. Kenny Rogers has never run away from music, but he's walked away a few times to work on updating his image. In my opinion, no artist has reinvented himself as successfully as Kenny Rogers. Starting out in the The New Christy Minstrels, to wearing an earring and pink sunglasses in the First Edition, to today's goatee-wearing icon, Kenny has stayed in the spotlight since the 1950's.

But for me, Kenny's voice always brings to mind this video. And also waking up on weekend mornings to the album my Mom used to play on our living room stereo. I love Kenny  Rogers!