Jimmie Rodgers (September 8, 1897 -– May 26, 1933) known as The Singing Brakeman and America's Blue Yodeler was the first country music superstar, resulting in another commonly used nickname: The Father of Country Music.

Early Years

James Charles Rodgers was born on September 8, 1897 in Meridian, Mississippi, the youngest of three sons. His mother died when he was very young, and Rodgers spent the next few years living with various relatives in southeast Mississippi and southwest Alabama. He eventually returned home to live with his father, Aaron Rodgers, a foreman on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, who had settled with a new wife in Meridian.

Performing career

Jimmie’s affinity for entertaining came at an early age, and the lure of the road was irresistible to him. By age 13, he had twice organized and begun traveling shows, only to be brought home by his father. Mr. Rodgers found Jimmie his first job working on the railroad, as a waterboy. This is where he learned the cries and moans of the blues and was taught to pick and strum by the rail workers and the hobo's. A few years later, he became brakeman on the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad, a position secured by his oldest brother, Walter, a conductor on the line running between Meridian and New Orleans.

In 1924 at the age of 27, Jimmie contracted tuberculosis. The disease temporarily ended his railroad career, but, at the same time, gave him the chance to get back to his first love, entertainment. He organized a traveling road show and performed across the southeast until, once again, he was forced home after a cyclone destroyed his tent. He returned to railroad work as a brakeman on the east coast of Florida at Miami, but eventually his illness cost him his job. He relocated to Tucson, Arizona and was employed as a switchman by the Southern Pacific. The job lasted less than a year, and the Rodgers family (which by then included wife Carrie and daughter Anita) had settled back in Meridian by early 1927.

Success

Rodgers decided to travel to Asheville, North Carolina, later that same year. On April 18, at 9:30 p.m., Jimmie and Otis Kuykendall performed for the first time on WWNC, Asheville’s first radio station. A few months later Jimmie recruited a group from Tennessee called the Tenneva Ramblers and secured a weekly slot on the station as the Jimmie Rodgers Entertainers.

The Tenneva Ramblers originally hailed from Bristol, Tennessee, and in late July 1927, Rodgers’ bandmates got word that Ralph Peer, a representative of the Victor Talking Machine Company, was coming to Bristol to audition and record area musicians. Rodgers and the group arrived in Bristol on August 3. Later that same day, they auditioned for Peer in an empty warehouse. Peer agreed to record them the next day. That night, as the band discussed how they would be billed on the record, an argument ensued and the band broke up and Rodgers arrived at the recording session alone. On Wednesday, August 4, 1927 Jimmie Rodgers completed his first session for Victor. It lasted from 2:00 p.m. to 4:20 p.m. and yielded two songs: “the Soldier’s Sweetheart” and “Sleep, Baby, Sleep.” For the test recordings, Rodgers received $100.

The recordings were released on October 7, 1927, to modest success. In November Rodgers, determined more than ever to make it in entertainment, headed to New York City in an effort to arrange another session with Peer. Peer agreed to record him again, and the two met in Philadelphia before traveling to Camden, New Jersey, to the Victor studios. Four songs made it out of this session, including “Blue Yodel,” better known as “T for Texas”. In the next two years, this recording sold nearly half a million copies, which was impressive enough to rocket Rodgers into stardom. After this, he got to determine when Peer and Victor would record him, and he sold out shows whenever and wherever he played.

In the next few years, Rodgers was very busy. He did a movie short for Columbia Pictures, The Singing Brakeman, and made various recordings across the country. He toured with humorist Will Rogers as part of a Red Cross tour across the Midwest. On July 16, 1930, he recorded “Blue Yodel No. 9” with jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong, whose wife, Lillian, played piano on the recording.

Final years

Rodgers’ next-to-last recordings were made in August 1932 in Camden and it was clear that tuberculosis was getting the better of him. He had given up touring by that time but did have a weekly radio show in San Antonio, Texas, where he had relocated when "T for Texas" became a hit.

With the country in the grip of the Depression, the practice of making field recordings was quickly fading, so in May 1933, Rodgers traveled again to New York City for a group of sessions beginning May 17. He started these sessions recording alone and completed four songs on the first day. When he returned to the studio after a day’s rest, he had to record sitting down and soon retreated to his hotel in hopes of regaining enough energy to finish the songs he had been rehearsing. The recording engineer hired two session musicians to help Rodgers when he came back to the studio a few days later. Together they recorded a few songs, including “Mississippi Delta Blues.” For his last song of the session, however, Jimmie chose to perform alone, and as a matching bookend to his career, recorded “Years Ago” by himself.

Jimmie Rodgers died two days later on May 26, 1933. He was 35 years old.

