Kenny Rogers*

Kenny Rogers, born in 1938 in Houston, was the fourth of eight children. His father was a carpenter, and his mother worked nights as a practical nurse. Rogers said he had a happy childhood, but the family had constant worries about money. He was the first member of his family to finish high school.

In 1956, while a senior in high school, Rogers formed his first band, The Scholars. In 1958, he earned his first gold single record for That Crazy Feeling. Hoping to pursue a professional music career, he left the University of Houston and in 1967 joined the New Christy Minstrels, later forming a splinter group with other Minstrels called First Edition. The group, which appeared on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and the Ed Sullivan Show, recorded many hit singles, including "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town."

In 1975, First Edition disbanded in financial ruin, leaving Rogers $65,000 in debt. He began his solo career with the album Love Lifted Me. The next year his single, "Lucille," started him on his way to the top.

Rogers' accolades include numerous American Music Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, Country Music Association Awards, and Grammy Awards. Rogers also received the Recording Industry Association's Diamond Award for his greatest hits album.

Rogers also enjoyed an acting career. He was known worldwide for his portrayal of Brady Hawkes in The Gambler. In 1998, he did an off-Broadway holiday production, Christmas from the Heart.

In the 1980s, Rogers got involved with the issue of world hunger. From 1982 to 1987, he sponsored the World Hunger Media Awards, presenting $100,000 to members of the media who made a significant effect with their focus on hunger issues. In 1984, he participated in the historic coalition of stars for USA for Africa to record "We Are the World", a song that raised millions of dollars to aid the hungry and homeless in Africa and the United States. In 1985, he was co-chair for Hands Across America to raise money for this nation's homeless.

A well-respected photographer, Rogers was invited to the White House to create a portrait of First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton for the television special "A Day in the Life of Country Music," which aired in 1993. He also published two photography books: Kenny Rogers' America and Your Friends and Mine: A Collection of 80 Photographs. His third book, published in 2005, was called This Is My Country.

Honored by his Horatio Alger Award, Rogers said it's important for today's youth to have positive role models. "I am humbled to be included in this group of Americans who have done so much to help the young people in our country who need it the most."