Coordinates	56°09′″N40°25′″N
name	Badfinger
background	group_or_band
alias	The Iveys
origin	Swansea, Wales;Liverpool, England
genre	Rock, pop, power pop, pop rock, hard rock
years active	1969-19751978-19841986-19891990-present
label	Apple, Warner Brothers, Elektra, Snapper
associated acts	The DodgersNatural GasThe Beatles
current members	Joey Molland
past members	Pete Ham 1947-1975 (aged 27)Tom Evans 1947-1983 (aged 36)Mike Gibbins 1949-2005 (aged 56)Ron Griffiths Bob JacksonJoe Tansin Tony Kaye Glenn Sherba Adam AllenAl Wodtke Richard Bryans Eric Bretl}}

Badfinger were a British rock band consisting originally of Pete Ham, Ron Griffiths, Mike Gibbins and Tom Evans, active from 1968 to 1983, and evolving from The Iveys, formed by Ham, Griffiths and David "Dai" Jenkins in Swansea, Wales, in the early 1960s. Joey Molland joined the group in 1969, following the departure of Griffiths. Signed by The Beatles' Apple label in 1968 as The Iveys, they adopted the name Badfinger in 1969. Although initially drawing Beatle comparisons because of some musical resemblances and individual Beatles' mentorship, Badfinger had four consecutive worldwide hits in 1970 and 1971: "Come and Get It" (written and produced by Paul McCartney), "No Matter What", "Day After Day", and "Baby Blue". The Ham/Evans-penned Badfinger song, "Without You", became a "Billboard" number one hit for Harry Nilsson, and later a number three hit for Mariah Carey.

In 1970, the band engaged American businessman Stan Polley to manage their commercial affairs. Over the next five years while the band recorded several albums for Apple, they toured extensively, but became embroiled in the chaos of Apple Records' dissolution. They signed to Warner Bros., but Polley's financial machinations resulted in a lawsuit by Warner Bros. over missing escrow account money. Warner's consequent withdrawal from market of the 1974 album, ''Wish You Were Here'', (seven weeks after its release), cut off the band's income and plunged them into disarray and despair. Three days before his 28th birthday, on 24 April 1975, Ham committed suicide, leaving a note that included damning comments about Polley.

The next three years saw surviving members trying to rebuild their personal and professional lives against a backdrop of lawsuits. The albums ''Airwaves'' (1978) and ''Say No More'' (1981) floundered, as Molland, Gibbins and Evans see-sawed between cooperation and struggle in attempts to revive and capitalize on the Badfinger legacy. Having seen Ham's body after Ham's wife had called him, Evans reportedly never got over his friend's suicide, and was quoted as saying in darker moments, "I wanna be where he is." On 19 November 1983, Evans also took his own life by hanging.

The Iveys and Apple

The Iveys formed in 1961 in Swansea, from The Panthers, whose lineup comprised Ham (lead guitar) (b. Peter William Ham, 27 April 1947, Townhill, Swansea, d. 23 April 1975), Griffiths (bass guitar) (b. Ronald Llewellyn Griffiths, 2 October 1946, in Swansea), Roy Anderson (drums), and David 'Dai' Jenkins (guitar), (b. David Owen Jenkins, 30 October 1945, Swansea). Playing under various names including The Black Velvets and the Wild Ones, by 1964 they settled on The Iveys, after a street in Swansea called Ivey Place. In March 1965, drummer Gibbins (b. Michael George Gibbins, 12 March 1949, Swansea, d. 4 October 2005) joined The Iveys. The group secured concerts around Swansea area, opening for prominent British groups such as the Spencer Davis Group, The Who, The Moody Blues and The Yardbirds.

By June 1966, Bill Collins (the father of actor Lewis Collins), had started to manage the group. In December 1966 the entire group moved into Collins' home at 7 Park Avenue, Golders Green, London, sharing space with an act called The Mojos. The house was terminally overcrowded, so the only place to find any privacy was in a room equipped with a two-track recording machine.

The group performed a wide range of cover tunes on the London circuit, from Motown, blues, soul to Top 40, psychedelic pop, and Beatles' hits, which garnered interest from record labels. Ray Davies of The Kinks auditioned to produce them, recording three of their songs at a 4-track demo studio in London's Old Kent Road on 15 January 1967: "Taxi" and "Sausage And Eggs"; songs by Ham, and Griffiths', "I Believe In You Girl". On 8 December 1966, Collins and the group signed a five-year contract giving Collins a 20% share of net receipts; the same as the individual group members, but only after managerial expenses had been deducted. Collins said at the time: "Look, I can't promise you lads anything, except blood, sweat and tears". The group performed occasional concerts backing David Garrick, while performing as The Iveys across the United Kingdom throughout the rest of the decade. In 1967, Jenkins was asked to leave the group, and was replaced by Liverpudlian guitarist, Evans, of Them Calderstones (b. Thomas Evans Jr., 5 June 1947, Liverpool, d. 19 November 1983). Jenkins' departure was remembered by Griffiths as being "politely asked if he would step down", as Jenkins seemed more interested in girls than the music.

After Collins' invitation, Mal Evans (a Beatles' roadie/assistant) saw them playing at the Marquee Club, London, on 25 January 1968, with Apple Records' A&R; head, Peter Asher. Evans consistently pushed their demo tapes to every Beatle until he gained approval to sign the group from all four: McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and John Lennon. The demos were accomplished using a mono "sound-on-sound" tape recorder: two individual tracks bouncing each overdub on top of the last. Mal Evans' support ultimately led to their signing with Apple on 23 July 1968; becoming the first non-Beatle recording artists on the label. Each of The Iveys' members were also signed to Apple Corps' publishing contracts.

The group's first single, "Maybe Tomorrow", was released worldwide on 15 November 1968. It reached the Top Ten in several European countries and Japan, but only number 67 on the US Billboard Hot 100, but failed to chart in the UK. The United States manager of Apple Records, Ken Mansfield, ordered 400,000 copies of the single—considered to be a bold move at the time in the music business—and pushed for automatic airplay and reviews from newspapers, which he secured. Nevertheless, Mansfield remembered the problems: "We had a great group. We had a great record. We were missing just one thing ... the ability to go out and pick up people, and convince them to put their money on the counter". A second Tom Evans' composition, "Storm in a Teacup", was included on an Apple EP promoting Wall's Ice Cream, along with songs by Apple artists such as James Taylor, Mary Hopkin and Jackie Lomax. The chart success of "Maybe Tomorrow" in Europe and Japan led to a follow-up single release in those markets in July 1969: Griffiths' "Dear Angie". An LP entitled ''Maybe Tomorrow'' was released only in Italy, Germany and Japan, but not in the UK or the US. This was thought to be the work of Apple Corps' president, Allen Klein, as an Apple Corps' press officer, Tony Bramwell, remembered: "He [Klein] was saying, 'We're not going to issue any more records until I sort out this mess' [Apple Corps]."

Griffiths was interviewed for the ''Disc & Music Echo'' magazine, complaining about the group's handling by Apple: "We do feel a bit neglected. We keep writing songs for a new single and submitting them to Apple, but they keep sending them back, saying they’re not good enough”. McCartney read the interview and offered the song, "Come And Get It", to the group, which he had written for the soundtrack of the film, ''The Magic Christian''. Before the recording on Saturday, 2 August 1969, Griffiths remembered the whole group being so excited they couldn't sleep. Producing the track in under one hour, McCartney made sure that they copied his own demo note-for-note: "They were a young band ... they said, 'We want to do it a bit different, wanna get our own thing in'. I said '''No'', this has gotta be ''exactly'' like this, [McCartney's demo] 'cos this is the hit'." He also produced the group's original compositions of "Carry On Till Tomorrow" (commissioned as the main title theme for the film) and "Rock Of All Ages", with all three tracks appearing in the movie and its soundtrack album. As Griffiths was ill midway during these sessions, Evans played bass on "Rock Of All Ages".

Griffiths left the group in October 1969, being the only married occupant of the communal group's home, and raising a child, who was born in December 1968. His responsibilities created friction, mainly between Griffiths' wife, Evans, and manager Collins. Griffiths later said: "Tommy [Evans] created the bad blood. He'd convinced the others that [I was] not one of the boys anymore". Drummer Gibbins remembered that he wasn't even consulted about the decision: "I was considered a nothinghead at that point. I wasn't even worth conversing with".

