Jimmie Rodgers – Doyle’s Space: Music Hall of Fame

My 7th inductee of 2023 and my 3rd of the country music genre is the yodeling Jimmie Rodgers.

Jimmie Rodgers, often referred to as the “Father of Country Music,” “The Singing Brakeman,” and “America’s Blue Yodeler,” was a legendary American singer, songwriter, and musician who made significant contributions to the development of country music in the early 20th century. His life, history, and career are notable for their influence on the genre.

James Charles Rodgers was born on September 8, 1897, in Meridian, Mississippi, the son of railroad worker Aaron Rodgers. He grew up in a working-class family and was exposed to a variety of musical influences, including blues, gospel, and folk music, during his formative years. He began his career on the railroad with the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad (NO&NE)[1].

As a teenager, he was musically influenced by the diverse vaudeville shows that he often attended. At the age of 13, Rodgers won a local singing contest and then traveled through the Southern United States with a medicine show.

He worked as a brakeman and later as a switchman for this company in and around Meridian, Mississippi. Rodgers’ work with the NO&NE exposed him to the rhythms and sounds of the railroad, which influenced his music. The clicking of train wheels and the sounds of the railroad yard often found their way into his songs, adding authenticity to his railroad-themed compositions.

While working for the NO&NE, Rodgers would have been immersed in the world of railroading, learning the specific terminology, challenges, and camaraderie associated with the industry. This knowledge informed his songwriting, allowing him to incorporate authentic railroad themes and experiences into his music.

Rodgers also worked for a brief period with the Mobile and Ohio Railroad[2], another prominent railroad company in the region. His experiences with this company further deepened his understanding of the railroad culture and the lives of those who worked on the rails. Rodgers’ association with these railroads exposed him to the transient and sometimes itinerant lifestyle of hobos, who often hopped trains to travel. This connection to the hobo subculture played a role in shaping some of his songs, such as “Hobo Bill’s Last Ride.”

As Jimmie Rodgers’ health deteriorated due to tuberculosis[3], he turned to performing and recording music, leaving his career on the railroad behind. His intimate knowledge of railroad life and the people he encountered during his time on the rails continued to influence his music throughout his career.

Rodgers was influenced musically by the Gandy Dancers, a group of African-American laborers who worked on the railroads in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They were responsible for laying and maintaining railroad tracks, often performing physically demanding and rhythmic tasks such as lifting and hammering railroad ties in unison.

Gandy dancers worked in teams, and their work often involved synchronized, rhythmic movements. The rhythmic sounds of their work, such as the striking of hammers and the chanting of work songs, made a significant impression on Rodgers. He incorporated some of these rhythmic elements into his music, contributing to the distinctive beat and tempo found in many of his songs. Some of Rodgers’ songs, such as “Workin’ on the Railroad” and “The Brakeman’s Blues,” reflect the experiences of railroad workers and the challenges they faced.

These songs often draw from the daily lives of Gandy dancers and other railroad laborers. Much like the Gandy dancers, Jimmie Rodgers’ music often celebrated the lives of working-class people, particularly those who toiled on the railroads. His songs conveyed the struggles and aspirations of these individuals, creating a connection between his music and the laborers who inspired it.

Rodgers was a Freemason[4]. He was inducted to the order in Meridian on August 9, 1920. In 1930, he joined the Elks Lodge. In 1931, he reached the rank of Master Mason in Meridian.

In 1927. Rodgers formed the Jimmie Rodgers Entertainers, with him as the lead singer for a recurrent, unpaid spot he managed to obtain at WWNC. The band was composed of Rodgers (vocals and guitar), Claude Grant (vocals and guitar), Jack Grant (mandolin), Jack Pierce (fiddle), and, at times, Claude Sagle (banjo). After the group was fired from the radio show, they found a job performing at a resort in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

There, Rodgers heard of the upcoming field recordings that engineer Ralph Peer of the Victor Talking Machine Company was to undertake in Bristol, Tennessee, in search of local talent. The session produced “The Soldier’s Sweetheart”, an adaptation of an old vaudeville tune with new lyrics by Rodgers, and a version of the show tune, “Sleep, Baby, Sleep”.

When “The Soldier’s Sweetheart” / “Sleep, Baby, Sleep” record started to sell well, Victor decided to advance the release of “Blue Yodel”. In Washington, D.C., Rodgers worked a stint for the station WTTF with the backing of the “Jimmie Rodgers’ Southerners”, while he continued to make records for the label. He used the band for his recordings of “In the Jailhouse Now” and “The Brakeman’s Blues”, among others.

