Kenny Roberts (musician) facts for kids
Kenny Roberts (born George S. Kingsbury Jr. on October 14, 1926 – died April 29, 2012) was a famous American country music singer. He was well-known for his hit songs like "I Never See Maggie Alone" and "Choc'late Ice Cream Cone." Kenny Roberts also played in a band called The Down Homers with Bill Haley, who later became a rock and roll pioneer.
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Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Kenny Roberts was born in Lenoir City, Tennessee, USA. He grew up on a farm near Greenfield, Massachusetts. He started his musical journey very early, at just 11 years old. At that young age, he put together a band made up only of kids who played the harmonica.
As he got older, Kenny learned to play other instruments. He mastered the guitar, then the bass fiddle, and even the violin. He was inspired by other yodelers like Yodeling Slim Clark and famous singing cowboys such as Jimmie Rodgers. Kenny became known for his unique "blue yodel" style. In 1944, when he was 17, he won a radio contest in New Hampshire. This contest named him the "Eastern States Yodeling Champion."
In early 1945, Kenny Roberts joined the U.S. Navy. After World War II ended, he moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana. He performed on several radio shows, including those on radio station KMOX in St. Louis, Missouri. He also appeared on the CBS Saturday morning show called Barnyard Frolics.
Later, Kenny formed and led a western swing band based in Pennsylvania. This band was called the Down Homers. They recorded music for Vogue Records.
Kenny Roberts and Bill Haley
In 1946, Rock and roll pioneer Bill Haley joined the Down Homers. He played guitar and also yodeled. Bill Haley actually took Kenny Roberts' place when Kenny joined the Navy. Before Kenny left, he taught Bill some of his special yodeling techniques.
When Kenny Roberts returned from his time in the Navy, he rejoined the Down Homers. He took his spot back from Bill Haley. Years later, in the early 2000s, some old radio recordings from the Down Homers in 1946 were found. In these recordings, Bill Haley is mentioned and performs a solo yodeling song called "She Taught Me to Yodel."
Recording Success and Television Shows
In 1949, Kenny Roberts signed a recording contract with Coral Records. This company was part of Decca Records. His very first song released, "I Never See Maggie Alone," was an instant hit. It sold an amazing one million copies! He then had other popular songs like "River of Tears," "I've Got the Blues," "Yodel Polka," "She Taught Me to Yodel," and "Hillbilly Style."
Kenny became very popular with young people. He would often jump while he yodeled, which made his performances exciting. His cowboy songs also added to his appeal. In 1953, he even starred in a children's TV show in Cincinnati on WLW-TV. He also performed on Arthur Godfrey's talent show on the CBS network.
Later Career and Legacy
Kenny Roberts performed at many famous country music shows. These included the Hoosier Hop in Fort Wayne and the WCOP Hayloft Jamboree. In the 1950s, he was also a regular on the Midwestern Hayride from Cincinnati. He became a regional star thanks to his television shows in Dayton, Ohio, and Indianapolis, Indiana.
In 1961, Kenny started a daily cartoon show on WNEM TV-5 in Saginaw, Michigan. It was called The Kenny Roberts Show. On this show, he was known as "The Yodeling Cowboy" or "The Jumping Cowboy." The popular black-and-white show featured Kenny singing and playing guitar. He would host children in the studio and show cartoons. Two of his most famous local songs were "Cheer Up, (Things Could Be Worse)" and "Sing Me A Hurtin' Song." This TV program stayed on the air for about five years.
In the early 1970s, Kenny Roberts moved back to Dayton. Later, he returned to Massachusetts. He continued to perform concerts in the area. Around 1980, he released an album for Palomino. After that, he released "Then and Now" with Longhorn, which included both old and new recordings.
Even though he was mostly retired, Kenny Roberts kept giving concerts in the Northeast throughout the 1980s. He passed away in April 2012 in Athol, Massachusetts, at the age of 85.