Badfinger

In October 1969, pending release of "Come and Get It", the band and Apple agreed upon a name change, as The Iveys were sometimes confused with "The Ivy League", and the name was considered too trite for the prevailing music scene. Suggestions were put forward, like Lennon's "The Glass Onion," "The Prix", "The Cagneys", and "Home" from McCartney. Apple Corps' Neil Aspinall proposed "Badfinger", in reference to "Bad Finger Boogie"; an early working title of Lennon/McCartney's "With a Little Help from My Friends", as Lennon had hurt his forefinger on a piano by using only one finger.

As the release date of "Come and Get It" was approaching, Badfinger looked for a replacement for Griffiths. After auditioning a number of bassists, they hired guitarist Molland (b. Joseph Charles Molland, 21 June 1947, in Edge Hill, Liverpool), who was previously with Gary Walker & The Rain, The Masterminds, and The Fruit-Eating Bears. His addition required Evans to shift to bass guitar. "Come and Get It" was released in December 1969 in the UK, and January 1970 in the US. Selling over a million copies worldwide, it reached Top Ten throughout the world: number seven on the US ''Billboard'' chart on 7 February 1970, and number four in the UK. The track was also featured in ''The Magic Christian'' film. For the band's initial LP release, their three songs from the soundtrack LP were remixed, combined with some older Iveys' tracks (including seven songs from the ''Maybe Tomorrow'' album), and released as Badfinger's first album ''Magic Christian Music'' (1970). Even though the album was named after the film, only half of the songs on the album were actually used on the soundtrack. The album peaked at number 55 on the ''Billboard'' album chart in the US.

New recording sessions commenced in March 1970, with Mal Evans producing. Two songs were completed, including "No Matter What," but it was rejected by Apple as a potential single. Geoff Emerick then took over as producer, and the band completed its second album in July 1970. During the recordings, the band were sent to Hawaii on 4 June, to appear at a Capitol/Apple Records convention, and then flew to Italy to play concerts in Rome. ''No Dice'' was released in the US in late 1970, peaking at number 28 on the ''Billboard'' album chart. A re-mixed "No Matter What" was released as a single, reaching numerous Top Ten charts around the world, peaking at number eight in the US, and number five in the UK. The hit song from ''No Dice'' turned out to be "Without You", as Nilsson recorded the song in 1972, with his version becoming an international hit, reaching the ''Billboard'' number one, and spending five weeks at the top of the UK chart.. The verse lyrics were penned by Ham, with the chorus added by Evans. The song won Ham and Evans the 1972 Ivor Novello award for "Song of the Year".

In April 1970, while in America scouting prospects for a tour, Collins was introduced to New York businessman, Polley, who signed Badfinger to a business management contract in November 1970. Polley established Badfinger Enterprises, Inc., with Stan Poses as vice president. This signed the band members to various contracts dictating that receipts of touring, recording, publishing and even songwriter performance royalties, which would then go into holding companies controlled by Polley. This led to a salary arrangement for the band, which various members later complained was inadequate in comparison to their gross earnings. Gibbins: "My first impression was, Stan [Polley] is a powerful guy", while Molland thought that Polley seemed more of a father-figure. At the same time, Polley was also managing Al Kooper, of Blood, Sweat & Tears, and Lou Christie. Although Polley's professional reputation was admired, his dubious financial practices eventually contributed to the band's downfall. A financial statement prepared by Polley's accountants, Sigmund Balaban & Co., for the period from 8 December 1970 to 31 October 1971, showed Polley's income from the band: "Salaries and advances to client, $8,339 (Joey Molland), $6,861 (Mike Gibbins), $6,211 (Tom Evans), $5,959 (Pete Ham). Net corporation profit, $24,569. Management commission, $75,744 (Stan Polley)". Although it is not known if the band members saw the statement, Collins certainly had, as his handwriting was on the document.

Badfinger toured America for three months in late 1970, and were generally well received, although the band was already weary of persistent comparisons to The Beatles. "The thing that impressed me so much was how similar their voices were to The Beatles", Tony Visconti (producer, "Maybe Tomorrow") said, "I sometimes had to look over the control board down into the studio to make sure John and Paul weren't singing lead vocals". ''Rolling Stone'' critic Mike Saunders opined in a rave review of ''No Dice'' in 1970: "It's as if John, Paul, George, and Ringo had been reincarnated as Joey, Pete, Tom, and Mike of Badfinger". Media comparisons between them and The Beatles would continue throughout Badfinger's career. During this time, various members of Badfinger also recorded on sessions for fellow Apple Records labelmates, most notably playing acoustic guitars on Harrison's ''All Things Must Pass'' album (1970): "Isn't It a Pity" and its title song, All Things Must Pass. Ham and Evans also provided backing vocals on Ringo Starr's single, "It Don't Come Easy". Evans and Molland also performed on Lennon's album ''Imagine'' (1971), although Molland has said their tracks were not used. On 26 July 1971, all four members of Badfinger arrived at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, to rehearse for Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh, on 1 August 1971. Ham duetted with Harrison on "Here Comes the Sun" during the concert.

Badfinger finished recording their third album, again with Emerick as producer, but the tapes were rejected by Apple. Harrison took over as producer in spring of 1971, but later pulled out of the project because of his Bangladesh commitments; the album was then completed by Todd Rundgren. ''Straight Up'' was released in the US in December 1971, and spawned two successful singles: "Day After Day" (''Billboard'' number four), which sold over a million worldwide, and "Baby Blue" (US number 14). The album reached number 31 on the US charts. It included uncredited special guest appearances from Harrison, Leon Russell, and Klaus Voormann. Commenting on the recording of the dual slide guitars on "Day After Day", Molland remembered: "Pete and I had done the backing track, and George came in the studio and asked if we'd mind if he played ... It took hours, and hours, and hours, to get those two guitars in sync". The band embarked on a US tour in 1972, but after problems with Evans, Gibbins left and was replaced for the tour by drummer Rob Stawinsky, who was described as Badfinger's "solid, new drummer". Gibbins would rejoin the band after the tour.

By 1972, the band were contracted for one last album with Apple Records. Despite Badfinger's success, Apple was facing troubled times and its operations were being cut back by Klein, informing Badfinger that the label would not be as generous as previously regarding a new contract. By this time, manager Polley was openly suspected of financial mismanagement by his other clients, Christie and music arranger Charlie Calello. A series of allegations also represented Polley as a one-time "bagman" for the Mafia.

Sessions for Badfinger's fourth and last album for Apple, ''Ass'', had begun as far back as early 1972 and would continue at five recording studios over the next year. Rundgren was originally hired to produce, but quit in a financial dispute during the first week. The band then produced itself, but Apple rejected their version of the album. Finally, Badfinger hired Chris Thomas to co-produce and complete the project. In the meanwhile, Polley negotiated a deal with Warner Bros. Records, that required a new album from the band every six months over a three-year period. By this time Evans had become suspicious of Polley's oversight, but the band nevertheless signed the deal. Released in 1973, the ''Ass'' front cover featured Evans' idea: a jackass staring at a huge dangling carrot. The ''Ass'' release was further stalled because of legal wrangling, with Polley using Molland's unsigned song publishing as a negotiating ploy. Attempting to sweep discrepancies under the carpet in order to secure the LP's release Apple attributed the songwriting credits to "Badfinger". But both ''Ass'' (US number 122), and its accompanying lead single, "Apple of My Eye", fell short of reaching the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.

All four Badfinger albums on Apple have been re-issued twice; first in the early 1990s as part of a revival of the Apple catalogue and again in 2010, when the albums were available individually or as part of the 17 Apple Box Set. The sole Iveys' album ''Maybe Tomorrow'' was also issued in the early 1990s but was not part of the 2010 campaign.

Warner Bros.

After the Apple contract had been fulfilled, Polley signed the band to a management contract demanding two albums a year. Poses, as vice president of Badfinger Enterprises Inc., repeatedly told the band not to sign the contract. Polley then organised a $3 million recording contract with Warner Bros., telling the band, "You're all millionaires!" The deal gave the band 12% of retail in the US—the price Warner Brothers received from record outlets—and 8.5% for the rest of the world, with a $225,000 advance for every album delivered.

