Kenny Rogers
Band: Kenny Rogers & First Edition, solo
Position: singer, songwriter, guitarist
Died: Mar. 20
Cause: natural causes
Age: 81
Distinctions: The Houston-born country crossover singer had hits with First Edition - "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Conditon Was In)" (No, 5, 1967) and "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" (No. 6, 1969) - and as a solo artist with "Lucille" (No. 5, 1977), "The Gamber" (No. 16, 1987), "She Believes in Me" (No. 5, 1979), "Lady" (No. 1, 1980), "We've Got Tonight" (No. 6, 1983, with Sheena Easton) and "Islands in the Stream" (No. 1, 1983; both "Lucille" and "The Gambler" received Grammy Awards (he was nominated 19 times); Kenny Rogers released 36 studio albums; he also started the chicken chain Kenny Rogers Roasters; died from natural causes; was 81.
• Wallace Roney - Mar. 31; jazz trumpter from Philadelphia released 21 albums from 1987-2019; won a Grammy for A Tribute to Miles in 1994; had COVID-19; was 59.
• Annie Ross (nee Annabel Short) - July 21; British member of the jazz vocal group Lambert, Hendrick & Ross; was best known for adding wortd to Wardell Gray's "Twisted" (watch below), which appeared on their 1960 self-titled album; suffered from emphysema and heart disease; was 89.
