Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - For Kenny

Episode Date: March 21, 2020

Mike talks with his mom about Kenny Rogers

Kenny Rogers' greatest hits was released in September 1980, and at some point thereafter, it found a permanent home on the family turntable. My mom played it incessantly. Thinking back, it's likely the first music beyond Raffi, Sesame Street Fever, and Anne Murray's There's a Hippo in My Bathtub. I remember hearing Around the House. As you can imagine, I soon knew every song by heart, and I had my favorites. I hope you're old enough to understand. Son, you don't have to fight to be a man. My jam was Coward of the County. For someone, for everyone.

I love this story. Tommy's love was Becky. Even today I love that story. In her arms, he didn't have to prove he was a man. My mom was partial to Lady, the Lionel Richie ballad. If you were to ask me today what song made me think of my mom most, that's the one. The funny thing is, all the Kenny I love is found on that one album.

All the Kenny I love is found on that one album. Islands in the Stream was a massive hit a couple of years later, but it barely made a ripple with me. I knew and loved precisely 12 Kenny Rogers songs. The 12 Kenny Rogers songs that appeared on his greatest hits release from 1980. Blame My Mom. Sad news, Kenny Rogers has passed away. Old enough to understand Son, you don't have to fight Sad news, Kenny Rogers has passed away. Oh, Michael, I feel very bad about it, very upset about it.

Is Kenny Rogers your favorite pop singer of all time? Probably in many ways. I remember it was a good memory because you children were young and we would put that music on and dance to it. And yeah, I think Lady would stand out for me for sure because I played it until I think it wore out. And you liked The Gambler, I think, if I remember correctly. You would like that one. I did like it, but I didn't like it quite to the extent that I remember you liked it I liked the Gambler but I remember

particularly digging the Coward of the County yeah that was a nice one too that whole best list of his favorite songs was really used a lot in our house I remember

I loved Kenny Rogers there was nothing Kenny Rogers could do was really used a lot in our house, I remember. I loved Kenny Rogers. There was nothing Kenny Rogers could do that I wouldn't have sat there and watched or listened to. He was my favorite in the 80s, I'm sure. Okay, now here's my memory, is that we had the one album, the 1980 Greatest Hits, which had Lady on it. And I remember you were a big fan of the ballads and you loved Lady.

Yeah, I loved Lady. I mean, it was a song that every woman wanted it to be that for them kind of thing. So yeah, you played it and played it. Lady. Can you still sing it? I don't think I'll sing on air, thanks Michael.

But yes, I could probably sing it if I was in the kitchen with you. Well, as soon as this pandemic dies down, we got to make that happen. We need to have a proper memorial for Kenny. Now, did you ever own, serious question, because I can't remember any other Kenny Rogers album making its way into the house,

even though he probably had 100 releases. The 1980 Greatest Hits is the one that always got played so every song he like every hit he had that was not on that album i don't care for yeah because i do think that was the only one we actually went out and bought um of his greatest hits if he was ever on tv or anything like that we would always watch it because, well, I would always watch it. I'm not sure who was with me, but yeah, I think that is the very only one we actually paid money for.

Do you remember where you bought it? Probably down at Sam the Record Man, probably, because that's where we go all the time to buy hits. Yeah, I would think that's where we would have gone and got it. That's where we got most of our albums from. Are you going to, I know that you're in self-isolation, but are you going to tip a glass for Kenny tonight? Well, I don't know if I'll open a bottle of anything by myself

because I don't drink every night and it would go bad, but I might tip my coffee at supper, or I could even tip my coffee right now. I'm holding a cup of coffee right now as we speak. And I think I should mention that your brother sent me a condolence telling me I was in his thoughts and prayers as Kenny Rogers had just died. Haven't heard from your other brother yet. As I said to you before I press record, I think outside of family members and dear friends,

this is the most significant death we're going to have to grapple with in our lifetime. Wow, that's pretty impressive for Kenny. I'm sure he'd be excited about that one. Did you ever have Kenny Rogers chicken? No, never did. No, I don't think so. No. The buck stops there.

You love the man, but you're not going to do that. Where was his chicken store here? No idea. I don't even know where they are. I don't think there was one. No, I don't think it ever came across the border. This was Swiss chalet country. Yeah, Swiss chalet or Kentucky Fried, I guess.

Kentucky Fried Chicken was big in the 80s. Actually, one of my memories of Kentucky Fried Chicken was going there to get it for us after a crazy day of teaching, I guess, and hearing that Terry Fox had stopped running and sitting in that parking lot and crying. had stopped running and sitting in that parking lot and crying. See, I feel like Terry was to me as Kenny is to you. This is major.

Well, Terry was to me too, though. I followed Terry from Newfoundland on, and I remember talking to your dad about it and him not really knowing what I was talking about at the very beginning. Very few people knew. But I always followed that, but we're digressing here. Too much sadness for one conversation. Kenny Rogers was very big to me. Terry Fox was big for me, but Kenny Rogers probably more.

I loved him. Well, here's something I hope you love. I want us to just listen to this as I play us out here. Okay. Okay. Oh. Lady shining on the moon

and I love you. You have made me what I am. I'm going to cry. I'm already there, Ma Oh, I love that song I'll have to play it again now My love Aw

There's so many ways I want to say I love you Let me hold you in my arms I'm in everyone's light. Brace yourself. Here it comes. And made me such a fool I'm so lost in your love And oh, we belong together Won't you believe in my song? Don't you believe in my song?

Lady, for so many years I thought I'd never find you You have come into my life and Meet me home Forever Let me wake to see you each and every morning Let me hear you whisper softly In my ear How you doing over there? I love it. I love the song. I feel 28 and 30 again just listening to it.

The magic of music. If you ever kick out the jams with me, I hope this is one of them. I would for sure put that on my list. Absolutely. I have memories of circling the kitchen with one of you as I would sing this song after school. I always remember that.

Actually, I do feel like crying. Let it out. I think it's because everyone has an ending and this is his. Everything ends. That's right. Let it out. You're in a safe space here. What was he sick with? Mary, he was an 81-year-old who had some serious health challenges throughout the years. I didn't realize he had serious health challenges.

I'm going to take a look at the Google now. Do you remember the transplant? Didn't he have a kidney transplant or something? Oh, my goodness. Now that's coming back to me. Yes, he may well have had to do something like that. I'll have to look it up again. Lady.

Lady. Oh, thank you for playing that