Jimmie Rodgers' Country Music Hall of Fame plaque reads "His name stands out in the world of country music as the man who started it all." Who could argue with that statement? He is remembered as the father of country music, but his combination of blues and hillbilly styles makes him a a forbear of rock n' roll as well.

Called "The Singing Brakeman" whose six year career was cut short by tuberculosis, became the nationally known country star and a hugh influence for later singers like Hank Williams and Johnny Cash.

Jimmie sang about gamblers and ramblers and he knew what he sang about. As a teenager, he worked as a railroad brakeman and while those years didn't do his health any favors, they did help his music. At the time, his contemporaries were singing folk songs, but Rodgers fused country, gospel, blues and folk and many of his songs like "Waiting for a Train" and "Train Whistle Blues" focused on rail travel during the 20s.

Althrough Rodgers wasn't the first singer to yodel on records, his style was unique. His yodels weren't sugar-coating on the song as it was just as important as the lyric, sad of carefree, depending on the song's content. His instrumental accompaniment sometimes comsisted of just his guitar, while other times a full band backed he up.

Fans of country couldn't have asked for a better star in someone who throught and felt like they did as Jimmie Rodgers did. It's no surprise that even today, he is still loved by country music lovers.

Posted by Andrew on Thursday, 05/23/2013 @ 13:45pm