Kenny Rogers: "loved you then, and I love you now"

  Kenny has been called a music icon.  He certainly had his share of musical accomplishments in the course of his career.  He's the kind of person George Jones was thinking about when he asked "Who's gonna fill their shoes"?  

  The reference I made in this post's title is to the song "Reuben James".  It's a great song, written in the 1960's by two white guys (Barry Etrtis, Alex Harvey), and popularized by another white guy, Kenny Rogers.  It's about a black man who was blamed for everything, but when a white woman died giving birth, he raised the white child.

  The song was very popular, even though it was released in 1969 - a time of racial tensions here in America.  Just one year before, Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot had his song "Black Day in July" banned in 30 states because it was deemed too disturbing.   The song had been released on Lightfoot's 1968 album "Did She Mention My Name?", and dealt with the 1967 Detroit riots.

   In spite of racial problems, many, many people - black, white, and whatever - bought copies of "Reuben James" or the album.   (it went to #46 on the charts).  I like to believe these people were saluting a man who did what was right, no matter what.  Gestures like this, too many times, tend to be forgotten.

So long, Kenny.  Loved you then, and I love you, and your music, now.