Marty Edwards from Peachland won’t deny that he looks a lot like legendary American country crooner Kenny Rogers. Edwards will be bringing his show that pays tribute to Rogers to the Frank Venables Theatre in Oliver on Friday, March 13. In the first half of the show, Edwards will perform music from the 1960s and 1970s, paying tribute to such renowned artists as Tom Jones, The Eagles, Tommy James, Lighthouse and Three Dog Night.
LYONEL DOHERTY
Tickets now on sale for upcoming show at Frank Venables Theatre in Oliver on March 13
Marty Edwards from Peachland must always be on his best behaviour. That’s because he has Kenny Rogers’ reputation to uphold.
One look at him and you’ll understand why.
The white-bearded gentleman often gets mistaken for the legendary country singer, who once told Edwards: “Don’t get me in trouble.”
Edwards doesn’t just look like Rogers, he sounds like him, too, which explains why his tribute show has been so successful for the past 16 years.
Edwards is bringing his show to Frank Venables Theatre on Friday, March 13 at 7 p.m.
In the first half, his band (Marty Edwards and the Revival), will perform music from the 1960s and 1970s, paying tribute to legendary artists such as Tom Jones, The Eagles, Elvis, Tommy James, Lighthouse and Three Dog Night.
The second half of the show will focus on his “Kinda Kenny” tribute, with favourites such as She Believes In Me, Lady, Islands in the Stream, and Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town.
“I see myself as a Kenny Rogers ambassador, and I feel blessed to be able to sing his songs,” Edwards said during an interview at the Venables Theatre.
For Edwards, “music is an anchor,” which he uses to transport people back to relive fond memories of the past . . . back to their first love . . . “the good stuff.”
Edwards can’t help but revitalize people’s passion for Kenny Rogers and that era of classic country. He calls the song “Lady” an incredible tribute to spouses. In fact, he was flown to England to sing that song for someone’s wedding.
Ironically, for a man who’s constantly in the limelight, Edwards is a shy guy. He’s had to work very hard to tame his stage fright.
It all started in the United Kingdom when he was eight years old. His mother, a British diplomat, used to sing and play piano on the radio, and she loved hauling “Martin” out to perform “The Desert Song” in front of her friends at home.
“It was quite stressful,” Edwards recalled, likening the event to showing guests pictures of your summer vacation.
“That lasted until I was 13 when I sort of put an end to that . . . she wanted me to be an opera singer.”
Despite that uncomfortable experience, Edwards got into music after moving to Canada in 1954. He started playing in a number of bands spanning the 1960s to 1980s, from country to rock, and even a 14-piece horn band.
His father, an electrical engineer in the armed forces, didn’t care much for the type of music his son was performing.
“There was a bit of a conflict there . . . he never came to my shows (until he mellowed out). He was in tears for missing so much,” Edwards said.
Of course, his mother was one of his biggest fans and had her dressmaker create a Kenny Rogers jacket for her son to wear on stage.
The shy Edwards never tried to imitate the country legend; it just came naturally.
One day a producer asked him if he ever thought about doing a Kenny Rogers tribute show. He hadn’t. But after reading about a two-year-old child who died after being abused, he and his wife organized a benefit concert to raise money for abused children.
During the concert, he decided to perform some Kenny Rogers songs, which prompted fans to ask him to do it again next year. That’s when the tribute show was born.
“When I’m on stage, I’m Kenny Rogers,” said Edwards, who doesn’t mind being called a Rogers impersonator.
“The one thing I don’t do is give away ten dollar bills to the audience,” he chuckled.
Edwards met the real Kenny Rogers in Billings, Montana where he was doing a tribute show. Rogers was also doing a show and invited Edwards backstage after his performance.
“He was so gracious . . . I’ve always tried to show Kenny in a good light.”
Just before leaving, Rogers told Edwards: “You better not get me in trouble.”
Almost everywhere he goes, people ask him if he’s Kenny Rogers. He tells them the truth, but even then some people don’t believe him.
One time a cop asked him: “Be honest, how many times have you used the Kenny Rogers bit for evil?”
That has never happened, not even once, said Edward smiling.
Edwards just loves portraying Rogers on stage and is flattered that people enjoy what he’s doing.
He considers himself very fortunate to be able to sing the music of one of his favourite artists and entertain people at the same time.
LYONEL DOHERTY
Special to the Times
