Rollin' On The River

Rollin' On The River

Rollin' On The River 1971-72 - (Rollin 1972-73) was a Canadian Music Variety Series hosted by Kenny Rogers and The First Edition. They were the first pop-rock group to host their own prime-time TV series. - 53 episodes x 60 min - Featured guests included: Tina Turner, Merle Haggard, Bo Diddley, April Wine, Bill Withers, The Raiders, Cheech & Chong, The Stampeders, Bruce Cockburn, The Grass Roots, The Five Man Electrical Band, Lighthouse, Climax, Billy Preston, Jim Croce, Kris Kristofferson, Jose Feliciano, Mac Davis, Ronnie Hawkins, John Kay, Chilliwack, Looking Glass, The James Gang, The Poppy Family, Ian & Sylvia, Pat Paulsen, Helen Reddy, Andy Kim, John Stewart and many others. *Note: The series was an hour long in Canada. In the U.S. it was only half an hour, and Canadian talents were excised from the show for prime-time viewing.

Seasons

1. Rollin' On The River (Pilot)

Air Date: 1971-02-13

Guests Al Hirt, Pat Paulsen and Diane Brooks with thirteen songs and a number of comedy sketches. Highlights: Dianne Brooks sings "Twenty-five Or Six To Four". Dianne and Kenny Rogers duet on "Something." Al Hirt and Kenny Rogers and The First Edition give renditions of "Proud Mary" and "Down By The Riverside." Hirt offers "Tin Roof Blues" and "Jazz Me Blues." Other highlights of the trip include Rogers and The First Edition doing "Heed the Call", "Ruby Talk", and "Camptown Races". Hirt and Rogers do "Night Life". Paulsen and Hirt do a thing called "Hirts-Rent-A-Horn" and Paulsen issues one of his jawbreaking monologues. The hour closes with the entire cast giving their all for a rousing rendition of "Mississippi".

2. [Premiere]

Air Date: 1971-09-11

Guests The Carpenters Al Hirt Mark Lindsay New Doodletown Pipers Patchett & Tarses.

3. Episode 3

Air Date: 1971-09-18

Guests Tommy Smothers Ian and Sylvia (folk duo) Billy Van (comedian)

4. Episode 4

Air Date: 1971-09-25

Guests The Poppy Family Alex Harvey (singer-songwriter)

5. Episode 5

Air Date: 1971-10-02

Guests Merle Haggard Dianne Brooks. Highlights: Songs include, "Okie from Muskogee," "Lonesome Fugitive," "Fire and Rain" and "I Had a Ball."

6. Episode 6

Air Date: 1971-10-09

Guests Freddy Weller Mark Lindsay Beverly Glenn-Copeland The Raiders.

7. Episode 7

Air Date: 1971-10-16

Guests Kris Kristofferson Terri Jacks of The Poppy Family. Highlights: Kris Kristofferson sings "Lovin' Her Was Easier." Other songs include "Me and Bobby McGee" and "Can't Buy Me Love."

8. Episode 8

Air Date: 1971-10-23

Guests Jason Robards Sid Caesar Dianne Brooks (singer) Highlights: Jason Robards joins in a silent movie spoof. Jason Robards also read Mark Twain's "The War Prayer" and shows clips from his movie "Fools". Songs include, "Tell It All Brother" and "Old Mojave Highway."

9. Episode 9

Air Date: 1971-10-30

Guests Roger Miller Tobi Lark David Willen Roger Miller performs "Lovin' Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)" and "Me and Bobby McGee."

10. Episode 10

Air Date: 1971-11-06

Guests B.B. King Rosemary Radcliffe (comedian) Don Cullen (comedian) Edward and Harding.

11. Episode 11

Air Date: 1971-11-13

Guests Gladys Knight and the Pips Bruce Coburn Trudy Desmond (from Dr. Music)

12. Episode 12

Air Date: 1971-11-20

Guests George Kirby Dee Higgins Tobi Lark (Canadian singer)

13. Episode 13

Air Date: 1971-11-27

Guests: Tony Joe White June Amato Billy Van.

1. Episode 1

Air Date: 1972-09-11

Guests Bill Withers The Stampeders Highlights: Bill Withers performs "Lean On Me".

2. Episode 2

Air Date: 1972-09-18

Guests The Raiders April Wine.

3. Episode 3

Air Date: 1972-09-25

The Everly Brothers

4. Episode 4

Air Date: 1972-10-02

Guests Badfinger A Foot In Cold Water.

5. Episode 5

Air Date: 1972-10-09

Guests Helen Reddy Larry Cansler Orchestra

6. Episode 6

Air Date: 1972-10-16

Guests John Kay Band

7. Episode 7

Air Date: 1972-10-23

Guests B.J. Thomas The Five Man Electrical Band.

8. Episode 8

Air Date: 1972-10-30

Guests Ike and Tina Turner Revue Crowbar.

9. Episode 9

Air Date: 1972-11-06

Guests Tommy Roe Crowbar.

10. Episode 10

Air Date: 1972-11-13

Guests Looking Glass Pagliard

11. Episode 11

Air Date: 1972-11-20

Guests Edgar Winter Everyday People.

12. Episode 12

Air Date: 1972-11-27

Guests Delaney & Bonnie Ocean

13. Episode 13

Air Date: 1972-12-04

Guests Al Green Larry Cansler Orchestra

14. Episode 14

Air Date: 1972-12-11

Guests Bo Diddley Ronnie Hawkins

15. Episode 15

Air Date: 1972-12-18

Guests Billy Preston A Foot in Cold Water

16. Episode 16

Air Date: 1972-12-25

Kenny Rogers and the First Edition are seen in concert. Music: "Love the One You're With," "Close to You" and "In the Ghetto."

17. Episode 17

Air Date: 1973-01-01

Guests Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks April Wine.

18. Episode 18

Air Date: 1973-01-08

Guests The Jimmy Castor Bunch The Stampeders.

19. Episode 19

Air Date: 1973-01-15

Guests Looking Glass Chilliwack.

20. Episode 20

Air Date: 1973-01-22

Guests Ronnie Hawkins Jim Croce

21. Episode 21

Air Date: 1973-01-29

Guests Dominic Traiano The James Gang.

22. Episode 22

Air Date: 1973-02-05

Guests Lighthouse

23. Episode 23

Air Date: 1973-02-12

Guests Larry Cansler and his Orchestra

24. Episode 24

Air Date: 1973-02-19

Guests Malo The Five Man Electric Band.

25. Episode 25

Air Date: 1973-02-26

Guests Cheech and Chong Ocean.

26. [Finale]

Air Date: 1973-03-05

Guests Climax Everyday People.

Select an episode to start watching

Rating

0.0/10

Release Date

1971-02-13

Episodes

39 (2 seasons)

Status

Ended

Cast

Kenny Rogers

Kenny Rogers

Host

The First Edition

The First Edition

Videos

Production Companies

Winters-Rosen Production