kings of country
kings of country
FOR 15 years Marty Edward has been entertaining his way around the world, with Castle Hill RSL his next stop.
With his snow-white hair and manicured beard, the singer takes to the stage as American country musician Kenny Rogers.
Rogers' renowned songs include Coward of the County, I Don't Need You and The Gambler.
Edward is one third of the Kings of Country show.
The trio is rounded out by Phillip Bauer (Johnny Cash) and Marion Deaton (Willie Nelson).
Edward said his uncanny resemblance to Kenny Rogers had seen him involved in several awkward situations.
"I've never intentionally pretended to be Kenny but I learnt early on not to tell people I'm not him," he said.
"When I was in Las Vegas some people came up to me and a guy started to introduce me to others thinking that I was Kenny Rogers — apparently Kenny had given him some advice when he was younger.
"I didn't want tell him I wasn't because I didn't want to make a fool out of him.
"Not bursting his bubble didn't do any harm.
"Another time a lady saw me on the street and thought I was him and she got really upset when I said I wasn't."
Edward has come face-to-face with Rogers a few times and still remembered his first encounter with the artist.
"He said 'don't get me into any trouble' and I took that to heart," he said.
"I think of myself as a Kenny Rogers ambassador."
The tribute artist praised the other two musicians on the tour.
"The guys are so professional on and off the stage and you couldn't find better characters," he said.
"If you never saw Johnny Cash then come and see Phillip."