Legacy

Rodgers on a US stamp, 1978

When the Country Music Hall of Fame was established in 1961, Rodgers was one of the first three (with Fred Rose and Hank Williams) to be inducted. He was elected to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970 and, as an early influence, to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. "Blue Yodel No. 9" was selected as one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. "Blues Yodel" was covered by Lynyrd Skynyrd on the One More from the Road album.

On May 24, 1978, the United States Postal Service issued a 13-cent commemorative stamp honoring Rodgers, the first in its long-running Performing Arts Series. The stamp was designed by Jim Sharpe (who did several others in this series), who depicted him with brakeman's outfit and guitar, giving his "two thumbs up", along with a locomotive in silhouette in the background.

Rodgers was ranked #33 on CMT's 40 Greatest Men of Country Music in 2003.

Since 1953, Meridian's Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Festival has been held annually during May to honor the anniversary of Rodgers' death. The first festival was on May 26, 1953.

Recordings

• “The Soldier’s Sweetheart” (Victor 20864), recorded August 4, 1927, at Bristol, Tennessee.
• “Sleep, Baby, Sleep” (Victor 20864), recorded August 4, 1927, at Bristol, Tennessee.
• “Ben Dewberry’s Final Run” (Victor 21245), recorded November 30, 1927, at Camden, New Jersey.
• “Mother Was a Lady (If Brother Jack Were Here)” (Victor 21433), recorded November 30, 1927, at Camden, New Jersey.
• “Blue Yodel No. 1 (T for Texas)” (Victor 21142), recorded November 30, 1927, at Camden, New Jersey.
• “Away Out on the Mountain” (Victor 21142), recorded November 30, 1927, at Camden, New Jersey.
• “Dear Old Sunny South by the Sea” (Victor 21574), recorded February 14, 1928, at Camden, New Jersey.
• “Treasures Untold” (Victor 21433), recorded February 14, 1928, at Camden, New Jersey.
• “The Brakeman’s Blues” (Victor 21291), recorded February 14, 1928, at Camden, New Jersey.
• “The Sailor’s Plea” (Victor 40054), recorded February 14, 1928, at Camden, New Jersey.
• “In the Jailhouse Now” (Victor 21245), recorded February 15, 1928, at Camden, New Jersey.
• “Blue Yodel No. 2 (My Lovin’ Gal, Lucille)” (Victor 21291), recorded February 15, 1928, at Camden, New Jersey.
• “Memphis Yodel” (Victor 21636), recorded February 15, 1928, at Camden, New Jersey.
• “Blue Yodel No. 3” (Victor 21531), recorded February 15, 1928, at Camden, New Jersey.
• “My Old Pal” (Victor 21757), recorded June 12, 1928, at Camden, New Jersey.
• “My Little Old Home Down in New Orleans” (Victor 21574), recorded June 12, 1928, at Camden, New Jersey.
• “You and My Old Guitar” (Victor 40072), recorded June 12, 1928, at Camden, New Jersey.
• “Daddy and Home” (Victor 21757), recorded June 12, 1928, at Camden, New Jersey.
• “My Little Lady” (Victor 40072), recorded June 12, 1928, at Camden, New Jersey.
• “Lullaby Yodel” (Victor 21636), recorded June 12, 1928, at Camden, New Jersey.
• “Never No Mo’ Blues” (Victor 21531), recorded June 12, 1928, at Camden, New Jersey.
• “My Carolina Sunshine Girl” (Victor 40096), recorded October 20, 1928, at Atlanta, Georgia.
• “Blue Yodel No. 4 (California Blues)” (Victor 40014), recorded October 20, 1928, at Atlanta, Georgia.
• “Waiting for a Train” (Victor 40014), recorded October 22, 1928, at Atlanta, Georgia.
• “I’m Lonely and Blue” (Victor 40054), recorded October 22, 1928, at Atlanta, Georgia.
• “Desert Blues” (Victor 40096), recorded February 21, 1929, at New York, New York.
• “Any Old Time” (Victor 22488), recorded February 21, 1929, at New York, New York.
• “Blue Yodel No. 5” (Victor 22072), recorded February 23, 1929, at New York, New York.
• “High Powered Mama” (Victor 22523), recorded February 23, 1929, at New York, New York.
• “I’m Sorry We Met” (Victor 22072), recorded February 23, 1929, at New York, New York.
