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114-550: They were the first vocal group to become country music stars, and were among the first groups to record commercially produced country music. Their first recordings were made in Bristol, Tennessee , for the Victor Talking Machine Company under producer Ralph Peer on August 1, 1927. This was the day before country singer Jimmie Rodgers made his initial recordings for Victor under Peer. The success of

228-621: A Train" continued to be popular, as the themes depicted in the song became commonplace in the lives of unemployed Americans during the Great Depression . Through a number of field recording sessions—made as his schedule and tour allowed it—Rodgers increased his catalog. By November 1929, he had filmed The Singing Brakeman at the RCA Victor studios in Camden. Continuing his tour, in late February 1930, Rodgers collapsed again during

342-698: A baggage handler and then a brakeman. He moved often while working on the lines from Mississippi to Texas. In January 1917, he was introduced by a friend to Stella Kelly in Durant, Mississippi . At the time, he was moving between Jackson and New Orleans without a stable location. He maintained the lines, checked baggage and at times worked as a dishwasher at a local restaurant in Durant. He and Kelly married on April 6, 1917. The newlyweds left Durant after Rodgers' job as an apprentice mechanic failed to work out and moved to Louisville, Mississippi , where he again worked as

456-432: A brakeman, but he also performed other functions, including flagman . In 1924, Rodgers was diagnosed with tuberculosis at the age of 27. The disease affected his ability to perform his work and he chose to move with his wife and children to Arizona , following the medical advice of the time, which suggested high and dry places to ease the symptoms. Then, Rodgers moved to Asheville, North Carolina . As he worked less on

570-596: A brakeman. After his marriage fell apart, Rodgers started working for the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad (NO&NE). He spent time in both Meridian and New Orleans. Rodgers was fired from the NO&;NE in 1920 and he worked odd jobs. In the early 1920s, he returned to work stints on the railway lines where he had previously worked, as well as on the Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific Railway . He worked mainly as

684-690: A city mostly populated by the Zulu . In 1930, singers Griffiths Motsieloa and Ignatius Monare recorded their version of a blue yodel in Zulu language , entitled "Aubuti Nkikho", in London. In 1932, William Mseleku recorded "Eku Hambeni" and "Sifikile Tina". The songs were inspired by Rodgers' style and recorded in Zulu. Rodgers influenced several Zimbabwean acoustic guitarists of the 1940s, who had heard records imported from South Africa, including Chinemberi, Mattaka, Jacob Mhungu and Jeremiah Kainga. Local artists developed

798-603: A contraction of Minor League Baseball beginning with the 2021 season, the Appalachian League, in which the Pirates played, was reorganized as a collegiate summer baseball league , and the Pirates were replaced by a new franchise in the revamped league designed for rising college freshman and sophomores. Bristol Tennessee City Schools operates public schools serving almost all of the city, with Tennessee High School being its public high school. Small sections are in

912-776: A copyright. On November 4, 1927, the Victor Talking Machine Company (later RCA Victor ) released a double-sided 78 rpm record of the group performing "Wandering Boy" and "Poor Orphan Child". On December 2, 1928, Victor released "The Storms Are on the Ocean" / " Single Girl, Married Girl ", which became very popular. By the end of 1930, the Carter Family had sold 300,000 records in the United States. Realizing that he would benefit financially with each new song he collected and copyrighted , A.P. traveled around southwestern Virginia to find new songs; he also composed new songs. In

1026-461: A cot between takes. At the end of the day, he was helped into a cab and returned to his hotel. The next day, he recovered and then visited Coney Island with his driver. When returning, Rodgers decided to walk the last few blocks to the hotel, but he needed help to return to his room. He then suffered an intense cough, which eventually stopped. At midnight, he resumed coughing and began to hemorrhage. The hotel's doctor could not be found and Castro, who

1140-484: A country music singer, "his fusion of blues, Appalachian ballads and spirituals was an early framework for rock and roll" that influenced "everyone from Bob Dylan to Lynyrd Skynyrd". The Blues Hall of Fame wrote about Rodgers induction: "His reworkings of the blues not only helped popularize the music with white audiences but were also performed by many singers from the African American community that produced

1254-485: A cowboy hat. On June 14, 1929, he performed at the inaugural event of San Antonio 's Majestic Theatre . At the height of this career, in 1929, Rodgers made approximately $ 75,000 (equivalent to $ 1,331,000 in 2023 ) in royalties. After the Wall Street Crash that year , while his records continued to sell, his royalties dropped to approximately $ 60,000 (equivalent to $ 1,060,000 in 2023 ). "Waiting for

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1368-513: A crowd of 30,000. A granite monument to Rodgers was unveiled, as well as a static locomotive as a memorial to the deceased railroad workers of Meridian. On May 24, 1978, the United States Postal Service issued a 13-cent commemorative stamp honoring Rodgers, the first in its long-running Performing Arts Series. The stamp was designed by Jim Sharpe and depicted Rodgers with brakeman's outfit and guitar, standing in front of

1482-578: A document that named Geiger, Alabama. Incapable of living in the unsanitary conditions of the camps, Rodgers' mother decided to stay in Pine Springs while her husband frequently worked for long periods and returned home when he could. After two miscarriages, her health began to fail. She became sick and Aaron Rodgers quit his job at the Mobile and Ohio Railroad and started farming to be closer to his wife. She died in 1903. Then-six-year-old Jimmie Rodgers

1596-440: A driver, known as Castro. The recording session, with Fred Maisch engineering, began on May 17 at RCA Victor's New York Studios at 153 E 24th Street . During the first two days, Rodgers recorded six numbers. The singer sat on an easy chair and was propped up by pillows to reach the microphone; the sessions were often paused as a result of his health. A new session was scheduled for May 24, 1933. Rodgers produced four songs and lay on

1710-494: A higher technical level, but all acknowledge Maybelle's playing as their inspiration. It has been noted that "by the end of the twenties, Maybelle Carter scratch ... was the most widely imitated guitar style in music. Nobody did as much to popularize the guitar, because from the beginning, her playing was distinctive as any voice." The Carter Family was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1970 and were given

1824-428: A hit all over again in these other incarnations. The original group consisted of Sara Carter , her husband A. P. Carter , and her sister-in-law Maybelle Carter . Maybelle was Sara's first cousin, and was married to A.P.'s brother Ezra Carter (Eck). All three were born and raised in southwest Virginia . They were immersed in the tight harmonies of mountain gospel music and shape note singing. The latter dated to

1938-540: A locomotive giving his famous "two thumbs up" gesture. The 1982 film Honkytonk Man , directed by and starring Clint Eastwood , was loosely based on Rodgers' life. In 1997, Bob Dylan put together a tribute compilation of major artists covering Rodgers' songs, The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers: A Tribute . The artists included Bono , Alison Krauss & Union Station , Jerry Garcia , Dickey Betts , Dwight Yoakam , Aaron Neville , John Mellencamp , Willie Nelson and others. In 2004, Steve Forbert 's tribute album Any Old Time

2052-417: A main character who often exaggerated his qualities as a lover, threatening other men who try to take his woman or declaring that he can easily find another one, and vocalizing verses that deal with promiscuity and violence, often using double entendres . With the release of further songs of the series,"Blue Yodel" was later renamed on the catalogs to "Blue Yodel No. 1 (T for Texas)". "Blue Yodel No. 1" became

2166-817: A new copy. Carrie Rodgers invited him and his family to her home. Eventually, she decided to help Tubb with his career: they recorded a duet of the tribute song "We Miss Him When the Evening Shadows Fall" and Carrie presented Tubb with Rodgers' guitar as a gift. Robert Johnson 's step-sister, Annye, remembered Rodgers as their favorite country singer. Johnson played "Waiting for a Train" and imitated Rodgers' yodel. Other artists that have acknowledged influence by Rodgers include Lefty Frizzell , Roy Rogers , Eddy Arnold , Jerry Lee Lewis , Johnny Cash , Willie Nelson , Merle Haggard , Bob Dylan , George Harrison , Lynyrd Skynyrd , John Fahey , and Alison Krauss . Rodgers' appearance on The Singing Brakeman

2280-498: A population of 307,614 in 2020. The metro area is a component of the larger Tri-Cities region of Tennessee and Virginia, with a population of 508,260 in 2020. Bristol is known for being the site of some of the earliest commercial recordings of country music , showcasing Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family , and later a favorite venue of mountain musician Uncle Charlie Osborne . The U.S. Congress recognized Bristol as

2394-628: 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. As 1928 progressed, "Blue Yodel" became a major success. The song marked the first of a series of blue yodels . The unknown origin of Rodgers' yodel has been attributed to several sources, including traditional alpine songs, its use by gandy dancers and its use in vaudeville and minstrel shows . The yodels presented

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2508-691: A stop in Carthage, Mississippi . After he suffered a hemorrhage, Rodgers followed his doctor's advice and canceled his third appearance at the local movie house. Despite his condition, Rodgers then joined a four-month tour with daily appearances on Swain's Hollywood Follies . Rodgers and his musical troupe performed a total of 70 shows. With few of his recordings left to be released, Rodgers headed to Los Angeles to produce new material in June–July 1930. The sessions produced, among other numbers, " Blue Yodel no. 8, Mule Skinner Blues " and "Blue Yodel No. 9 (Standin' on

2622-493: A teenager, Hank Snow heard Rodgers' "Moonlight and Skies" on the radio. Snow started to imitate Rodgers' guitar playing and singing style, and he would later credit him as his one major influence. "Moonlight and Skies" was one of his most popular songs in many parts of the country. Ernest Tubb also considered Rodgers to be his greatest influence. Early in his career, Tubb kept a picture of Rodgers, which at one point became worn out. He then decided to call Rodgers' widow to obtain

2736-486: A tent, which allowed for better air circulation. A number of concerts were cut short because of his condition, while others were cancelled. Until 1932, Peer took trips for field sessions to record Rodgers in Atlanta, New Orleans and Dallas. After RCA Victor ended his field sessions, Rodgers traveled to Camden, to record at the company's studios. Rodgers managed to produce ten sides, with regular rest between takes. Realizing

2850-457: A total of 365,000 copies sold during his lifetime. In February 1929, Rodgers' health worsened. Against his doctor's consistent recommendations to rest, Rodgers proceeded with his tour. During a stop in Meridian, he suffered a fever. Rodgers intended to perform the show, but he collapsed on the dressing room floor shortly before its start. His doctor ordered an x-ray —an uncommon procedure at

2964-435: A train whistle noise, which he made with the back of his throat through a mixture of a yodel and a whistle. During his early appearances, Rodgers donned a bowler hat with a suit and a tie in the style of vaudevillian performers. When he was later billed as "The Singing Brakeman", Rodgers added railroad worker attire to his stage wardrobe. After he moved to Texas, he started to wear cowboy hats and western clothes, similar to

3078-575: A two-finger playing style that used the thumb and first finger to emulate the sound of the singer and they frequently used yodels. Recordings of Rodgers were taken to the Great Rift Valley of Kenya by English missionaries who lived among the Kipsigis people . The tribe sang about Rodgers in a traditional song recorded in 1950 by ethnomusicologist Hugh Tracey who later named it " Chemirocha III ". In January 1935, Grand Ole Opry artists

3192-556: Is a city in Sullivan County, Tennessee , United States. The population was 27,147 at the 2020 census . It is the twin city of Bristol, Virginia , which lies directly across the state line between Tennessee and Virginia . The boundary between the two cities is also the state line, which runs along State Street in their common downtown district. It is a principal city in the Kingsport–Bristol metropolitan area , which had

3306-481: Is considered one of the first music videos. In South Africa, Rodgers' records were distributed by Regal Zonophone Records . In his autobiography, Down Second Avenue , writer Es'kia Mphahlele described about his memories of young men bringing gramophones and Rodgers' records from Pretoria , and how his music could be heard on Christmas Day throughout his village. Rodgers' records sold particularly well in Durban ,

3420-613: Is the location of Bristol Motor Speedway , a motorsports venue that hosts several NASCAR events. It is also home to Bristol Dragway, which hosts the Ford Thunder Valley Nationals, an NHRA national event. A Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Minor League Baseball affiliate, the Bristol Pirates , played its home games at DeVault Memorial Stadium in Bristol, Virginia, from 1969 to 2020. In conjunction with

3534-452: Is the municipal law enforcement agency for the city. The department has 73 sworn officers and 27 civilian support staff. It also makes use of citizen volunteers as an auxiliary staff, which saves the department over $ 100,000 annually. Jimmie Rodgers (country singer) James Charles Rodgers ( ( 1897-09-08 ) September 8, 1897 – ( 1933-05-26 ) May 26, 1933) was an American singer-songwriter and musician who rose to popularity in

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3648-792: Is −21 °F (−29 °C), set on January 21, 1985 , while the all-time record high is 103 °F (39 °C), set on June 30, 2012 . Precipitation is low compared to much of East Tennessee, averaging 41.0 inches (1,040 mm) annually, and reaches a low during autumn. The rainiest calendar day on record is October 16, 1964, when 3.65 inches (93 mm) of rain fell; monthly precipitation has ranged from 0.02 inches (0.51 mm) in October 2002 to 12.70 inches (323 mm) in July 2012. Bristol's normal (1981–2010) winter snowfall stands at 13.3 inches (34 cm), significantly more than what most of Tennessee receives. The most snow in one calendar day

3762-593: The Delmore Brothers and Uncle Dave Macon stopped on their way to New Orleans to visit Rodgers' brother Talmage and his wife in Meridian to play a tribute song called "Blue Railroad Train". That same year, Rodgers' widow published a biographical book: My Husband, Jimmie Rodgers . On May 16, 1953, the first Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Festival was held in Meridian. The festival featured appearances by country music singers and other entertainers who were influenced by Rodgers, as well as his family members. The festival

3876-755: The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award . Keep on the Sunny Side , a musical play chronicling the Carter Family's rise to stardom, premiered at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia , in 2001. Conceived and written by Douglas Pote, the play enjoyed a multiyear run, a national tour spanning 23 states, and an original cast recording ; the Barter has also mounted numerous revivals amid lasting popularity. Renewed attention to

3990-474: The Mobile and Ohio Railroad , starting as a waterboy on his father's gang. He eventually became a brakeman , among other functions he performed. During his time working with different railroad companies, the singer further developed his musical style; he was influenced by the gandy dancers and their impromptu blues performances. Rodgers was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1924. By 1927, he stopped working for

4104-524: The Mobile and Ohio Railroad . He eventually became a foreman, and, in 1884, he married Eliza Bozeman. The couple lived in the railroad work camps as Aaron Rodgers moved through different locations along the line. The Rodgers family then temporarily settled in the community of Pine Springs, north of Meridian. Charles James "Jimmie" Rodgers was born on September 8, 1897. His place of birth is disputed: Meridian—which Rodgers often called his home town —is most often listed in records, while Rodgers would later sign

4218-574: The National Register of Historic Places as components of the Carter Family Thematic Resource. In 2017, the Carter Family's story was told in the award-winning documentary series American Epic . The film featured unseen film footage of The Carter Family performing and being interviewed, and radically improved restorations of their 1920s recordings. Director Bernard MacMahon commented that "we first came to

4332-624: The Scottish Rite , the Hamasa Shrine Temple and the Knights of Pythias , his body was buried at Oak Grove Cemetery. During his lifetime, Rodgers reinvigorated the deflated sales record market for RCA Victor, and, despite the drop of sales during the depression, his records continued to sell well. At the time of his death, his sales represented 10% of the total for the label. Rodgers recalled his earliest memories of playing

4446-555: The Sullivan County School District . Television: Note-WEMT is licensed to Greeneville, Tennessee , but co-located with sister station WCYB-TV . The Bristol Fire Department has 82 full-time and six part-time employees. It responds to over 5,000 calls per year and has five stations. The department is accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. The Bristol Police Department

4560-480: The United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 29.5 square miles (76.4 km ), of which 29.4 square miles (76.1 km ) are land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km ) (0.44%) is covered by water. Like much of the rest of the state, Bristol has a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen climate classification : Cfa ), although with significantly cooler temperatures, especially in

