In a career spanning six decades, he's given more shows than many younger artists have had hot dinners, and the same can be said of long-time front-of-house sound engineer Keith Bugos, who started mixing for Kenny Rogers when he was with the First Edition, 39 years ago.
"We've definitely seen some changes over the years," says this master of understatement, "not least with the equipment we are using. Back in the late 80s, when Kenny was blazing hot and selling out arenas in a couple of hours, we were long-term clients of Clair Bros and carrying all our own production. Today, with shorter tours, we carry consoles, and depend on local rental partners like Yan Stile and SSE to source racks and stacks that match our rider requirements."
One of the systems specified regularly on the Rogers' rider is Nexo's Geo T tangent line array, which Bugos considers the perfect fit for the 2,500- seat arenas on the itinerary.
"It's one of my two favourites. I first came across it in 2007, and have used it consistently both indoors and outdoors. For a vocal-ended show like ours, we need hi-fi reproduction because people are coming to hear Kenny Rogers' voice. The Geo T system delivers precisely that, no matter what level we run it at."
SSE has supplied a system comprising 14 T 4805 and 2815 modules a side, with just four CD18 subs in total, for the eight-piece band.
SSE system engineer Mike Savage comments, "Geo T is a very transparent system. It is a very good vocal PA, and this show is all about Kenny's voice. At Birmingham Symphony Hall, for example, we had no end of comments from the audience about how clear his voice sounded.
"Hanging it correctly is half the battle. The software side is fantastic, and SSE has built lasers into the flying frames to help set the PA hangs at exactly the right height. When you put Geo T in the air, you know you're going to get the coverage."
(Jim Evans)