The blue yodel songs are a series of thirteen songs written and recorded by Jimmie Rodgers during the period from 1927 to his death in May 1933. The songs were based on the 12-bar blues format and featured Rodgers’ trademark yodel refrains. The lyrics often had a risqué quality with “a macho, slightly dangerous undertone.” The original 78 issue of “Blue Yodel No. 1 (T for Texas)” sold more than a half million copies, a phenomenal number at the time. The term “blue yodel” is also sometimes used to differentiate the earlier Austrian yodeling from the American form of yodeling introduced by Rodgers. Soon, Rodgers’ show billed him as “America’s Blue Yodeler”.

Jimmie Rodgers recorded 57 singles. Music historian Norm Cohen categorized Rodgers’ discography into four different types of songs: nineteenth-century songs, songs stemming from vaudeville and minstrel shows, traditional songs, and his thirteen Blue Yodels. He appeared in Columbia Pictures’ short The Singing Brakeman. Two versions by different directors were shot, one in 1929 and the second one, the following year. Rodgers was given writing credits on the labels of eighty-nine releases, though he did not compose most of his songs.

Some of Jimmie Rodgers’ Most Significant Recordings
  • “The Soldier’s Sweetheart” – Released in 1927 – Victor Records #20864
  • “Sleep, Baby, Sleep” – Released in 1927 – Victor Records #20864
  • “Ben Dewberry’s Final Run” – Released in 1928 – Victor Records #21245
  • “Mother, Queen of My Heart” – Released in 1928 – Victor Records #21245
  • “Blue Yodel No. 1 (T for Texas)” – Released in 1927 – Victor Records #20937
  • “Away Out on the Mountain” – Released in 1929 – Victor Records #22055
  • “In the Jailhouse Now” – Released in 1929 – Victor Records #22057
  • “Blue Yodel No. 2 (My Lovin’ Gal, Lucille)” – Released in 1929 – Victor Records #22060
  • “Brakeman’s Blues (Yodeling the Blues Away)” – Released in 1929 – Victor Records #22064
  • “Blue Yodel No. 3 (Evening Sun Yodel)” – Released in 1929 – Victor Records #22066
  • “Memphis Yodel” – Released in 1929 – Victor Records #22066
  • “Blue Yodel No. 4 (California Blues)” – Released in 1929 – Victor Records #22072
  • “Dear Old Sunny South by the Sea” – Released in 1929 – Victor Records #22072
  • “Blue Yodel No. 5 (It’s Raining Here)” – Released in 1930 – Victor Records #22114
  • “Jimmie the Kid” – Released in 1930 – Victor Records #22114
  • “Blue Yodel No. 6 (Why Did You Leave Me Alone)” – Released in 1930 – Victor Records #22120
  • “High Powered Mama” – Released in 1930 – Victor Records #22120
  • “Blue Yodel No. 7 (Anniversary Blue Yodel)” – Released in 1930 – Victor Records #22137
  • “Train Whistle Blues” – Released in 1930 – Victor Records #22137
  • “Blue Yodel No. 8 (Muleskinner Blues)” – Released in 1930 – Victor Records #22145
  • “Gambling Bar Room Blues” – Released in 1930 – Victor Records #22145
  • “Blue Yodel No. 9 (Standin’ on the Corner)” – Released in 1930 – Victor Records #23580
  • “Looking for a New Mama” – Released in 1930 – Victor Records #23580
  • “Blue Yodel No. 10 (Ground Hog Rootin’ in My Back Yard)” – Released in 1931 – Victor Records #23588
  • “Blue Yodel No. 11 (In the Jailhouse Now No. 2)” – Released in 1931 – Victor Records #23600
  • “T.B. Blues” – Released in 1931 – Victor Records #23660
  • “Mississippi Delta Blues” – Released in 1932 – Victor Records #23727
  • “My Time Ain’t Long” – Released in 1932 – Victor Records #23727
  • “Blue Yodel No. 12 (Barefoot Blues)” – Released in 1932 – Victor Records #23753
  • “Whippin’ That Old T.B.” – Released in 1932 – Victor Records #23753
  • “I’m Lonely and Blue” – Released in 1932 – Victor Records #23765
  • “Everybody Does It in Hawaii” – Released in 1932 – Victor Records #23765
  • “The Sailor’s Plea” – Released in 1932 – Victor Records #23807
  • “Hobo’s Meditation” – Released in 1932 – Victor Records #23807
  • “Blue Yodel No. 13 (Women Make a Fool Out of Me)” – Released in 1933 – Victor Records #23812
  • “Hobo Bill’s Last Ride” – Released in 1933 – Victor Records #23812
  • “Blue Yodel No. 14 (California Blues)” – Released in 1933 – Victor Records #23815
  • “Highway Hobo” – Released in 1933 – Victor Records #23815
  • “Pistol Packin’ Papa” – Released in 1933 – Victor Records #23837
  • “Jimmie’s Texas Blues” – Released in 1933 – Victor Records #23837
  • “My Old Pal” – Released in 1933 – Victor Records #23853
  • “Miss the Mississippi and You” – Released in 1932 – Victor Records #23853
  • “Years Ago” – Released in 1933 – Victor Records #23861
  • “Let Me Be Your Side Track” – Released in 1933 – Victor Records #23861
  • “Hobo’s Meditation” – Released in 1933 – Victor Records #23869
  • “Hobo Bill’s Last Ride” – Released in 1933 – Victor Records #23869
  • “Mother Was a Lady (If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again)” – Released in 1933 – Victor Records #23875
  • “Daddy and Home” – Released in 1933 – Victor Records #23875
  • “Jimmie Rodgers’ Last Blue Yodel (The Women Make a Fool Out of Me)” – Released in 1933 – Victor Records #23885
  • “No Hard Times” – Released in 1933 – Victor Records #23885

