All About Jimmie Rodgers (country Singer): Salary, Wedding



Known for movies



Jimmie Rodgers (born September 8, 1897 in Meridian, Mississippi; died May 26, 1933 in New York City) was an American country singer and songwriter. In the 1920s and early 1930s, he became the first nationally popular “singing cowboy” and was also known as “The Blue Yodeler” and “The Father of Country Music”. His musical style was influenced by African-American blues, Appalachian folk, and cowboy songs. He was also a pioneer of the recording industry, making the first recordings of many now-classic songs.

Rodgers was born to a poor family in Meridian, Mississippi. His father was a railroad worker and his mother was a housewife. He had seven brothers and sisters. Rodgers began working in the railroad yards when he was just a boy. He learned to play the guitar and banjo from other workers. In 1918, he was drafted into the Army and served in France during World War I.

After the war, Rodgers returned to Meridian and worked as a brakeman for the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad. He also began performing in local clubs and bars. In 1927, he made his first recordings for the Victor Talking Machine Company in Camden, New Jersey. These recordings, which included “Blue Yodel” and “T for Texas”, were very successful and made Rodgers a national star.

In 1929, Rodgers moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he became a regular performer on the Grand Ole Opry radio show. He continued to make hit records, including “In the Jailhouse Now” and “Waiting for a Train”. Rodgers became very popular with both country music fans and mainstream America. He appeared in several movies and even had his own radio show.

Tragically, Rodgers died of tuberculosis in 1933 at the age of 35. He left behind a wife and two young children. His death marked the end of an era in country music. Rodgers was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961.

Source: IMDb, Wikipedia