Only six weeks after the ''Ass'' sessions had been completed, Badfinger re-entered the studio to begin recording material for its first Warner Bros. release, ''Badfinger'' (the intended title, ''For Love or Money,'' was omitted from the album pressings). The album was produced by Thomas, even though the songs were being written in the studio as they recorded. ''Ass'' and ''Badfinger'' were released almost simultaneously, and the accompanying singles from ''Badfinger'', "Love Is Easy" (UK) and "I Miss You" (US), were unsuccessful. Badfinger did manage to retain some US fan support as a result of their touring schedule. A March 1974 concert at the Cleveland Agora was recorded on 16-track tape for a possible live album release, even though the performance was deemed unsatisfactory at the time.

Following the American tours, Badfinger recorded ''Wish You Were Here'' at the Caribou Ranch recording studio in Colorado, and at George Martin's AIR Studios in London. The album was well received by ''Rolling Stone'' and other periodicals upon its release in October 1974, but crises in band management, money and band leadership were creating growing frictions within Badfinger. Molland's wife, Kathie, had been taking a more assertive role in the band's politics, which did not endear her to the rest of the band, particularly Ham. She remembered complaining that even though the band had had hit records, they "still didn't have a fridge, and didn't have a TV". Just before the start of rehearsals for an October 1974 UK tour, Ham suddenly quit Badfinger during a management meeting, standing up and shouting “I don't want Kathie [Molland] managing the band! I'm leaving”. He found a cottage in Wales, where he hoped to build a studio. He was quickly replaced by guitarist/keyboardist Bob Jackson, who was then idle after previous involvement with The Fortunes. During Ham's three-week hiatus from the band, Polley tried to interest record companies in Ham as a solo act, but under pressure from Warner Brothers, Ham rejoined the band in time for the tour, as the company made it clear that it would have little to no interest in promoting Badfinger if Ham was not a part of it. Jackson remained as full-time keyboardist, making the band a quintet. After the UK tour, Molland quit of his own accord to pursue a solo career in December 1974. Over the previous year, Warner Brothers' publishing arm had become increasingly troubled by a lack of communication from Polley regarding the status of an escrow account of advance funds. Per their contract, Polley was to deposit $250,000 into a mutually accessible account for safekeeping, which both Warner Publishing and the band could potentially access. But Polley did not reveal the account's whereabouts to Warner Publishing, and he reportedly ignored warnings to do so. Unbeknownst to the band, threats of litigation had been going on behind the scenes. It has been claimed that the total sum lost from the account was in the region of $600,000.

With Molland gone and an increasingly unstable situation overall, Polley's next ploy was to press the band to pass up a US tour to go back into Apple Recording Studios to record its third album under the Warner Brothers' contract. Over only eleven days at the Apple studio, tracks were recorded for the ''Head First'' album (eventually released in 2000), and rough mixes were distributed to the musicians and Warner Brothers Records in America. The album could not be formally accepted by Warner Bros., because their publishing arm had already filed a lawsuit against Polley and Badfinger in the L.A. Superior Court, on 10 December 1974. Polley had hoped submitting the ''Head First'' tapes would secure at least one more album cash advance before the litigation, but Warner Brothers refused to accept the tapes and never paid for the sessions. The legal action led to the company stopping the promotion of ''Wish You Were Here'' after seven weeks, and ending distribution worldwide, thus completely halting Badfinger's career. Warner Brothers filed a lawsuit against Polley that lasted four years, with Polley finally being forced to pay a "substantial sum" back to the company. In 1987, detective John Hansen, working for the Riverside District Attorney's office, started an investigation into fraudulent bank dealings by Polley.

A suicide, a reunion, and another suicide

With their current album suddenly withdrawn and their follow-up rejected, Badfinger spent the early months of 1975 trying to figure out how to proceed under the unclear legal situation. Salaries were no longer arriving and panic set in, especially for Ham, who had recently bought a £30,000 house in Woking, Surrey, and whose girlfriend was expecting a child. According to Jackson, the band tried to continue without Polley's involvement by contacting booking agents and prospective managers throughout London, but they were routinely declined because of their restrictive contracts with Polley and impending legal actions. Ham tried many times to contact Polley by telephone during the early months of 1975, but was never able to reach him.

After a night out at a pub together, where Ham had drunk ten whiskies, Evans drove him home at three o'clock in the morning. On 24 April 1975, Ham hanged himself in his garage studio in Woking. His suicide note—addressed to his girlfriend, Anne Herriot, and her son, Blair—blamed manager Polley for much of his internal despair and inability to cope with his disappointments in life. The note read: "Anne, I love you. Blair, I love you. I will not be allowed to love and trust everybody. This is better. Pete. P.S. Stan Polley is a soulless bastard. I will take him with me". Ham had shown growing signs of mental illness over the past months, with Gibbins remembering Ham putting out cigarettes on his hands and arms. He was cremated at the Morriston Crematorium, Swansea; his ashes were spread in the memorial gardens. Ham's daughter, Petera, was born one month after his death.

After Ham's death, Badfinger dissolved. Gibbins joined the Flying Aces, and Evans and Jackson became part of a group called The Dodgers. They released three British singles on Island Records in 1976. "Don't Let Me Be Wrong" was the act's only US release, but failed to chart. Subsequently, the management of the Dodgers fired Evans for insubordination and deleted all his performances from the group's subsequent album recordings (later released as ''Love On The Rebound''). Molland had started a band in 1975 with (Colosseum's) Mark Clarke and (Humble Pie's) Jerry Shirley called Natural Gas, performing a few concerts as the opening act for Peter Frampton in 1976. They released a self-titled album and three singles, but none managed to chart. Gibbins performed session drumming for various Welsh acts, including Bonnie Tyler's international hit "It's a Heartache", and later released four solo albums.

By 1977, both Molland and Evans were out of the music business. Molland later described his dire economic circumstances: "Thank God I had guitars and I was able to sell some of that stuff. We were flat broke, and that's happened to me three times, where my wife and I have had to sell off everything and go and stay with her parents or do whatever. I installed carpeting for a while in Los Angeles and stuff like that. You do what you've got to do to survive." In London, Evans briefly had jobs insulating pipes, and driving a taxi. Collins was having trouble paying the lease on the group's two-room rehearsal studio at 6 Denmark Street, London. After advertising for new occupants, he was contacted by Malcolm McLaren, manager of The Sex Pistols, who gave Collins £650 and a Fender Rhodes piano as down payment.

Later in 1977, US-based drummer Kenny Harck and guitarist Joe Tansin recruited Molland to start a new band. When they needed a bass player, Molland suggested Evans, who joined after a visit to California in 1978. Encouragement from the Elektra record company led to the decision to rename the new band Badfinger. Their “comeback” album, ''Airwaves'', was released in 1979. Harck was fired from the band during the sessions and Tansin left the band immediately after the album was completed. To promote the album, Molland and Evans recruited Tony Kaye (ex-Yes) on keyboards, and Peter Clarke on drums, from Stealers Wheel. The single "Love is Gonna Come At Last" from ''Airwaves'' reached #69 on the ''Billboard'' chart. With Glenn Sherba added on second guitar and Richard Bryans (Aviary) replacing Clarke on drums, Badfinger released their second album, ''Say No More'', in 1981, with the album being distributed by Radio Records. The initial single, "Hold On," reached number 56 on the ''Billboard'' charts.

During 1982 and 1983, Molland and Evans operated rival touring bands, each using the name Badfinger, which created personal and professional conflict. In the summer of 1982, Evans teamed with pre-1975 Badfinger members Jackson, Gibbins and guitarist Adam Allen, and in the fall of 1982, Evans, Jackson and Gibbins were joined by guitarists Reed Kailing, of The Grass Roots, and (Chicago's) Donnie Dacus. In 1983, Evans and Jackson were joined by post-1975 Badfinger members Kaye, guitarist Sherba and drummer Lenny Campanaro. Meanwhile, for his Badfinger concerts, Molland had teamed with post-1975 member Tansin. Evans and Jackson signed a management contract with Milwaukee businessman John Cass, which led to a disastrous tour and a $5 million lawsuit, which was finally settled on 21 October 1985, in Cass's favour, although both musicians argued that their responsibilities of the contract could not be enforced because certain management obligations had not been performed. Early in 1983, Evans and Jackson, with assistance from new member Al Wodtke, completed four demos in Minneapolis, under the name of "Badfinger". The demos included Jackson's "I Won't Forget You"; a tribute to Ham. The songs were briefly promoted but failed to generate strong interest, despite the involvement of David Bowie/Stevie Wonder manager Don Powell.