• “Everybody Does It in Hawaii” (Victor 22143), recorded August 8, 1929, at Dallas, Texas.
• “Tuck Away My Lonesome Blues” (Victor 22220), recorded August 8, 1929, at Dallas, Texas.
• “Train Whistle Blues” (Victor 22379), recorded August 8, 1929, at Dallas, Texas.
• “Jimmie’s Texas Blues” (Victor 22379), recorded August 10, 1929, at Dallas, Texas.
• “Frankie and Johnnie” (Victor 22143), recorded August 10, 1929, at Dallas, Texas.
• “Whisper Your Mother’s Name” (Victor 22319), recorded October 22, 1929, at Dallas, Texas.
• “The Land of My Boyhood Dreams” (Victor 22811), recorded October 22, 1929, at Dallas, Texas.
• “Blue Yodel No. 6” (Victor 22271), recorded October 22, 1929, at Dallas, Texas.
• “Yodelling Cowboy” (Victor 22271), recorded October 22, 1929, at Dallas, Texas.
• “My Rough and Rowdy Ways” (Victor 22220), recorded October 22, 1929, at Dallas, Texas.
• “I’ve Ranged, I’ve Roamed and I’ve Travelled” (Bluebird 5892), recorded October 22, 1929, at Dallas, Texas.
• “Hobo Bill’s Last Ride” (Victor 22241), recorded November 13, 1929, at New Orleans, Louisiana.
• “Mississippi River Blues” (Victor 23535), recorded November 25, 1929, at Atlanta, Georgia.
• “Nobody Knows But Me” (Victor 23518), recorded November 25, 1929, at Atlanta, Georgia.
• “Anniversary Blue Yodel (Blue Yodel No. 7)” (Victor 22488), recorded November 26, 1929, at Atlanta, Georgia.
• “She Was Happy Till She Met You” (Victor 23681), recorded November 26, 1929, at Atlanta, Georgia.
• “Blue Yodel No.11” (Victor 23796), recorded November 27, 1929, at Atlanta, Georgia.
• “A Drunkard’s Child” (Victor 22319), recorded November 28, 1929, at Atlanta, Georgia.
• “That’s Why I’m Blue” (Victor 22421), recorded November 28, 1929, at Atlanta, Georgia.
• “Why Did You Give Me Your Love?” (Bluebird 5892), recorded November 28, 1929, at Atlanta, Georgia.
• “My Blue-Eyed Jane” (Victor 23549), recorded June 30, 1930, at Los Angeles, California.
• “Why Should I Be Lonely?” (Victor 23609), recorded June 30, 1930, at Los Angeles, California.
• “Moonlight and Skies” (Victor 23574), recorded June 30, 1930, at Los Angeles, California.
• “Pistol Packin’ Papa” (Victor 22554), recorded July 1, 1930, at Los Angeles, California.
• “Take Me Back Again” (Bluebird 7600), recorded July 2, 1930, at Los Angeles, California.
• “Those Gambler’s Blues” (Victor 22554), recorded July 5, 1930, at Los Angeles, California.
• “I’m Lonesome Too” (Victor 23564), recorded July 7, 1930, at Los Angeles, California.
• “The One Rose (That’s Left in My Heart)” (Bluebird 7280), recorded July 7, 1930, at Los Angeles, California.
• “For the Sake of Days Gone By” (Victor 23651), recorded July 9, 1930, at Los Angeles, California.
• “Jimmie’s Mean Mama Blues” (Victor 23503), recorded July 10, 1930, at Los Angeles, California.
• “The Mystery of Number Five” (Victor 23518), recorded July 11, 1930, at Los Angeles, California.
• “Blue Yodel No. 8 (Mule Skinner Blues)” (Victor 23503), recorded July 11, 1930, at Los Angeles, California.
• “In the Jailhouse Now, No. 2” (Victor 22523), recorded July 12, 1930, at Los Angeles, California.
• “Blue Yodel No. 9” (Victor 23580), recorded July 16, 1930, at Los Angeles, California.
• “T.B. Blues” (Victor 23535), recorded January 31, 1931, at San Antonio, Texas.
• “Travellin’ Blues” (Victor 23564), recorded January 31, 1931, at San Antonio, Texas.
• “Jimmie the Kid” (Victor 23549), recorded January 31, 1931, at San Antonio, Texas.
• “Why There’s a Tear in My Eye” (Bluebird 6698), recorded June 10, 1931, at Louisville, Kentucky.
• “The Wonderful City” (Bluebird 6810), recorded June 10, 1931, at Louisville, Kentucky.
• “Let Me Be Your Sidetrack” (Victor 23621), recorded June 11, 1931, at Louisville, Kentucky.
• “Jimmie Rodgers Visits the Carter Family” (Victor 23574), recorded June 12, 1931, at Louisville, Kentucky.
• “The Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers in Texas” (Bluebird 6762), recorded June 12, 1931, at Louisville, Kentucky.
