Event Details

JULIEN'S AUCTIONS IS PROUD TO PRESENT "PROPERTY FROM THE ESTATE OF KENNY ROGERS" A THREE-DAY AUCTION TAKING PLACE IN BEVERLY HILLS AND LIVE ONLINE AT JULIEN'S LIVE ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21ST THROUGH SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23RD, 2022

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Julien’s Auctions, the auction house to the stars, proudly presents “PROPERTY FROM THE ESTATE OF KENNY ROGERS”, an exclusive presentation honoring the legendary Grammy award winning singer, songwriter, and actor and one of the best-selling musical artists of all time who sold more than 120 million records worldwide. The historic event will be taking place live in a three-day auction event Friday, October 21st, Saturday, October 22nd and Sunday, October 23rd at Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills and online on JULIEN'S LIVE. A portion of the proceeds of the auction will benefit Music Health Alliance, whose mission is to Heal the Music by providing access to healthcare through services that protect, direct and connect music professionals with medical and financial situations.

A spectacular collection of over 1,200 lots featuring the Country and Pop Music icon’s awards, wardrobe, equipment and memorabilia from his iconic recordings, live performances and films, as well as furnishings, artwork, jewelry, household and personal items from his beloved homes in Sandy Springs, Georgia and Nashville, Tennessee will take the auction stage.

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Born August 21, 1938 in Houston, Texas in a family of eight children, Rogers grew up listening to and playing a wide range of music that encompassed jazz, country, R&B, pop, doo wop and beyond which later informed his career trajectory as a crossover singer, musician and entertainer. After recording his first hit single in 1958, titled “That Crazy Feeling” and playing in the Bobby Doyle Three, Rogers moved to Los Angeles and joined the New Christy Minstrels which in 1967, evolved into the genre-defying First Edition founded by Rogers and some of the original Minstrels members. The group’s breakthrough hits included the Top Five folk/psychedelic rock hit single, “Just Dropped In (to See What Condition My Condition Was In),” their version of Mel Tillis’ “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town” (from their eponymous fourth album), “Something’s Burning” and their version of Kris Kristofferson’s “Me and Bobby McGee.” In 1975, Rogers signed with United Artists and began his career as a solo artist with the albums, Love Lifted Me and the self-titled Kenny Rogers where in 1977, he earned his first Number One Country hit as well as his first Top Five solo hit on the Pop charts for his ballad “Lucille,” which became an instant classic. In 1978, Rogers received his first Grammy nomination and win for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for the song and CMA award for Single Of The Year which would also go to Number One in the U.K. and many other countries. Throughout the decade, Rogers would produce other hit singles such as “Sweet Music Man,” “Every Time Two Fools Collide” (with Dottie West) and “Love Or Something Like It.” But it was his 1978 single “The Gambler” the title track off of his sixth studio album of the same name, that would solidify Rogers as a bona fide superstar and worldwide phenomenon.

“The Gambler” became Rogers’ signature story song, persona and one of his five consecutive hit singles to go to No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Music charts. Additionally, it was a multiple genre smash hit making the Top 10 across the Pop and Easy Listening charts which earned him his second Grammy award and a CMA Song of the Year in 1980. The popularity of the song led to the production of five television movies starring Rogers as “The Gambler,” Brady Hawkes that aired from 1980-1994, a “Gambler” slot machine, book series and appearance in a 2014 GEICO commercial as well as other merchandise and pop culture moments. In 1983, Rogers recorded with Dolly Parton their iconic classic duet “Islands in the Stream” written by the Bee Gees that reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The double platinum, gold certified single gave both artists their second No. 1 Pop hit as well as topped the Country and A&C charts.

