Kenny Rogers was at his peak as a hitmaker during the 1980’s when Rad Dixon was growing up in Manchester, a rural farming parish in Jamaica. After hearing of the country legend’s death last March, he and his management decided to pay tribute by covering one of his songs.
The question was, which one?
They eventually agreed on Write Your Name, a song Rogers did for his 1997 album, Across my Heart.
“Our team was thinking about a cover an’ Write Your Name stood out. Write Your Name says it all; it’s a lifetime song,” said Dixon, whose version is produced by Tasjay Productions.
Rogers, who was 81 when he died, was past his prime as a hit-maker when he recorded Write Your Name (Across my Heart) for Magnatone Records. His version never made it big in the United States, but was hugely popular in Jamaica where his fan base is massive.
John Holt covered the song with much success in 2011. Dixon went old school for his take.
“My version is like bringing back the real, old time lovers rock,” he said.
Dixon, who lives in South Florida, never saw Rogers perform live. He counts The Gambler, which the singer did in 1978, as his favorite ‘Kenny’ song.
The Texas-born Rogers performed three times in Jamaica — twice in 2004 and again in 2007. His Roasters chicken restaurant had an outlet in the country for several years.
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