On 19 November 1983, Evans and Molland had an extensive and heated argument on the telephone regarding past Badfinger income still in escrow from the Apple era, and the "Without You" songwriting royalties Evans was now receiving, which Molland, former manager Collins and Gibbins all wanted a share of. Following this argument, Evans hanged himself in the garden at his home in Richmond, England. He was cremated at the Woking Crematorium, Surrey, on 25 November 1983. After Carey's recording of "Without You" in 1994, Molland and Gibbins collected an award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) in 1995, incurring the anger of Ham and Evans' families, who were ignored by the society.

In 1984, Molland, Gibbins and Jackson reunited as Badfinger, along with Al Wodtke and Randy Anderson, playing thirty-one dates as part of a "20th Anniversary of the British Rock 'N' Roll tour", which included Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Troggs, Billy J. Kramer and Herman's Hermits. In 1986, Molland and Gibbins resumed sporadic touring as Badfinger, until Gibbins left for good in August 1989.

Subsequent Iveys and Badfinger releases and activities

Badfinger's first collection entitled ''Shine On'', spanning their two Warner Brothers albums, was released in the UK in 1989. In 1990, Rhino Records released another Warner Brothers-era compilation, ''The Best of Badfinger, Vol. 2,'' including material from both ''Airwaves'' and the previously unreleased ''Head First''. A greatest hits collection taken from Badfinger's four albums on Apple, ''Come And Get It: The Best Of Badfinger'', appeared in 1995 on the EMI/Apple/Capitol, which was the band's first release since 1973's ''Ass'' to be assigned a standard Apple catalogue number: SAPCOR 28. A more comprehensive collection, with tracks from both record labels, was 2000s ''The Very Best Of Badfinger''.

In 1990, Rykodisc released ''Day After Day: Live'', billed as a Badfinger live recording from 1974. The album underwent substantial re-recording, and a rearranged track order by the album's producer, Molland, and had a mixed critical reaction. The album's release then sparked a lawsuit filed by Molland. The band's accounting firm, collecting for a 1985 court order settlement, had re-adjusted against Molland's Apple royalty income by deducting away the percentage amounts of that court order, then reimbursing those amounts to the other Badfinger parties. The Rykodisc contract did not include artist royalty payments, because Molland had advised Rykodisc he would take care of that distribution himself under another company name. Molland subsequently sued the other members and their estates to recoup his expenses plus a producer's royalty. He was awarded a partial settlement, as the judge stated the evidence against Molland was insufficient to justify a severe penalty, also noting that since both parties had conceded the original tapes were of a poor quality, Mollands' salvaging of them to a commercial level merited consideration.

While in a 1988 readers poll for ''Goldmine'' magazine ''Straight Up'' ranked as the most-requested CD release among out-of-print albums, the album made it to CD only in 1993. In 1995, Molland was paid to re-record the ten most popular Badfinger songs. These recordings were variously packaged in the market, often showing the original 1970s lineup of the band with little or no disclaiming information, despite Molland being the only original member of Badfinger who performed. A detailed biography of Badfinger by Dan Matovina was published in 1998, entitled ''Without You: The Tragic Story Of Badfinger''. The 2000 update of the book was accompanied by a CD of rare material and interviews.

In 2000, a rough mix version of ''Head First'' (prepared by Apple engineer Phil McDonald, in December 1974) was released on CD. Warner Brothers had refused access to the original master tapes for remixing, despite never having paid for the original sessions. In 2002, Gibbins released a two-disk set of a Badfinger performance recorded in Indiana, on 19 October 1982, which had been captured on a basic cassette recorder, which was initially (and inaccurately) entitled ''Live 83 — DBA-BFR''. The band at that time had consisted of Evans, Gibbins, Jackson, Kailing and Dacus. In 2003 and 2006, two separate CDs of related Apple Publishing music, ''94 Baker Street'', and ''An Apple A Day,'' were released. The CDs contain nine songs by the pre-Badfinger Iveys. In 2008, another CD of Apple-related songs, ''Treacle Toffee World: Further Adventures Into the Pop Psych Sounds from the Apple Era 1967-1969'', included two more Iveys demos.

Post-Badfinger solo activities

Since 1990, Molland has occasionally performed in the US as "Badfinger" or "Badfinger featuring Joey Molland", and has released three solo albums, ''After The Pearl'' (1985), ''The Pilgrim'' (1992) and ''This Way Up'' (2001). He also released a collection of demos called ''Basil'' (1998) on his own label, Independent Artists.

In 1995, Jackson joined re-joined The Fortunes. Jackson sings lead and they consistently perform Badfinger songs in their set. In both 1997 and 1999, posthumous collections of Ham's home recordings were released: ''7 Park Avenue'' (1997), and ''Golders Green'' (1999), with extra instruments added by Jackson and Griffiths. In 1995, a posthumous Evans album was released, ''Over You: The Final Tracks'', which was produced by friend and post-Badfinger songwriting partner, Rod Roach. In 1996, Gibbins contributed two songs to the compilation album, ''Young Savage Florida'' (1996). He then released four solo albums through Exile Music: ''A Place in Time'' in 1998, ''More Annoying Songs'' (featuring ex-Iveys member Griffiths singing on 2 tracks) in 2002, ''Archeology'' (Griffiths on 1 track) in 2005, and ''In the Meantime'', also in 2005. The latter included different re-recordings of both the Badfinger hit "Come and Get It" and Gibbins' "In the Meantime", originally from the ''Wish You Were Here'' album in 1974.

Collins died in 2002, and on 4 October 2005, Gibbins died in his sleep at his home in Oviedo, Florida, of natural causes. He had been married twice and had three sons. In June 2006, a Badfinger convention took place in Swansea, featuring a performance by Jackson. The event brought together Jackson, Griffiths, and some members of the Ham, Evans and Gibbins families. On 1 January 2008, the BBC Wales radio station broadcast an hour-long documentary about Badfinger. Kathie Molland died on 24 March 2009, and Polley died on 20 July 2009, in California.

Personnel

Membership of The Iveys/Badfinger underwent numerous personnel changes and, at the end, none of the original members of The Iveys were still in Badfinger. Members of Badfinger before 1975 are in bold.

Discography

Original albums

!Year of Release	!Title and Billboard position	!Singles	!Billboard position	!Cashbox position	!Melody Maker position	!Boss Radio position
1969
	''Magic Christian Music'' number 55
''No Dice'' number 28
	rowspan="2"
1973
		"Love Is Easy"	"I Miss You"
	rowspan="2"	"Lost Inside Your Love"
"Love Is Gonna Come at Last"
1981		"Hold On"
1990	''Day After Day: Live''
1997	''BBC in Concert 1972-1973''
2000
2002	''Live 83 — DBA-BFR''

Compilations

!Year of Release	!Title
1989	''Shine On'' (UK only)
1990	''The Best of Badfinger, Vol. 2''
1995	''The Best Of Badfinger''
2000	''The Very Best Of Badfinger''
2010	''Magic Christian Music; No Dice; Straight Up; Ass (remastered LPs w/bonus tracks)''
2010	''Apple Records Extra: Badfinger''

Notes

References

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External links

Badfinger Biography Book

Badfinger Library

Badfinger-Iveys

Joey Molland's Badfinger site

Badfingerlinks.com

Category:British rock music groups Category:People from Swansea Category:Musical groups established in 1969 Category:Welsh rock music groups Category:Apple Records artists Category:Media and culture in Swansea Category:British power pop groups

cs:Badfinger de:Badfinger es:Badfinger fr:Badfinger it:Badfinger nl:Badfinger ja:バッドフィンガー no:Badfinger pt:Badfinger ru:Badfinger simple:Badfinger fi:Badfinger sv:Badfinger uk:Badfinger

Coordinates	56°09′″N40°25′″N
name	Kenny Rogers
background	solo_singer
birth name	Kenneth Donald Rogers
born	August 21, 1938
origin	Houston, Texas, U.S.
instrument	Vocals, guitar, bass guitar, harmonica
genre	Country, country pop, rock (with The First Edition)
occupation	Singer-songwriter, actor, record producer
years active	1958–present
label	Cue, Carlton, Mercury, United Artists, RCA, Reprise, Giant, Atlantic, Curb, Dreamcatcher, Capitol Nashville, WEA
associated acts	The New Christy Minstrels, The First Edition, Glen Campbell, Dolly Parton, Dottie West, Juice Newton, Sheena Easton, Kim Carnes
website	}}

Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers He was voted the "Favorite Singer of All-Time" in a 1986 joint poll by readers of both USA Today and People. He has received such awards as the AMAs, Grammys, ACMs and CMAs, as well as a lifetime achievement award for a career spanning six decades in 2003.

