Kenny Rogers and the First Edition
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Founder | Mike Settle |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, originally known simply as the First Edition until 1970, was a U.S.-based rock ensemble that fused elements of country, rock, and psychedelic pop. The group’s prominent lineup featured Kenny Rogers on lead vocals and bass, Mickey Jones on drums, and Terry Williams handling guitar and vocal duties. Established in 1967, the band also included folk artist Mike Settle (guitar, vocals) and classically trained vocalist Thelma Camacho.
During the countercultural movement of the 1960s, the band secured a contract with Reprise Records in 1967 and scored their initial hit with the psychedelic track "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" reaching number five on the US charts in early 1968. They followed up with hits such as "But You Know I Love You" (US No. 19) and "Tell It All Brother" (US No. 17). After rebranding to "Kenny Rogers and the First Edition," they achieved another Top Ten success in 1969 with "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" (US No. 6, UK No. 2).
The band enjoyed worldwide recognition for six years until Kenny Rogers embarked on a solo career in the mid-1970s, eventually becoming one of country music’s top-selling performers.
Early days
Most members of Kenny Rogers and the First Edition were former participants of the New Christy Minstrels, seeking greater artistic control. The sole exception was Mickey Jones, who had experience touring with Bob Dylan’s backing group. With assistance from producer Jimmy Bowen, they signed with Reprise in 1967 and released their debut single, "I Found a Reason," which achieved modest sales. Mike Settle initiated the formation as his songwriting transitioned from folk toward rock after years of folk-oriented work including the popular "Sing Hallelujah."
Their breakthrough arrived with the psychedelic hit "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)", featuring Rogers’ vocals and produced by Mike Post. The track included backward guitar played by Glen Campbell alongside psychedelic effects from Mike Deasy. It climbed to number five on the Billboard Hot 100 early in 1968. Guitarist Terry Williams’ solo earned praise from Jimi Hendrix. Despite this success, their following three singles and second album did not achieve commercial success. Released in 1968, "But You Know I Love You", penned by Settle, introduced a brass-infused country-folk style that broadened their fan base, peaking at number nineteen on the Hot 100.
In his memoir That Would Be Me, Mickey Jones recounts that Thelma was dismissed near the end of 1968 due to missed performances and rehearsals; however, she attributed her departure to health and personal issues. Her replacement was roommate Mary Arnold, who secured the position over newcomer Karen Carpenter. Thelma appears on the first three albums and part of the fourth, while Arnold made her debut on "Reuben James."
By the late 1960s, Kenny Rogers had adopted a signature appearance characterized by long hair and pink sunglasses, earning him the nickname "Hippie Kenny." His vocal delivery had notably become smoother. In mid-1969, the group achieved another Top Ten hit with Mel Tillis’ composition "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town", which featured Mickey Jones’ distinctive drumming as part of its memorable hook. The song’s poignant story about a disabled veteran was particularly striking during the Vietnam War period. To leverage the popularity of "Ruby" alongside "Once Again She's All Alone," they rebranded as "Kenny Rogers and the First Edition," a name that endured as "Ruby" rose in popularity. This third major hit firmly established Kenny Rogers as a globally recognized figure.
Prime period
Kenny Rogers and the First Edition achieved five charting singles during this era. At a golf event, Rogers was initially put off by a man he thought was an impolite fan, who was actually a promoter representing American songwriter Alex Harvey. This promoter persistently encouraged Rogers to hear "Reuben James," a story-driven song about a black man raising a white child, which ultimately convinced Rogers to record it. The single "Reuben James" debuted late in 1969, coinciding with Mike Settle's departure and Kin Vassy's arrival. Throughout this time, the band continued to fuse elements of country, rock, and folk music.
The group reached their highest point with "Something's Burning," which climbed to number 11 in early 1970. Although its suggestive lyrics stirred some controversy that limited broader chart success, Rogers’ gentle vocal delivery paired with a rock-infused chorus earned critical praise. Notably, the track incorporated a reversed heartbeat sound effect to enhance its rhythmic pulse.
During this period, Terry Williams began releasing solo singles, including "I'm Gonna Sing You A Sad Song Susie," featured on the First Edition’s subsequent album Tell It All Brother. The album’s title track, penned by Harvey, explored themes of love and unity, achieving a spot in the national top 20 and topping the WRKO chart on August 13, 1970, for one week. Released shortly after the Kent State shootings, it was met with enthusiastic applause during its live premiere.
Besides frequent television appearances, Kenny Rogers and the First Edition contributed music to two films in 1970. They recorded "If Nobody Loved" for the political satire Flap, though it remained unreleased. Later that year, they provided "Someone Who Cares" and "A Poem I Wrote For Your Hair" for the romantic film Fools, which premiered in 1971.