Throughout the ‘80s, Rogers dominated the international music charts, television and film screens, radio airwaves and arena concert tour circuit with his singles “She Believes in Me,” the Grammy-winning “You Decorated My Life,” “Coward of the Country,” starred in the 1982 film Six Pack, made history with his cross-over monster hit "Lady" composed by Lionel Richie, which hit No. 1 hit across the Country, Pop, AC, and R&B charts, his smash duet, “Don’t Fall in Love With a reamer,” with pop singer Kim Carnes, other No. 1 hits such as “I Don't Need You,” “Through The Years,” “We've Got Tonight” (with Sheena Easton), “Crazy,” “Morning Desire,” and was featured as a vocalist on the Grammy-winning USA For Africa charity single, “We Are The World,” the eighth best-selling single of all time with over twenty million copies sold, alongside other music legends, such as Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Ray Charles, Bruce Springsteen, and more. In 1987, Rogers would earn his third Grammy award for the duet “Make No Mistake, She's Mine” with Ronnie Milsap which topped both the Country and A&C charts.

Rogers is one of the few music artists who has charted a song within each of the last seven decades and in the ‘90s until his 2017 farewell tour, he produced hits, videos and sold out international tours, performing his classics and other critically acclaimed and popular songs such as “If You Want To Find Love,” “The Greatest,” the No. 1 Billboard Country chart hit "Buy Me A Rose" (with Alison Krauss and Billy Dean), “I Can't Unlove You” and “The Last Ten Years (Superman)” and “Calling Me,” the Grammy nominated duet with Don Henley and “You Can’t Make Old Friends” for which he received his nineteenth Grammy nomination for his 2014 duet with Dolly Parton. Rogers was a renowned businessman, photographer and philanthropist whose work includes the Kenny Rogers Roasters restaurant franchise, the Kenny Rogers United Cerebral Palsy Center of Southeast Missouri (renamed the Kenny Rogers Children’s Center), the publication of three photo books, including 2005’s This Is My Country, featuring portraits of Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton and authoring the children’s books The Greatest.

Rogers’ numerous accolades and awards include among others: 3 Grammy Awards, 21 American Music Awards, 11 People’s Choice Awards, 10 Academy of Country Music Awards (including the Career Achievement Award, Entertainer of the Year, multiple Male Vocalist of the Year Awards and the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award), six Country Music Association Awards (including the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award and Male Vocalist of the Year), two CMT Music Awards, the CMT Artist of a Lifetime Award, a Career Achievement Award at the TNN Music Awards, the Lifetime Achievement Award from IEBA (International Entertainment Buyers Association), an IEBA Hall of Fame Induction, the SESAC Legacy Award, the Horatio Alger Award, and was voted the "Favorite Singer of All Time" in a USA Today and People joint readers poll. In 2013, Rogers received his highest honor with his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. “The Gambler” was entered in the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry and following Rogers' death on March 20, 2020, the song hit No.1 again on Billboard's Digital Song Sales chart following at No. 2 with “Islands in the Stream” with Dolly Parton.

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Highlights of this auction include:

• Kenny Rogers’ original soloist leadsheets from the hit song We Are the World that are signed by all of the members of the supergroup USA for Africa.
• A 2013 CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.
• A framed Islands in the Stream “Gold” Digital Sales Award Commemoration.
• Kenny Rogers’ Sony Alpha a7R II Mirrorless Digital Camera and equipment.
• Kenny’s collection of original celebrity portraits, inscribed by individuals like Michael Jackson, Lucille Ball, Elton John, Elizabeth Taylor, Clint Eastwood and more.
• A letter from Chris Stapleton indicating that her would like to participate in Kenny Rogers’ final performance.
• Two typed letters from Dolly Parton one speaking about their final performance together, the other letter ending with the words, “I will always love you.”
• Two groups of All-Access passes from Kenny Rogers’ live performances, including ones used during The Gambler’s Last Deal tour.
• A stage-used 14k gold and turquoise belt buckle gifted to Kenny Rogers by Steve Wynn.
• Clothing and personal effects from The Gambler series (Sony Pictures Television Inc., 1980-1994) including The Gambler II Shirt and Neckerchief and brown trousers, The Gambler V “Brady Hawkes” period waistcoat, and many more.
• A large collection of Kenny Rogers’ stage-worn outfits and wardrobe.
• A 1990 stage-worn three-piece ivory wool custom-made Manuel suit.
• A fan-made “The Gambler” moose stuffed animal.
• Kenny and Wanda Rogers’ personalized wedding goblets.
• A 2015 CMT Artist of a Lifetime Award.

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