Jimmie Rodgers

Pioneering American Country and Folk Singer

Jimmie Rodgers, often known as "The Singing Brakeman" and "The Blue Yodeler," was an American country, blues, and folk singer, songwriter, and musician who rose to prominence in the late 1920s. Born on September 8, 1897, in Meridian, Mississippi, Rodgers is widely regarded as the "Father of Country Music" and was among the first batch of inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961. His blend of traditional folk with bluesy elements helped to shape the sound of early country music and his yodeling became a signature element of his style. Rodgers' recording career was relatively brief due to his untimely death from tuberculosis on May 26, 1933, at the age of 35. Despite this, his influence on country music has been profound and enduring, with many artists citing him as a key influence. His recordings like "Blue Yodel No. 1 (T for Texas)" and "In the Jailhouse Now" are considered classics in the genre.