Description
DESCRIPTION
Born in September 1897, son of a railroad maintenance boss, Jimmie Rodgers was interested in little but music. He disliked school and struggled to hold down a regular job. By 1920, a failed marriage behind him, Jimmie married Carrie Williamson, in spite of her parents' opposition. In 1925 Jimmie was diagnosed with TB. He concentrated on music which he augmented with irregular railroad work. 1927 found Jimmie, Carrie and their daughter family boarding with Carrie's parents. Work and Jimmie's strength were waning. Seeking a job, Jimmie visited Asheville, NC. Finding no work, he stuck in town, hanging out with local musicians. He started to perform unpaid on local radio which led to live gigs. By mid 1927, Jimmie and his band had a residency at a local resort. Enter Ralph Peer. Peer toured the south for the Victor label on 'field recording' trips. Jimmie and his band attended a Peer session in Bristol, Tennessee. Jimmie fell out with the band, so he cut two sides solo - Sleep, Baby Sleep and The Soldier's Sweetheart. Sales of the resulting record were said to be fair. To get the facts, Jimmie chased Peer to New York. A session at Victor's Camden Studios resulted. T For Texas (known as Blue Yodel) and Away Out On The Mountain sold at least half a million. The next session, in February 1928, featured two sidemen who had run into Rodgers by chance. In The Jailhouse Now and Blue Yodel #2 were among eight songs - two co-written by one of the pick-up players. By the end of 1928, Jimmie was headlining a package touring through the southern states and was rich. His success continued. During the next few years, as revealed here, he had many more hits and recorded, incredibly, with Louis Armstrong. Success was marred only by his need to tour incessantly, making his failing health even worse. By his last recording in 1933, he was almost too weak to stand. He died two days later. At the time of his death, his sales were 10% of Victor's total.
The Soldier's Sweetheart
Sleep, Baby Sleep
Ben Dewberry's Final Run
Mother Was a Lady
Blue Yodel
Away Out on the Mountain
Dear Old Sunny South By the Sea
Treasures Untold
The Brakeman's Blues
The Sailor's Plea
In the Jailhouse Now
Blue Yodel #2
Memphis Yodel
Blue Yodel #3
My Old Pal
My Little Old Home Down in New Orleans
You and My Old Guitar
Daddy and Home
My Little Lady
Lullaby Yodel
Never No Mo' Blues
My Carolina Sunshine Girl
Blue Yodel #4
Waiting for a Train
I'm Lonely and Blue
Desert Blues
Any Old Time
Blue Yodel #5
High Powered Mama
I'm Sorry We Met
Everybody Does It in Hawaii
Tuck Away My Lonesome Blues
Train Whistle Blues
Jimmie's Texas Blues
Frankie and Johnnie
Whisper Your Mother's Name
The Land of My Boyhood Dreams
Blue Yodel #6
Yodeling Cowboy
My Rough and Rowdy Ways
I've Ranged, I've Roamed, I've Traveled
Hobo Bill's Last Ride
Mississippi River Blues
Nobody Knows But Me
Anniversary Blue Yodel
She Was Happy Till She Met You
Blue Yodel #11
A Drunkard's Child
That's Why I'm Blue
Why Did You Give Me Your Love?
My Blue Eyed Jane
Why Should I Be Lonely
Moonlight and Skies
Pistol Packin' Papa
Take Me Back Again
Those Gambler's Blues
I'm Lonesome Too
The One Rose
For the Sake of Days Gone By
Jimmie's Mean Mama Blues
The Myster of Number Five
Blue Yodel #8
In the Jailhouse Now #2
Blue Yodel #9
TB Blues
Travelin' Blues
Jimmie the Kid
Why There's a Tear in My Eye
The Wonderful City
Let Me Be Your Sidetrack
Jimmie Rodgers Visits the Carter Family
The Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers in Texas
When the Cactus Is in Bloom
Gambling Polka Dot Blues
Looking for a New Mama
What Is It?
My Good Gal's Gone Blues
Southern Cannon Ball
Roll Along Kentucky Moon
Hobo's Meditation
Ninety Nine Year Blues
Mississippi Moon
Down the Old Road to Home
Blue Yodel #10
Home Call
Mother, the Queen of My Heart
Rock All Our Babies to Sleep
Whippin' That Old TB
No Hard Times
Long Tall Mama Blues
Peach Pickin' Time in Georgia
Gambling Bar Room Blues
I've Only Loved Three Women
In the Hills of Tennessee
Prairie Lullaby
Miss the Mississippi and You
Sweet Mama Hurry Home
Blue Yodel #12
Dreaming with Tears in My Eyes
The Cowhand's Last Ride
I'm Free (From the Chain Gang Now)
Yodeling My Way Back Home
Jimmie Rodgers' Last Blue Yodel
The Yodeling Ranger
Old Pal of My Heart
Old Love Letters
Mississippi Delta Blues
Somewhere Down Below the Mason Dixon Line
Years Ago