Later success includes the 2006 album release, ''Water & Bridges'', an across the board hit, that peaked at #5 in the Billboard Country Albums sales charts, also charting high in the Billboard 200. The first single from the album, "I Can't Unlove You," was also a chart hit. Remaining a popular entertainer around the world, the following year he completed a tour of the United Kingdom and the Ireland telling BBC Radio 2 DJ Steve Wright, his favorite hit was "The Gambler". He has also acted in a variety of movies and television shows, most notably the title roles in ''Kenny Rogers as The Gambler'' and the MacShayne series as well as his appearance on the Muppet Show.

Personal life

Rogers was born in Houston, Texas in 1938, the fourth of seven children born to Lucille (née Hester; d. 1991), a nurse, and Edward Floyd Rogers (d. 1975), a carpenter. Rogers graduated from Jefferson Davis High School in Houston.

Career

Early career

His career began in the mid-1950s, when he recorded with a doo-wop group called The Scholars who had some success with a single called "Poor Little Doggie". Rogers was not the lead singer of the group and after two more singles they disbanded when their leader went solo.

Now on his own, Kenneth Rogers (as he was billed then) followed the breakup with his own single, a minor solo hit called "That Crazy Feeling" (1958). After sales slowed down, Rogers joined a jazz group called The Bobby Doyle Trio, who got a lot of work in clubs thanks to a reasonable fan following and also recorded for Columbia Records. The group disbanded in 1965, and a 1966 jazzy rock single Rogers recorded for Mercury Records, called "Here's That Rainy Day" failed. Rogers also worked as a producer, writer and session musician for other performers; including country artists Mickey Gilley and Eddy Arnold. In 1966 he joined The New Christy Minstrels as a singer and double bass player.

Feeling that the Minstrels were not offering the success they wanted, Rogers and fellow members Mike Settle, Terry Williams and Thelma Camacho left the group. They formed The First Edition in 1967 (later renamed "Kenny Rogers and The First Edition"). They chalked up a string of hits on both the pop and country charts, including "Something's Burning", "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town", "Reuben James" and "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)". In his First Edition days, Rogers had something of a hippie image, with long brown hair, an earring, and pink sunglasses. Known affectionately in retrospect as "Hippie Kenny", Rogers had a much smoother vocal style than in his later career.

When the group split in 1976, Rogers launched his solo career. Rogers soon developed a more middle of the road sound, with a somewhat rough but tuneful voiced style that sold to both pop and country audiences; to date, he has charted more than 60 top 40 hit singles (including upwards of 25 #1's) and 50 of his albums have charted. His music has also been featured in top selling movie soundtracks, such as ''Convoy'', ''Urban Cowboy'' and ''The Big Lebowski''.

Solo career

thumb|Rogers in 1981.After leaving The First Edition in 1976, after almost a decade with the group, Rogers signed a solo deal with United Artists. Although producer Larry Butler had no doubts about Rogers's talent, he was advised by several colleagues not to sign Rogers, who some saw as a has-been. Nevertheless, Butler and Rogers began a partnership that would last four years.

Rogers first outing for his new label was ''Love Lifted Me''. The album charted and two singles "Love Lifted Me" and "While the Feeling's Good" were minor hits. The song "Runaway Girl" was featured in the motion picture ''Trackdown''. Later in 1976, Rogers issued his second album, the self-titled ''Kenny Rogers'', whose first single "Laura (What's He Got That I Ain't Got)", was another solo hit.

However, the single "Lucille" (1977) was a major hit, reaching number one on the pop charts in 12 countries, selling over five million copies, and firmly establishing Rogers's post-First Edition career. On the strength of "Lucille", the album ''Kenny Rogers'' reached #1 in the Billboard Country Album Chart. More success was to follow, including the multi-million selling album ''The Gambler'' and another international Number 1 single, "Coward of the County", taken from the equally successful album, ''Kenny''. In 1980, the Rogers/Butler partnership came to an end, though they would occasionally reunite: in 1987 on the album ''I Prefer the Moonlight'' and again in 1993 on the album ''If Only My Heart Had a Voice''.

In the late 1970s, Rogers teamed up with close friend and country singer Dottie West for a series of albums and duets. Together the duo had three hit albums, selling out stadiums and arenas while on tour. Their hits together "Every Time Two Fools Collide", "Anyone Who Isn't Me Tonight" and "What Are We Doin' in Love" became Country standards. Of West, Rogers stated in a 1995 TNN interview "She, more than anybody else I ever worked with, sang with such emotion that you actually believed what she sang." Rogers was with West when she died after sustaining injuries in a 1991 car accident. In 1995 he starred opposite Michele Lee in the CBS biopic ''Big Dreams and Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story''.

In 1980, his duet with Kim Carnes "Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer" became a major hit. Later in 1980 came his partnership with Lionel Richie who wrote and produced Rogers's #1 hit "Lady". Richie went on to write and produce Rogers's 1981 album ''Share Your Love'', a chart topper and commercial favorite featuring hits such as "I Don't Need You" (Pop #3), "Through the Years" (Pop #13), and "Share Your Love with Me" (Pop #14). His first Christmas album was also released that same year. In 1982, Rogers released the album ''Love Will Turn You Around''. The title track reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the country and AC charts. Shortly after he started working with producer David Foster in 1983 recording the smash Bob Seger cover "We've Got Tonight", a duet with Sheena Easton.

He went on to work with the Bee Gees to record and produce his 1983 hit album ''Eyes That See in the Dark'', featuring the title track and yet another #1 hit "Islands in the Stream", a duet with Dolly Parton. The Gibbs originally wrote the song for Marvin Gaye in an R&B; style, only later to change it for the Kenny Rogers album. The partnership with Bee Gees only lasted one album, which was not a surprise considering that Rogers's original intentions were to work with Barry Gibb in only one song but Barry insisted on them doing the entire album.

"Islands in the Stream", Rogers' duet with Dolly Parton, was the first single to be released from ''Eyes That See in the Dark'' in the United States, and it quickly went to #1 in the Billboard Hot 100 (it would prove to be the last country single to reach #1 on that chart until "Amazed" by Lonestar did so in 2000), as well as topping Billboard's country and adult contemporary singles charts; it was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipping two million copies in the US. Rogers would reunite with Parton in 1984 for a holiday album and TV special, ''Once Upon a Christmas'', as well as a 1985 duet "Real Love", which also topped the U.S. country singles chart.

Despite the "Islands in the Stream"s success, however, RCA insisted on releasing ''Eyes''' title track as the first UK single, and the song stalled at a disappointing #61 there, although it did stay in the top 100 for several weeks (when it was eventually released in the US, it was more successful, charting high on the Adult Contemporary chart and making the country top 30). "Islands in the Stream" was issued as a followup single in Britain and sold well, making #7. The album itself reached #1 on the country charts on both sides of the Atlantic and enjoyed multi-million sales. "Buried Treasure," "This Woman" and "Evening Star"/"Midsummer Nights" were also all successful singles from the album.

Shortly after came the album ''What About Me?'', a hit whose title track, a trio performance with James Ingram and Kim Carnes, was nominated for a Grammy award; the single "Crazy" (not to be confused with the Willie Nelson-penned Patsy Cline hit) topped the country charts. David Foster was to work again with Rogers in his 1985 album ''The Heart of the Matter'', although this time Foster was playing backing music rather than producing, a role given to George Martin. This album was another success, going to #1, with the title track making to the top ten category in the singles charts.