By late 1970, the band earned their seventh Top 40 hit with Vassy’s energetic "Heed the Call," serving as an upbeat counterpart to "Tell It All Brother." The next single from the Fools soundtrack, "Someone Who Cares," found success on easy listening charts but failed to break into the pop top fifty. This period marked an attempt by the First Edition to reshape their image. Keyboardist John Hobbs briefly joined the lineup; though he contributed to recordings, he did not appear in album artwork or promotional materials. His involvement was featured in the PBS documentary Tell It All, providing an extensive profile of the group.
In mid-1971, they released a gospel-inspired single titled "Take My Hand," which made only a modest impact on the charts.
TV and later releases
Following a well-received pilot in 1970, Kenny Rogers and the First Edition premiered their own television program, Rollin' on the River, in autumn 1971. Later shortened to Rollin', this variety show was filmed in Canada and showcased rock, blues, and folk performers such as Ike and Tina Turner, Bo Diddley, and Jim Croce. While offering a platform for the First Edition’s comedic abilities, the show shifted public perception of them from musicians to television personalities. The band’s late 1971 single "What Am I Gonna Do," written by Terry Williams, failed to chart.
The album The Ballad of Calico, released in March 1972 after six months of production, was a country rock opera crafted by Michael Martin Murphey and musical director Larry Cansler. It portrayed an authentic late-19th-century mining town through storytelling. Despite positive critical reception and featuring lead vocals from all members except Mickey Jones, it did not achieve commercial success. The single "School Teacher" highlighted Kin Vassy’s acoustic rhythm and blues influence. Soon after this release, Vassy was dismissed following an incident backstage.
By early 1972, Gene Lorenzo had joined as a full-time keyboardist replacing Cansler on stage, with Jimmy Hassell coming in later to succeed Vassy. Lorenzo was known for his keyboard virtuosity, while Hassell contributed a hard rock style reminiscent of Vassy’s approach. Both integrated seamlessly without disrupting the band’s established identity. Around this time, Kenny Rogers launched Jolly Rogers Records (distributed by MGM) and the group parted ways with Reprise Records.
Their debut Jolly Rogers album, Backroads, arrived in late 1972 as a country record yielding a minor hit with "Today I Started Loving You Again" in mid-1973. A subsequent soundtrack album tied to Rollin' —which included covers such as Rogers’ take on "The Long and Winding Road"—failed commercially and contributed to the show’s cancellation. As their television presence diminished, performances increasingly took place at county fairs.
Attempting to distance themselves from their TV image, they released Monumental, an album blending various styles from rock tracks written by Rogers like "Morgana Jones" to nostalgic tunes such as "42nd Street." Though it did not find success in the US market, it earned gold certification in New Zealand. The single "Lena Lookie" reached number six there, leading to three tours over two years and inspiring a 1975 New Zealand TV special titled Rollin Through New Zealand.
As their popularity declined domestically, internal tensions arose: Terry Williams advocated focusing on hard rock material favored overseas while Kenny preferred maintaining a more conservative direction. Kenny later reflected on distribution challenges with MGM as a misstep. Despite waning US interest, New Zealand remained a loyal market; this inspired the album I'm Not Making My Music for Money, crafted specifically for that audience after MGM declined its US release. The record combined new compositions with reworked material showcasing continued artistic growth—featuring harder-edged songs like Jimmy Hassell’s lead on "Love Woman" alongside ballads echoing Terry’s earlier style. The title track critiqued commercialism versus artistry and found chart success exclusively in New Zealand.
The split
Toward the end of 1974, the group participated in the television film The Dream Makers, a drama centered on the music industry, portraying the band Catweazel. Kenny and Mickey were cast in the primary speaking roles. Although they performed recent tracks, this exposure failed to halt their ongoing decline. By 1974, Kenny encountered financial strain and resorted to marketing guitar lesson records through commercials.
In pursuit of a solo path, Terry exited the band in spring 1975. Although disappointed, Kenny managed to bring Kin back to complete outstanding commitments. Kin was contracted as a permanent member but departed after just one evening due to an unsatisfactory reunion with Vassy. Mickey was the first to leave, aiming to focus on an acting career. That autumn, Kenny began recording as a solo artist. The First Edition’s final planned performances took place in fall 1975 at Harrah's in Reno. A handful of early 1976 shows were performed without Mickey to support Kenny before his solo group was established. Kenny attributed writing "Sweet Music Man" as a catalyst for personal transformation; after Terry Williams left, Mary Arnold frequently took lead vocals on the song, with Kenny occasionally performing it himself. This track became one of Rogers' most frequently covered compositions and reached number nine on the country charts in fall 1977.
