Kenny Rogers’ ‘The Gambler’ Added to National Recording Registry
Kenny Rogers is one of several artists getting recognized by the Library of Congress this year. The singer's famous hit, "The Gambler," is one of 25 entries to be added to the National Recording Registry in 2018, and brings the total number of titles on the registry to 500.
Rogers' 1978 hit was penned by Don Schlitz in 1976. While the song has been covered by countless artists, Rogers took it to the top of the charts. "The Gambler" was selected for submission, as the Librarian of Congress deemed it "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." In order to qualify for submission, the body of work must be at least 10 years old.
"This annual celebration of recorded sound reminds us of our varied and remarkable American experience," said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden in a statement. "The unique trinity of historic, cultural and aesthetic significance reflected in the National Recording Registry each year is an opportunity for reflection on landmark moments, diverse cultures and shared memories—all reflected in our recorded soundscape."
Each year, 25 titles are selected by the librarian with advice from the Library of Congress' National Recording Preservation Board. In addition to Rogers' hit being added to the National Recording Registry, Tony Bennett's 1962 single "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" and the Temptations' 1964 single "My Girl" were selected, as well as the soundtrack for The Sound of Music and Fleetwood Mac's 1977 album, Rumours.
Despite "The Gambler" being a staple for Rogers, the singer recently admitted that he doesn't actually gamble. During a conference call with several media outlets, he revealed the somewhat shocking news.
"Personally, I found out that I can't win enough to excite me," Rogers explains. "But I can lose enough to depress me. So, I kind of stay away from it."
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