The next few years saw Rogers scoring several top country hits on a regular basis, including "Twenty Years Ago," "Morning Desire," "Tomb of the Unknown Love", among others. On 28 January 1985 Rogers was one of the 45 artists who recorded the worldwide charity song "We Are the World" to support hunger victims in Africa. The following year he played at Giants Stadium.

On January 1987, Rogers co-hosted the American Music Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. By 1988 to 1990, Rogers had In the 1990s Rogers continued to chart with singles such as "Crazy In Love", "If You Want To Find Love" and "The Greatest". His second Christmas album entitled "Christmas in America" was released in 1989 for Reprise Records. From 1991-94, Rogers hosted ''The Real West'' on A&E;, and on The History Channel since 1995 (Reruns only on The History Channel). He visited Miller's during this time period. From 1992-95, Rogers co-owned and headlined Branson, Missouri's 4,000 seat Grand Palace Theatre. In 1994, Rogers released his "dream" album titled ''Timepiece'' on Atlantic Records. It consisted of 1930s/40s jazz standards; it was the type of music he performed in his early days with The Bobby Doyle Three in Houston.

In 1996 he released an album ''Vote For Love'' where the public requested their favorite love songs and Rogers performed the songs (several of his own hits were in there). The album was the first for the TV shopping channel QVC's record label, onQ Music. The album, sold exclusively by QVC, was a huge success and was later issued in stores under a variety of different titles. It reached #1 in the UK country charts under the title ''Love Songs'' (a title also used for various compilations) and also crossed over into the mainstream charts.

In 1999 Rogers scored with the single "The Greatest", a song about life from a child's point of view (looked at through a baseball game). The song reached the top 40 of Billboard's Country singles chart and was a Country Music Television Number One video. It was on Rogers's album ''She Rides Wild Horses'' the following year (itself a top 10 success). In 1999, Rogers also produced a song, "We've Got It All", specifically for the series finale of the ABC show ''Home Improvement''. Not on any album, the recording sells for a high sum at auction.

Beyond the 1990s

In the 21st century, Rogers was back at #1 for the first time in more than a decade with the 2000 single "Buy Me a Rose", making him, at 61, the oldest artist in the history of country music to reach the chart summit. In doing so, he broke a 26-year-old record held by Hank Snow (who, in April 1974, was 59 years and 11 months old when he scored with "Hello Love"). Rogers held the record until 2003, when then 70-year-old Willie Nelson became the oldest artist to have a No. 1 on the country charts with his duet with Toby Keith, "Beer for My Horses". Rogers also released the critically acclaimed album ''Back to the Well''.

Although Rogers did not record new albums for a couple of years, he continued to have success in many countries with more greatest hits packages. In 2004 ''42 Ultimate Hits'', which was the first hits collection to span his days with the First Edition to the present, reached Number 6 on the American country charts and went gold. It also featured two new songs, "My World Is Over" with Whitney Duncan and "We Are the Same". "My World Is Over" was released as a single and was a minor hit. In 2005 ''The Very Best of Kenny Rogers'', a double album, sold well in Europe. It was the first new solo Kenny Rogers hits album to reach the United Kingdom for over a decade, despite many compilations there that were not true hits packages.

Rogers also signed with Capitol Records and had more success with the TV advertised release ''21 Number Ones'' in January 2006. Although this CD did contain 21 chart-toppers as the title claims (recorded between 1976 and the present day), this was not a complete collection of Rogers's #1 singles, omitting such singles as "Crazy in Love" and "What About Me?"

Much of his success was during the period from 1976 to 1983, when he was signed to United Artists and later Liberty. It is very rare for an artist of Rogers's age to be signed to a major label. Capitol followed ''21 Number Ones'' with Rogers's new studio album, ''Water And Bridges'', in March 2006 on the Capitol Nashville Records label. The first single from the album was "I Can't Unlove You" which peaked at #17 on the country charts, after spending over 6 months on the hit list, more than 50 years after he formed his first group and 38 years after his first major hit as leader of The First Edition; the song remains in recurrent airplay on some radio stations today. "I Can't Unlove You" was followed up with the second single from the album, "The Last Ten Years (Superman)", in September 2006. The third single, "Calling Me," which features Don Henley, became popular in early 2007, and was nominated for a Grammy Award at the 2007 Grammy Awards. Also in 2007, the 1977 "Kenny Rogers" album was re-issued as a double play CD, also featuring the 1979 "Kenny" album and this once again put Rogers's name into the sales charts worldwide. The following year, another compilation album ("A Love Song Collection") also charted. He currently lives in Atlanta.

As of 2011 Rogers has recorded 65 albums and sold over 190 million records.

On August 26, 2008, Rogers released "50 Years" exclusively at Cracker Barrel stores. The album includes some of Rogers's greatest hits, plus 3 new songs. The release is designed to celebrate Rogers's 50th year in the music business. However, it should be noted Rogers has been in the music business for more than 50 years including his releases with The Scholars, who recorded for a local label in Houston. 1958 was the year he signed his first recording deal with a major label. In 2007 the England national rugby union team team adopted Rogers song "The Gambler" as their unofficial 2007 Rugby World Cup anthem, after hearing prop Matt Stevens playing it in the team hotel. Before the Semi-final against France and the Final against South Africa, Rogers sent video messages of support to the team in light of them choosing his song. He offered to come to England and party with the team if they won the World cup.

In 2008 Rogers toured with his very popular Christmas Show. However, he decided to split the show up, making the first half his "best of" and the second half consisted of his Christmas songs. One such show was at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.

In 2009 he toured the UK, playing in Cardiff CIA (March 27), Birmingham NIA (March 28), Manchester MEN (March 29), Newcastle Arena (March 30), Plymouth Pavilions (April 1), Nottingham Concert Hall (April 2), London Hammersmith Apollo (April 3) and Bournemouth BIC (April 4), with support band - Savannah Jack. In 2009, Kenny embarked on his 50th Anniversary Tour. The tour went around the United States, Britain and Ireland.

On April 10, 2010, a TV special was taped, ''Kenny Rogers: The First 50 Year''s. Dolly Parton and Lionel Richie were among those set to perform with Kenny during a show celebrating his contribution to country, blues and pop music, It took place at the MGM Grand in Foxwoods. This special is set debut on March 8, 2011 on Great American Country.

Outside music

Rogers also had success as an actor. His 1982 movie ''Six Pack'', in which he played a race-car driver, took more than $20 million at the US box office, while made-for-TV movies such as ''The Gambler'', ''Christmas in America'', and ''Coward of the County'' (based on hit songs of his) topped ratings lists.

As an entrepreneur, he collaborated with former Kentucky Fried Chicken CEO John Y. Brown, Jr. in 1991 to start up the restaurant chain Kenny Rogers Roasters. The chicken and ribs chain, which is similar to Boston Market, was famously featured in an episode of the NBC sitcom ''Seinfeld'' called "The Chicken Roaster". On the November 27, 1997, broadcast of ''Late Night with Conan O’Brien'', Rogers could not pick his chicken out in a taste test, claiming he preferred "greasy burgers."

Rogers and his restaurant were subjects of comedy from ''MADtv'', especially the impersonation done by Will Sasso; the sketch of the faux-Rogers hosting ''Jackass'' became popular on the Internet.

Rogers put his name to the Gambler Chassis Co., a Sprint car racing manufacturer started by C. K. Spurlock in Hendersonville, Tennessee. The company used the name from Rogers hit song ''The Gambler''. During the 1980s/90s, Gambler was one of the fastest and widely used Sprintcars with such drivers as Steve Kinser, Sammy Swindell and Doug Wolfgang driving the cars to victory in the World of Outlaws and the famous Knoxville Nationals. Gambler sprintcars were also successful in Australia with drivers such as Garry Rush and Steve Brazier using Gamblers to win multiple Australian Sprintcar Championships.

Rogers appeared in a 2004 episode of Reno 911 as himself being subjected to incompetent security provided by starstruck sheriff's deputies to comical effect. In this episode, Deputy Garcia, who is obsessed with Rogers, reveals that he thinks that Rogers should focus all of his effort on acting, and "give that singing thing a rest for a while," because Garcia believes that Rogers could win an Oscar. In order to "protect" Rogers the deputies take down all of the posters announcing his appearance in Reno, when he finds out he angrily berates the deputies and leaves. He is then promptly shot and wounded by an obsessed fan played by Patton Oswalt, though he is only superficially wounded, and asks for "mall security".