Rodgers’ music directly influenced two generations of musicians including Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Eddy Arnold, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and George Harrison. Rodgers was elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame with the inaugural class in 1961, to the Songwriters Hall of Fame with the inaugural class in 1970, and to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the inaugural class in 1986 as an “Early Blues Influence”.

Jimmie Rodgers died on May 26, 1933, at the age of 35. He performed and recorded right up until his death. Rodgers’ pearl-gray casket was placed on a raised platform covered in lilies in a baggage car and taken back to Meridian by the Southern Railway on a trip operated by former workmates of Rodgers. On May 29, 1933, his body lay in state at the local Scottish Rite Cathedral. That afternoon, escorted by members of the Scottish Rite, the Hamasa Shrine Temple, and the Knights of Pythias, his body was buried at Oak Grove Cemetery.

Footnotes
  1. The New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad (NO&NE) was a historic railway company that operated in the southern United States, primarily serving the states of Mississippi and Louisiana. Established in the late 19th century, the NO&NE played a crucial role in connecting communities, facilitating trade, and contributing to the economic development of the region. It was known for its extensive network of rail lines, which provided transportation for both passengers and freight, including agricultural and industrial goods. The NO&NE contributed to the growth of cities like Meridian, Mississippi, where it had a major hub. The railroad’s history is intertwined with the cultural and economic development of the American South during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. [Back]
  2. The Mobile and Ohio Railroad, often abbreviated as M&O, was a prominent American railway company that operated primarily in the southern United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Established in 1848, the M&O played a significant role in regional transportation and commerce, connecting the port city of Mobile, Alabama, with the Ohio River, providing a crucial link between the Gulf of Mexico and the Midwest. The railroad was instrumental in the development of numerous communities along its route, serving both passengers and freight, including agricultural and industrial goods. Its historical significance lies in its contribution to regional economic growth, transportation, and trade, making it a key player in the railroad industry of the American South during the 19th and 20th centuries. [Back]
  3. Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis that primarily affects the lungs but can also target other parts of the body. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, making it a significant global health concern. TB often presents with symptoms such as coughing, chest pain, fever, fatigue, and weight loss, and it can be deadly if left untreated. Despite medical advancements, TB remains a major health challenge, especially in developing countries, where factors like poverty, malnutrition, and compromised healthcare systems contribute to its persistence as a public health threat. [Back]
  4. Freemasonry is a centuries-old fraternal organization with a rich history that dates back to the late Middle Ages. It is characterized by its secretive nature, elaborate rituals, and a strong emphasis on moral and ethical development among its members. Freemasonry is not a religion, but it does have religious elements, and it welcomes individuals from various religious backgrounds. Members, known as Freemasons or Masons, engage in philanthropic activities and support charitable causes. The organization is organized into lodges, each with its own leadership and rituals, and it is governed by grand lodges or grand councils at the regional or national level. Freemasonry has played a significant role in the cultural and historical development of many countries, with notable members including the Founding Fathers of the United States, prominent writers, and influential leaders. [Back]
Further Reading
Sources

Author: Doyle

I was born in Atlanta, moved to Alpharetta at 4, lived there for 53 years and moved to Decatur in 2016. I've worked at such places as Richway, North Fulton Medical Center, Management Science America (Computer Tech/Project Manager) and Stacy's Compounding Pharmacy (Pharmacy Tech).

Leave a Reply

%d bloggers like this: