Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Remembering Jimmie Rodgers Songs, The Father of Country Music

Jimmie Rodgers Songs
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

Jimmie Rodgers is widely referred to as “The Father of Country Music” because of his outstanding contribution in the creation of a distinctive musical genre from a variety of diverse influences, such as the African American blues, early jazz, stage-show yodeling, the work chants of Black railroad section crews, as well as the traditional folk music from his upbringing in the South.

Born on September 8, 1897, Rodgers first worked in the railroad industry before turning to music in 1924 after testing positive for Tuberculosis. Rodgers was prepped for a historic recording session by his radio work and his collaboration with the Jimmie Rodgers Entertainers. 

Let us dive deeper into the most famous works of Jimmie Rodgers by checking out these 8 genre-defining Jimmie Rodgers songs to learn more about how a simple blue-collar train worker became a country star by fusing local folk music with newly emerging mainstream trends.

1. Blue Yodel #1 (T for Texas) (1928)

Ralph Peer, who had previously recorded with Rodgers during the Bristol Sessions, produced the recording. On February 3, 1928, the Victor Talking Machine Company published it.

2. The Brakeman’s Blues (1928)

The appreciation of truck drivers throughout the past few decades shows that the hardworking person who travels across the country and lives on the road never seems to go out of favor. The allure of this profession is glimpsed in this song.

3. Miss the Mississippi and You (1934)

Occasionally, as evidenced by this sentimental ballad, Rodgers would stray into the popular sphere. It demonstrates the adaptability and diverse preferences of a performer who has his sights set outside the expanding “hillbilly” music audience.

4. T.B. Blues (1931)

Two things are symbolized by this song. One, it is an early instance of a creative person writing what they are familiar with based on actual events. It also serves to highlight the impact blues narrative and guitar picking had on Rodgers and his contemporaries.

5. Waiting for a Train (1929)

Few songs feel more true in the authenticity debate than this folk ballad about trains written by a retired brakeman. Also, take note of the fact that Rodgers, who was decades ahead of his time, essentially created music videos for the 15-minute movie The Singing Brakeman.

6.  In The Jailhouse Now (1928)

This timeless tale of the price of sin and the repercussions of crime would be familiar to the downtrodden characters living in future honky-tonk songs. “In The Jailhouse Now” was published before the start of the Great Depression. At least they weren’t getting arrested in the final stages like Rodgers’ offenders, so hopefully, it brought some lighthearted respite to suffering families.

7. Blue Yodel No. 9 (1931)

For the sake of brevity, let’s consider the first significant crossover in country music history. All 13 “Blue Yodels” may fit a list like this, notably those that became the country staple “Muleskinner Blues” and the iconic Lynyrd Skynyrd live cut “T Is for Texas.” Louis Armstrong and Lil Hardin Armstrong provide the incredible trumpet and piano accompaniment, respectively.

8. Frankie and Johnny

This classic American ballad, which has been covered by several artists, relates the tale of Frankie, a woman who shoots her husband Johnny dead after seeing him making out with another woman. After that, Frankie is taken into custody; in some songs, she is also put to death.

Here are Other Jimmie Rodgers Songs, as Timeless But are Nevertheless Still Catchy as They are Even in Our Modern Times

  • Away Out on The Mountain
  • Sleep Baby, Sleep
  • Pistol Packin’ Papa
  • Jimmie’s Texas Blues
  • Land of My Boyhood Dreams
  • Soldier’s Sweetheart
  • Memphis Yodel
  • Dear Old Sunny South By The Sea

For a musician, Rodgers’ rise to stardom was unusual in that it was based more on his early country music recordings than on the similarly well-received live performances that followed. Moreover, he has been credited as an inspiration by various members of the hall of fame in both country music and blues, a genre in which he was also a spearhead. His other well-known monikers include “The Blue Yodeler” and “The Singing Brakeman.”

In the final years of his life, Rodgers put into record more than 100 songs, including his renowned “blue yodels” collection. Rodgers poured genuine emotion, pain, and terror brought on by his medical condition into several of these recordings.

The influence of Jimmie Rodgers on country music cannot be overstated. Rodgers introduced to the genre a distinctive, colorful personality and a rousing vocal style that, in effect, created and defined the role of the singing star in country music at a time when emerging “hillbilly music” mainly consisted of old-time instrumentals and lugubrious vocalists who sounded similar. 

Although he struggled to find content throughout his career, the range of Jimmie Rodgers’ songs was unusually wide and varied, including religious hymns, risqué ditties, and even love ballads. 

Indeed, Jimmie Rodgers is one of the many musicians in our history that deserve to be in the Hall of Fame of country music. Truly the “Father of Country Music,” he paved the way towards the development of a wonderful music genre we still get to enjoy even today. Due to its versatility, country music does age like a fine wine. 

Latest Stories

Travis Tritt smiles in a black cowboy hat and shirt while performing "Good Ol' Boys" with a microphone in front of an American flag backdrop.

Travis Tritt Honors Waylon Jennings With Cover of “Good Ol’ Boys” Theme From The Dukes of Hazzard

Sometimes a song is so tied to a legend that when someone else picks it up, you’re half ready to wince, but then Travis Tritt walks up, tugs his hat ...

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton perform together in a bar setting for their duet “A Song to Sing.

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton’s “A Song to Sing” Duet Feels Like an Instant Classic

Sometimes country music gives you a line so pure it feels like it’s been here forever, and that’s exactly what Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton just pulled off with “A ...

Blake Shelton and Noah Cyrus standing side by side with microphones, performing their new country duet together.

Noah Cyrus Teams Up With Blake Shelton for New Country Duet and Fans Are Loving It

Sometimes country music needs a little shot of something wild, and Noah Cyrus just poured it straight into Blake Shelton’s glass. It’s not every day you see the Voice coach ...

George Strait performing on stage with his guitar and cowboy hat, pictured at a previous event not related to the upcoming Strait From the Heart benefit concert.

George Strait Will Play “Strait to the Heart” Benefit Concert to Raise Money for Flood Victims

Some kings wear crowns, some kings wear boots, and show up when the water’s rising. George Strait, the King of Country himself, is stepping up once again for the people ...

Blake Shelton smiles on stage with guitar and mic during Vegas show, putting his own spin on George Strait’s classic.

Blake Shelton Nails George Strait Classic With His Own Spin on “All My Ex’s Live in Texas”

Sometimes you don’t mess with a George Strait classic, unless you’re Blake Shelton standing under the Vegas lights with a grin that says you’re about to pay tribute and stir ...

Dolly Parton smiles during Khloé podcast interview, sitting by mic and lamp as she shares why she won't stop sharing faith.

Dolly Parton Says People Tell Her To Stop Talking About Her Faith But She Won’t Listen

If there’s one thing you can count on Dolly Parton for, it’s that she’ll say exactly what’s on her heart and not give a single rhinestone what anyone thinks. In ...

Little Mississippi boy in plaid shirt smiles at mic during preschool graduation where he recited New Testament books and sang a George Strait classic.

4-Year-Old Boy Recites New Testament Books Then Belts Out ‘All My Ex’s Live in Texas’

If there’s ever been a preschool graduation that screams “God bless the South,” this is it. Somewhere in Mississippi, a four-year-old kid just made the entire congregation beam with pride ...

Young George Strait smiling on stage playing guitar in 1987 when “All My Ex’s Live in Texas” hit No. 1 and proved he ran country.

On This Day in 1987, George Strait Hit No. 1 with ‘All My Ex’s Live in Texas’ and Proved He Ran Country

Sometimes a song just cements your throne forever, and for George Strait, it was a little tongue-in-cheek love letter that made every Texan proud to claim him as their king. ...

Scotty McCreery with his wife and both grandmothers, who he revealed passed away hours apart in a heartbreaking double loss.

Scotty McCreery Reveals Both His Grandmothers Died Hours Apart in Heartbreaking Double Loss

You just don’t see some country heartbreaks coming, and this one hit Scotty McCreery straight in the soul. This week, the North Carolina native and Opry favorite shared the gut-wrenching ...

Brooks & Dunn performing on stage together, fitting their story about admitting they struggled to get along for years.

Brooks and Dunn Admit They Struggled to Get Along for Years and Tried to Blow It Real Hard

Country music’s greatest duo was basically a bar fight waiting to happen. When Brooks & Dunn stormed out of the gate with “Brand New Man” in 1991, it looked like ...