Rogers is also the inspiration behind the pop culture website menwholooklikekennyrogers.com. The site features close to a thousand photos of men who look like the real Rogers, as well as tips on how to look like Rogers, places to spot Rogers look-alikes, and even a Kenny of the Month and sells t-shirts and buttons.

Marriages

Wanda Miller June 1, 1997 – present; 2 children

Marianne Gordon October 1, 1977 – 1993, divorced; 2 children

Margo Anderson October 1964 – 1976, divorced; 1 child

Jean Rogers October 1960 – 1963, divorced

Janice Gordon May 15, 1958 – April 1960, divorced; 1 child

Discography

Awards/Honors

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! Year ! Award ! Category |- | 2010 | American Eagle Award | American Eagle Award |- | 2009 | ACM Honors | Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award (w/ Jerry Reed, Randy Travis, Hank Williams Jr.) |- | 2007 | ASCAP Golden Note Award | ASCAP Golden Note Award |- | 2007 | CMT Music Awards | Album of the Year - ''Water & Bridges'' |- | 2005 | CMT Music Awards | Favorite All Time Country Duet - "Islands In the Stream" (w/ Dolly Parton) |- | 2004 | CMT's 100 Greatest Cheating Songs | "Ruby Don't Take Your Love to Town"- #6 |- | 2003 | International Entertainment Buyers Association | Lifetime Achievement Award |- | 2003 | CMT's 100 Greatest Country Songs | "The Gambler" - #26 |- | 2002 | CMT's 40 Greatest Men of Country Music | Ranking - #19 |- | 2000 | TNN Music Awards | Career Achievement Award |- | 1999 | BBC's Greatest Country Singer | Ranking - #2 |- | 1988 | Grammy Awards | Best Duo Country Vocal Performance - "Make No Mistake She's Mine" (w/ Ronnie Milsap) |- | 1986 | USA Today | Favorite Singer of All Time |- | 1985 | American Music Awards | Favorite Country Album - ''Eyes That See In the Dark'' |- | 1985 | American Music Awards | Favorite Male Country Artist |- | 1983 | Academy of Country Music Awards | Single of the Year - "Islands In the Stream" (w/ Dolly Parton) |- | 1983 | Academy of Country Music Awards | Top Vocal Duet - (w/ Dolly Parton) |- | 1983 | American Music Awards | Favorite Pop/Rock Country Artist |- | 1983 | American Music Awards | Favorite Country Single - "Love Will Turn You Around" |- | 1983 | ASAP Awards | Favorite Single - "Islands In the Stream" (w/ Dolly Parton) |- | 1982 | American Music Awards | Favorite Country Album - ''Greatest Hits'' |- | 1981 | American Music Awards | Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist |- | 1981 | American Music Awards | Favorite Country Album - ''The Gambler'' |- | 1981 | American Music Awards | Favorite Country Single - "Coward of the County" |- | 1980 | American Music Awards | Favorite Male Country Artist |- | 1980 | American Music Awards | Favorite Country Album - ''The Gambler'' |- | 1980 | Music City News Country | Single of the Year |- | 1979 | American Music Awards | Favorite Male Country Artist |- | 1979 | American Music Awards | Favorite Country Album - ''10 Years of Gold'' |- | 1979 | Country Music Association Awards | Male Vocalist of the Year |- | 1979 | Country Music Association Awards | Vocal Duo of the Year - (w/ Dottie West) |- | 1979 | Country Music Association Awards | Album of the Year - ''The Gambler'' |- | 1979 | Music City News Country | Male Artist of the Year |- | 1979 | Music City News Country | Single of the Year - "The Gambler" |- | 1979 | Grammy Awards | Best Male Country Vocal Performance - "The Gambler" |- | 1978 | American Music Awards | Favorite Single - "Lucille" |- | 1978 | Country Music Association Awards | Vocal Duo of the Year - (w/ Dottie West) |- | 1978 | Academy of Country Music Awards | Entertainer of the Year |- | 1978 | Academy of Country Music Awards | Top Male Vocalist |- | 1977 | Country Music Association Awards | Single of the Year - "Lucille" |- | 1977 | Academy of Country Music Awards | Top Male Vocalist |- | 1977 | Academy of Country Music Awards | Single of the Year - "Lucille" |- | 1977 | Academy of Country Music Awards | Song of the Year - "Lucille" |- | 1977 | Grammy Awards | Best Male Country Vocal Performance - "Lucille" |}

Record labels

The following is a list of record labels to which Rogers signed:

Cue (1957, with the band The Scholars and also as a solo singer)

Carlton (1958, solo deal)

KenLee (one single, label owned by Rogers and his brother Lelan)

Columbia (1960s, with jazz combo, The Bobby Doyle Three)

Reprise (1967, with The First Edition, all material recorded during this time has since been acquired by Universal Music)

Jolly Rogers (1973, with The First Edition, label was owned by Rogers)

United Artists (1975, solo deal)

Liberty (1980, United Artists merged into EMI/Capitol in 1980; some pressings of albums were issued on Capitol's imprint labels, EMI, EMI America, and EMI Manhattan.)

RCA (1983, solo deal)

Reprise (1989, solo deal)

Giant (1993, one solo album)

Atlantic (1994, one solo album)

onQ Music (1996, one solo album; onQ Music was created by the QVC Network to release exclusive albums for sale only on QVC. The first onQ release was Rogers's Vote for Love, a two-disc set that would later become available in standard retail stores.)

Magnatone (1996, solo deal)

Dreamcatcher (1998, solo deal; Dreamcatcher was owned and run by Rogers and Jim Mazza for the purpose of releasing Rogers albums and certain reissues of Rogers's catalog. Other artists such as Marshall Dyllon and Randy Dorman were released on Dreamcatcher Records, also. The label closed in 2004)

Capitol Nashville (2004, solo deal)

See also

Brady Hawkes

References

External links

Official website

delafont.com profile

[ Allmusic.com profile]

CMT.com profile

Kenny Rogers's Classic Weekend 1988

Goldsmith, Thomas. (1998). "Kenny Rogers". In ''The Encyclopedia of Country Music''. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 455–6.

Category:1938 births Category:American country singer-songwriters Category:American male singers Category:Atlantic Records artists Category:Capitol Records artists Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Houston, Texas Category:University of Houston alumni Category:The First Edition members Category:United Artists Records artists

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Coordinates	56°09′″N40°25′″N
Name	Pete Ham
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Peter William Ham
Born	April 27, 1947 Swansea, Wales
Died	April 24, 1975 Surrey, England
Genre	pop music, rock music
Occupation	singer, songwriter
Years active	1961–1975
Instrument	Guitar, Piano
Label	Apple, Warner Bros. Records, Rykodisc
Associated acts	Badfinger, The Iveys
Website	http://www.peteham.net/ }}

Pete Ham (27 April 1947 – 24 April 1975) was a Welsh singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known as the leader of the group Badfinger.

Early life

Ham was born in Swansea, Wales. He formed a local rock group called The Panthers around 1961. This group would undergo several name and lineup changes before it became ''The Iveys'' in 1965. The band was relocated to London by The Mojos manager, Bill Collins, in 1966, and they continued to perform for three years throughout the United Kingdom. As it was, Ham eventually became the prominent songwriter for the band, as a Revox tape recorder was made available by Collins to encourage him. Ray Davies of The Kinks took an initial interest in the group, although tracks produced by Davies did not surface commercially until decades later. In 1968, The Iveys came to the attention of Mal Evans (The Beatles personal assistant) and were eventually signed to the Beatles' Apple label after approval from all four Beatles, who were reportedly impressed by the band's songwriting abilities.

In Badfinger

The Iveys changed their name to Badfinger with the single release of "Come And Get It," a composition written by Paul McCartney, and it became a worldwide Top Ten hit. Ham had initially protested against using a non-original to promote the band, as he had gained confidence in the group's compositions, but he was quickly convinced of the springboard effect of having a likely hit single. His own creative perseverance paid off eventually, as his "No Matter What" composition became another Top Ten worldwide hit after its release in late 1970 . He followed up writing two more worldwide hits with "Day After Day" and "Baby Blue." His greatest songwriting success came with his co-written composition "Without You" - a worldwide #1 when covered by Harry Nilsson and released in 1972. The song has since become a ballad standard and is covered by hundreds of singers from many genres worldwide. An Ivor Novello award for Song Of The Year was issued in 1973 along with Grammy nominations. In 1972, Ham's group Badfinger was picked up by Warner Bros. Records, as the Apple label was crumbling and it seemed the band was primed for major recognition.