After the split
Between 1993 and 1994, Kin and Terry spearheaded a revived version of The First Edition, aiming to relaunch as a modern country ensemble performing their classic hits. Terry’s brother Ress contributed on drums. The group dissolved shortly following Vassy’s passing.
In 1980, the United Kingdom released a compilation titled "Shine On," which achieved moderate sales but was overshadowed by The Kenny Rogers Singles Album, featuring Rogers' solo successes alongside reworked tracks from the group.
Multiple compilations of their catalog have been issued, some inaccurately credited solely to Kenny and including images not from the original era.
"Live Vegas '72" represented the first new release from The First Edition since 1974, showcasing a performance from the Kin Vassy period of unspecified date.
The band earned eleven hit singles and eight charting albums on Billboard rankings.
On April 10, 2010, Kenny, Mike, Mickey, Terry, Mary, and Gene reunited for the television special Kenny Rogers: The First 50 Years at Foxwoods Resort Casino, joined by Wynonna Judd for a rendition of "Just Dropped In."
The First Edition briefly came together again with Rogers during his Country Music Hall of Fame induction events in 2014 and 2015 for media appearances and live performances.
Albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | Certifications | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | CAN | |||
| 1967 | The First Edition | 118 | — | |
| 1968 | The First Edition's 2nd | — | — | |
| 1969 | The First Edition '69 | 164 | — | |
| Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town | 48 | 52 | ||
| 1970 | Something's Burning | 26 | 47 | |
| Tell It All Brother | 61 | 42 | ||
| 1971 | Fools (soundtrack) | — | — | |
| Greatest Hits | 57 | 33 |
| |
| Transition | 155 | — | ||
| 1972 | The Ballad of Calico | 118 | — | |
| Backroads | — | — | ||
| 1973 | Rollin' | — | — | |
| Monumental | — | — | ||
| 1974 | (New Zealand only) I'm Not Making Music for Money | |||
Singles
Available on DVD
- In 2005, Kenny Rogers: Going Home-Live at the House of Blues (UK DVD compatible with US formats) included a brief five-minute segment featuring rare footage of The First Edition.
- Also in 2005, Remember the 70's, a one-hour compilation presented two performances by The First Edition.
- The following year saw release of Kenny Rogers – The Journey with the First Edition, highlighting collaborations with Dottie West, Willie Nelson, and Dolly Parton.
- In 2007, several compilations appeared including Flashbacks: Pop Parade, Flashbacks: Easy Lovin' as well as two volumes of Kenny Rogers: Rollin' , showcasing The First Edition alongside artists like Ike Turner, Tina Turner, Jim Croce, and Bo Diddley.
Note: All releases by View Video were initially distributed on VHS during the early ’90s. Various unauthorized versions of Rollin' footage circulated in Europe and Australia but were swiftly withdrawn.
Further reading
- Rogers, Kenny (1978). Making It with Music. New York: Harper & Row. Offers insights into The First Edition’s image, musical approach, and internal dynamics.
- Jones, Mickey (2007). That Would Be Me. Bloomington, Indiana: AuthorHouse. An autobiography revealing previously undisclosed details and photographs related to The First Edition.
- Hume, Martha (1980). Kenny Rogers: Gambler, Lover, Dreamer. New York: New American Library. A concise biography covering personal aspects beyond Rogers’s own narratives.
Documentaries
- Tell It All – Syndicated in fall of 1972. A PBS special filmed in early ’71 in South Carolina featuring behind-the-scenes footage, rehearsals, and extensive interviews with band members. Some segments were reused in Kenny Rogers–The Journey, while remaining material has not been released on home video.
- Rollin' Through New Zealand – Syndicated in early ’75. Documents The First Edition’s tours and success within New Zealand. No official home release exists; producer Tony Williams has made it available online.
- Kenny Rogers: A Gambler's Tale – A&E Biography from 1999 including interviews with Kenny Rogers and Mike Settle; originally issued on VHS.
- The Life and Times of Kenny Rogers – A comprehensive profile aired on CMT in 2002 featuring interviews with Rogers as well as Mickey Jones and Terry Williams.
- Kenny Rogers–The Journey – Released on DVD in 2006; this performance documentary devotes approximately one-quarter of its two-hour length to The First Edition with archival footage and recent interviews including those with Mickey Jones.
External links
| Year | Single | US Cou. | US | US A/C | CAN Cou. | CAN | CAN A/C | NZ | UK | AUS | Album |
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