KENNY
ROBERTS PASSES AT 85
ROBERTS PASSES AT 85
THE KING
OF THE YODELER’S
OF THE YODELER’S
Country Music loses one of the true legends from the past.
Kenny Roberts, my friend for many years, passed away earlier today at the age
of 85. He had been in failing health for the past several years.
Thanks to Gordy Brown for notifying me of this sad loss in our music
industry.
Kenny Roberts, my friend for many years, passed away earlier today at the age
of 85. He had been in failing health for the past several years.
Thanks to Gordy Brown for notifying me of this sad loss in our music
industry.
I toured with Kenny on many occasions. I consider him a
super entertainer, and no doubt one of the great pioneers of yodeling, and
country music. He was a great and wonderful man, a true country music
legend. I wish that there was a way for each of us to send our
condolences to his family. I do not know his family, but I do know that
they also need our thoughts and prayers as they go through this sad time of
their lives with the loss of Kenny.
super entertainer, and no doubt one of the great pioneers of yodeling, and
country music. He was a great and wonderful man, a true country music
legend. I wish that there was a way for each of us to send our
condolences to his family. I do not know his family, but I do know that
they also need our thoughts and prayers as they go through this sad time of
their lives with the loss of Kenny.
Please go to google and enter Higgins-Oconner Funeral Home
in Athol, Mass., and probably later today Kenny’s name might be listed and hopefully
there will be a section to send our condolences to the family.
in Athol, Mass., and probably later today Kenny’s name might be listed and hopefully
there will be a section to send our condolences to the family.
MAY HIS SOUL REST IN THE ARMS OF OUR BLESSED LORD, JESUS CHRIST.
4/30/2012 – Kenny Roberts, 85, King of the Yodelers, died in
Athol, Mass. early today. He will be waked at the Higgins-Oconner Funeral Home in
Athol, Mass. from 6-8 PM on Thursday.
Athol, Mass. early today. He will be waked at the Higgins-Oconner Funeral Home in
Athol, Mass. from 6-8 PM on Thursday.
Internment will be in the
Winchindon Veterans Cemetary on Friday at 10 AM.
Winchindon Veterans Cemetary on Friday at 10 AM.
Kenny
Roberts, born October 14, 1927. Kenny’s career took a road that we will
find as we go along here. He was born in Lenox City, Tennessee but grew up in
Mass.
Roberts, born October 14, 1927. Kenny’s career took a road that we will
find as we go along here. He was born in Lenox City, Tennessee but grew up in
Mass.
In mid-1949, Kenny signed a recording contract with Coral Records,
a division of the Decca record label. His first release was an immediate smash
and a Million Seller, a tune called “I Never See Maggie Alone”. The song
was actually written in published back in 1926 and Kenny did a modern rendition
of it that obviously got the listeners attention. And he followed that hit
recording up with tunes such as “River of Tears”, “I’ve Got The
Blues”, “Yodel Polka” and “Hillbilly Style”. Probably
best known for “She Taught Me How To Yodel” http://youtube/Q8SX1xI5fak
a division of the Decca record label. His first release was an immediate smash
and a Million Seller, a tune called “I Never See Maggie Alone”. The song
was actually written in published back in 1926 and Kenny did a modern rendition
of it that obviously got the listeners attention. And he followed that hit
recording up with tunes such as “River of Tears”, “I’ve Got The
Blues”, “Yodel Polka” and “Hillbilly Style”. Probably
best known for “She Taught Me How To Yodel” http://youtube/Q8SX1xI5fak
He started in music at an early age. When he was just eleven years
old, he organized a band that was made up entirely of young harmonica players.
Around that time, he started to take up guitar playing. Later on, he learned
the bass fiddle and violin, too.
old, he organized a band that was made up entirely of young harmonica players.
Around that time, he started to take up guitar playing. Later on, he learned
the bass fiddle and violin, too.
When he was just 16, he broke in to the radio business in a band
with Yodelin’ Slim Clark, in Springfield, Mass. He won out over 38 other
contestants for the title of “Eastern States Yodeling Champion”.
Yodeling would become one of his trademarks. He was a Navy Veteran of WWII.
with Yodelin’ Slim Clark, in Springfield, Mass. He won out over 38 other
contestants for the title of “Eastern States Yodeling Champion”.
Yodeling would become one of his trademarks. He was a Navy Veteran of WWII.
Kenny
received many awards for his talents over the years not the least of which was
the Mass. CMA Hall of Fame in 1985 and more recently, the Conn. CMA Hall of
Fame. He was not only a good singer, who made good records, but he was a good
entertainer when he got in front of the audiences. He was booked at shows at
such venues as amusement parks in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Pennsylvania, the
New England area, Illinois, Missouri and many southern states. And from those
appearances, he would get many return engagements. He appeared on the Grand Ole
Opry, had a children’s show on TV in the mid-West and a star in the Walkway of
Stars in Nashville.