Death

During the Warner Bros. Records era from 1973–75, Badfinger became embroiled in many internal, financial, and managerial problems and their music was stifled. By 1975, with no income and the band's business manager non-communicative, Ham became despondent and he hanged himself in the garage of his Surrey home. Ham was aged 27 at the time; his suicide fell just three days shy of his 28th birthday. At the time of his death, his Blood alcohol content was estimated to have been 0.27%. He left behind a pregnant girlfriend (his daughter was born one month after his death). His suicide note had the statement ''"I will not be allowed to love and trust everybody. This is better.''" And an accusatory blast toward Badfinger's business manager, Stan Polley, with Ham writing: ''"P.S. Stan Polley is a soulless bastard. I will take him with me."'' Others of Polley's artist and business clients accused him of corruption over the years. News of Ham's death was not widely disseminated at the time, as no public comment was made by The Beatles, Apple Corps Ltd, or Warner Bros. Records.

Legacy

Ham is often credited as being one of the earliest purveyors of the power pop genre, but his most widespread effect in popular music is the ballad "Without You," written with Badfinger bandmate Tom Evans (who also committed suicide by hanging himself eight years later). Two collections of Ham's home demo recordings have been posthumously released: 1997's ''7 Park Avenue'' and 1999's ''Golders Green''.

Discography

with The Iveys

''Maybe Tomorrow'' (1969)

with Badfinger

''Magic Christian Music'' (1970)

''No Dice'' (1970)

''Straight Up'' (1971)

''Ass'' (1973)

''Badfinger'' (1974)

''Wish You Were Here'' (1974)

''Head First'' (2000)

Solo recordings

''7 Park Avenue'' (1997)

''Golders Green'' (1999)

Ham also appeared as a guest artist on

''The Concert for Bangladesh'' (the concert, the album, and the film)

''All Things Must Pass'' by George Harrison (album)

"It Don't Come Easy" by Ringo Starr (single)

Compositions of note

"No Matter What" (Billboard charting #8, by Badfinger)

"Without You" (Billboard charting #1 by Harry Nilsson, #3 by Mariah Carey, #28 by Clay Aiken).

"Day After Day" (Billboard charting #4, Cash Box charting #1, both by Badfinger)

"Baby Blue" (Billboard charting #14 by Badfinger)

References

External links

Pete Ham's Official website

Category:1947 births Category:1975 deaths Category:Apple Records artists Category:Badfinger members Category:People from Swansea Category:Musicians who committed suicide Category:Rykodisc artists Category:Suicides by hanging in England Category:Warner Bros. Records artists Category:Welsh male singers Category:Welsh singer-songwriters

cy:Peter Ham de:Pete Ham ja:ピート・ハム pt:Pete Ham simple:Peter Ham fi:Peter Ham

Coordinates	56°09′″N40°25′″N
Name	Joey Molland
| caption	Joey Molland on stage in Austin, Texas.
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Joseph Charles Molland
Born	June 21, 1947Edge Hill, Liverpool, England
Genre	Rock music
Occupation	Singer-songwriter
Years active	1965–present
Instrument	Guitar
Label	Apple, Warner Bros. Records, Elektra, Radio, Immediate Records, Earthtone Records
Associated acts	Badfinger, Natural Gas, Gary Walker and The Rain, The Masterminds, The Merseys
Website	}}

Joseph "Joey" Charles Molland (born 21 June 1947, Edge Hill, Liverpool, England) is an English composer and rock guitarist whose recording career spans four decades. He is best known as a member of Badfinger, the most successful of the acts he performed with.

Career

Originally a member of small local rock groups, such as The Assassins and The Profiles, Molland's recording career began in 1965 when he joined 'The Masterminds'. This group released a single on Immediate Records IM 005, consisting of a Bob Dylan cover of "She Belongs to Me" backed with a band original "Taken My Love". After this the group disbanded and Molland joined the backing group of The Merseys. Although never recording with the group, Molland accompanied them on tour.

Molland's recording career began in earnest in 1967 when he joined Gary Walker (formerly of the Walker Brothers) for the group 'Gary Walker & The Rain'. The Rain released several singles, an EP, and an album on the Polydor and Philips labels in the UK and Japan between 1967 and 1969. The album titled ''#1'', which featured four Molland compositions, was especially well received in Japan. But a lack of success in their UK homebase caused The Rain to disband by 1969.

Molland auditioned for the band Badfinger in November 1969 and was subsequently hired. Badfinger were a conspicuous Apple Records recording group at the time (a label launched by The Beatles). The band enjoyed an early string of successful singles and albums for the next couple of years (see Badfinger article for recording information). During Molland's association with Apple, he made guest appearances on two George Harrison albums, ''All Things Must Pass'' and ''The Concert For Bangla Desh,'' and the John Lennon album ''Imagine.''

Molland left Badfinger in late 1974 due to disagreements over management. In 1975, he joined with Jerry Shirley (formerly of Humble Pie) and formed a group called Natural Gas. The band released the LP ''Natural Gas'' on Private Stock Records in 1976, and enjoyed a successful tour with Peter Frampton the following year. According to Molland, a general lack of organization led to the band's demise late in 1977.

Molland and former Badfinger band mate Tom Evans recorded two albums under the Badfinger name, ''Airwaves'' in 1978, and ''Say No More'' in 1981. Molland and Evans split acrimoniously after ''Say No More'' and the two performed in rival touring Badfinger bands until Evans' suicide in 1983.

Most of Molland's career since 1983 has been with various groups performing tours under the Badfinger name, or as "Joey Molland's Badfinger." Earlier versions of these groups sometimes included original Badfinger drummer Mike Gibbins.

Molland was instrumental in releasing a 1974 live recording of Badfinger on Rykodisc in 1991, called ''Day After Day: Live,'' which received mixed critical reactions due to overdubbing and a rearranged track order. The release also sparked a lawsuit between Molland and former Badfinger members and their families regarding ownership and use of the concert tapes. Molland has also been criticized for his 1995 re-recording of Badfinger's hit songs for CD release. The recordings have since been distributed with packaging, showing photos displaying the original 1970s version of the group.

Molland's solo recordings have been relatively sporadic. His first, ''After The Pearl,'' was released in 1984 on Earthtone Records. His second, ''The Pilgrim,'' was released in 1992 on Rykodisc. His third, ''This Way Up,'' was independently released in 2001.

Molland now lives in Minnesota and continues to tour with the Badfinger name. Molland was married to Kathie Molland from 1972, until her death on 23 March 2009. She and Molland have two sons, Joseph and Shaun.

Discography (with Badfinger, except where noted)

"She Belongs to Me" (1965 single with The Masterminds)

''#1'' (1969 album with Gary Walker & The Rain)

''No Dice'' (1970)

''Straight Up'' (1971)

''Ass'' (1973)

''Badfinger'' (1974)

''Wish You Were Here'' (1974)

''Natural Gas'' (1976 album by the band Natural Gas)

''Airwaves'' (1979)

''Say No More'' (1981)

''After The Pearl'' (1983 (as Joey Molland)

''The Pilgrim'' (1992 as Joe Molland)

''Basil" (1997 as Joe Molland)

''This Way Up'' (2001 as Joe Molland)

Molland also appeared as a guest artist on

''The Concert For Bangla Desh'' (album)

''All Things Must Pass'' by George Harrison (album)

''Imagine'' by John Lennon (album)

''Victory Gardens'' (1991) with folk-duo John & Mary

''Wear A New Face'' by Tim Schools (2008 album; produced by Molland)

Compositions of note

"Love Is Gonna Come At Last" (''Billboard'' chart #69 by Badfinger)

External links

Official Badfinger Site

References

Category:Badfinger members Category:1947 births Category:Living people Category:English songwriters Category:English rock guitarists Category:British expatriates in the United States Category:Musicians from Liverpool

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