• “When the Cactus Is in Bloom” (Victor 23636), recorded June 13, 1931, at Louisville, Kentucky.
• “Gambling Polka Dot Blues” (Victor 23636), recorded June 15, 1931, at Louisville, Kentucky.
• “Looking for a New Mama” (Victor 23580), recorded June 15, 1931, at Louisville, Kentucky.
• “What’s It?” (Victor 23609), recorded June 16, 1931, at Louisville, Kentucky.
• “My Good Gal’s Gone - Blues” (Bluebird 5942), recorded June 16, 1931, at Louisville, Kentucky.
• “Southern Cannon-Ball” (Victor 23811), recorded June 17, 1931, at Louisville, Kentucky.
• “Roll Along, Kentucky Moon” (Victor 23651), recorded February 2, 1932, at Dallas, Texas.
• “Hobo’s Meditation” (Victor 23711), recorded February 3, 1932, at Dallas, Texas.
• “My Time Ain’t Long” (Victor 23669), recorded February 4, 1932, at Dallas, Texas.
• “Ninety-Nine Years Blues” (Victor 23669), recorded February 4, 1932, at Dallas, Texas.
• “Mississippi Moon” (Victor 23696), recorded February 4, 1932, at Dallas, Texas.
• “Down the Old Road to Home” (Victor 23711), recorded February 5, 1932, at Dallas, Texas.
• “Blue Yodel No. 10” (Victor 23696), recorded February 6, 1932, at Dallas, Texas.
• “Home Call” (Victor 23681), recorded February 6, 1932, at Dallas, Texas.
• “Mother, the Queen of My Heart” (Victor 23721), recorded August 11, 1932, at Camden, New Jersey.
• “Rock All Our Babies to Sleep” (Victor 23721), recorded August 11, 1932, at Camden, New Jersey.
• “Whippin’ That Old T.B.” (Victor 23751), recorded August 11, 1932, at Camden, New Jersey.
• “No Hard Times” (Victor 23751), recorded August 15, 1932, at Camden, New Jersey.
• “Long Tall Mama Blues” (Victor 23766), recorded August 15, 1932, at Camden, New Jersey.
• “Peach-Pickin’ Time Down in Georgia” (Victor 23781), recorded August 15, 1932, at Camden, New Jersey.
• “Gambling Barroom Blues” (Victor 23766), recorded August 15, 1932, at Camden, New Jersey.
• “I’ve Only Loved Three Women” (Bluebird 6810), recorded August 15, 1932, at Camden, New Jersey.
• “In the Hills of Tennessee” (Victor 23736), recorded August 29, 1932, at New York, New York.
• “Prairie Lullaby” (Victor 23781), recorded August 29, 1932, at New York, New York.
• “Miss the Mississippi and You” (Victor 23736), recorded August 29, 1932, at New York, New York.
• “Sweet Mama Hurry Home (or I’ll Be Gone)” (Victor 23796), recorded August 29, 1932, at New York, New York.
• “Blue Yodel No. 12” (Victor 24456), recorded May 17, 1933, at New York, New York.
• “The Cowhand’s Last Ride” (Victor 24456), recorded May 17, 1933, at New York, New York.
• “I’m Free (From the Chain Gang Now)” (Victor 23830), recorded May 17, 1933, at New York, New York.
• “Dreaming With Tears in My Eyes” (Bluebird 7600), recorded May 18, 1933, at New York, New York.
• “Yodeling My Way Back Home” (Bluebird 7280), recorded May 18, 1933, at New York, New York.
• “Jimmie Rodger’s Last Blue Yodel” (Bluebird 5281), recorded May 18, 1933, at New York, New York.
• “The Yodelling Ranger” (Victor 23830), recorded May 20, 1933, at New York, New York.
• “Old Pal of My Heart” (Victor 23816), recorded May 20, 1933, at New York, New York.
• “Old Love Letters (Bring Memories of You)” (Victor 23840), recorded May 24, 1933, at New York, New York.
• “Mississippi Delta Blues” (Victor 23816), recorded May 24, 1933, at New York, New York.
• “Somewhere Down Below the Dixon Line” (Victor 23840), recorded May 24, 1933, at New York, New York.
• “Years Ago” (Bluebird 5281), recorded May 24, 1933, at New York, New York.

Reference

• Porterfield, Nolan. (1998). "Jimmie Rodgers". In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Paul Kinsgbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 453-5.

External links

• Official Site
• Ralph Peer Remembers Jimmie Rodgers
• Johnson City, Tennessee and Jimmie Rodgers
• geocities
• Nashville Songwriters Foundation
• Hall of Fame inductee

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