Country music star Kenny Rogers performs in Jakarta

By Gus Kairupan [10pt ML]

JAKARTA (JP): The Gambler was a mini series that had television audiences here glued to their sets a couple of months ago.

Small wonder. It was one of the lamentably few shows that deserved the description of "excellent" on all points: design, camera, action, acting, costumes, make-up. In short,it was well done within the entire gamut of aspects involved in making a movie.

What really made the movie, though, was the central figure portrayed by actor Kenny Rogers. Actor? Certainly.

But that is only one of several areas in which this multi- talented personality, who is scheduled to perform at the Jakarta Hilton Convention Center next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., has carved out a name and fame inside as much as outside of his country.

Photography is another are in which he excels. He has three published volumes to his name and is working on another.

Then there's his hands-on involvement in the "Kenny Rogers American Wear Collection" line of clothing.

As an entrepreneur he is involved in a shopping and entertainment complex, a theme park and a 1,000-seat showboat.

And finally, there is his partnership with John Y. Brown in a chain of wood-roasted chicken restaurants, called "Kenny Rogers Roasters."

But the one field that has his abiding love is music, coun try music, to be precise.

Music has been the single major factor in the life of this native of Texas ever since he formed a group with a couple of high school buddies toward the end of the 1950s.

This love continued into college where he was a member of a jazz trio, The Bobby Doyle Trio, and sang in a barber-shop quartet called The Lively Ones.

He joined the New Christy Minstrels in the mid-1960s. Not long after that he and Mickey Newbury formed what was later known as Kenny Rogers and The First Edition.

From the very beginning the group scored successes with, among others, Just Dropped In, Ruby and Reuben James. These successes reverberated around the world and turned them into international stars.

In 1972 Rogers left the group and began a solo career that has proved no less successful until today. But it isn't only solo work in which this outstanding performer has made his mark.

Other country music stars with whom he has cut records include Kim Carnes, James Ingram, Sheena Easton and Dolly Parton with whom he cut an album of Christmas songs.

It is Kenny Rogers the musician whom audiences, especially his fans, will have a chance to enjoy in person. Sponsored by the Tempo Group, the charity event in aid of the Indonesian Red Cross is jointly promoted by Indomugi Pratama Sunvic Promotion and American Express Cards among others. Reservations for the tickets which cost Rp 1 million, Rp 750,000, Rp 500,000 and Rp 350,000 may be made at the Secretariat (330924 or 330940) or with Ibu Dibyo (331178 or 3100386).

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