4674-796: The singing cowboys which were becoming popular in Western films . Rodgers would ultimately decide which clothes he would wear for a performance according to the audience he was expecting. Rodgers married Stella Kelly on May 1, 1917, when they were both 19 years old. They separated soon after due to what Kelly later described as Rodgers' tendency to procrastinate and drink, and his lack of ambition. She believed that Rodgers spent too much money and that by playing music he "fool away his time and money". After two years of living apart, their divorce became final in November 1919. Rodgers then married Carrie Williamson on April 7, 1920. Their first daughter, Anita,

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4788-581: The "Birthplace of Country Music" in 1998, and the Birthplace of Country Music Museum is located nearby in Bristol, Virginia . It also is the birthplace of Tennessee Ernie Ford . Bristol is the site of Bristol Motor Speedway , a NASCAR short track . The world's fifth-largest coal producer, Contura Energy , is based in Bristol. Before 1852, the land where Bristol is located was owned by Reverend James King . His son-in-law, Joseph R. Anderson of Blountville, Tennessee , bought 100 acres (40 ha) of

4902-468: The 112 recordings that make up Rodgers' catalog: "19th century sentimental ballads", vaudevillian novelty songs , blues songs, traditional folk songs and "contemporary hillbilly songs". Rodgers' releases included collaborations with artists ranging from jazz performers to Hawaiian musicians. Instead of the 3/4 time present in traditional alpine folk music , Rodgers' yodel featured a 4/4 time. Rodgers developed his yodel through his early music career; he

5016-492: The 1960s during the height of folk music 's popularity. A film documentary about the family, Sunny Side of Life , was released in 1985. In 1987, reunited sisters June Carter Cash and Helen and Anita Carter, along with June's daughter Carlene Carter , appeared as the Carter Family. They were featured on a 1987 television episode of Austin City Limits , along with June's husband Johnny Cash . The Carter Family name

5130-543: The Carter Family tune "When I'm Gone" occurred after several covers performed a cappella with a cup used to provide percussion, as in the cup game and dubbed the Cups song , went viral and culminated with a short performance in the movie Pitch Perfect . Afterwards it was released as a single by Anna Kendrick . The A. P. and Sara Carter House , A. P. Carter Homeplace , A. P. Carter Store , Maybelle and Ezra Carter House , and Mt. Vernon Methodist Church are listed on

5244-505: The Carter Family's recordings of songs such as " Wabash Cannonball ", " Can the Circle Be Unbroken ", " Wildwood Flower ", " Keep on the Sunny Side ", and " I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes " made these songs country standards. The melody of the last was used for Roy Acuff 's " The Great Speckled Bird ", Hank Thompson 's " The Wild Side of Life " and Kitty Wells ' " It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels ". The song became

5358-465: The Carter Family. In the winter of 1938–39, the Carter Family traveled to Texas , where they had a twice-daily program on the border radio station XERA (later XERF ) in Villa Acuña (now Ciudad Acuña, Mexico ), across the border from Del Rio, Texas . In the 1939–40 season, the children of A.P. and Sara ( Janette and Joe Carter ) and those of Maybelle ( Helen , June , and Anita ) joined

5472-890: The Carter Sisters" or "Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters"). In 1943, Maybelle Carter and her daughters, using the name "the Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle" had a program on WRNL in Richmond, Virginia . Maybelle's brother, Hugh Jack (Doc) Addington Jr., and Carl McConnell, known as the Original Virginia Boys, also played music and sang on the radio show. Chet Atkins joined them playing electric guitar in 1949 at WNOX radio in Knoxville, Tennessee . He moved with them in October 1949 to KWTO radio in Springfield, Missouri . Opry management didn't want

5586-536: The Carters through their records, but one of the other things that struck us about them is that they were involved in both of the main waves of America hearing itself for the first time. They made their first impact in that early wave of rural recordings, and then the next stage was the arrival of radio, and in the late 1930s, they went to Texas and were on XERA, a border station based in Mexico that could be heard all over

5700-622: The Carters to bring Chet when they were offered a regular spot on the Grand Ole Opry but Ezra Carter (their father and manager) insisted that Chet come with them, as he was a part of their troupe or band now. Finally the Opry management agreed and Chet went with them when they were hired by WSM and the Grand Ole Opry; their first day was May 29, 1950. Chet worked with them when they did "personals" off and on for 8 years, but mostly on

5814-576: The Corner)" featuring Louis Armstrong . Rodgers commissioned Ray Hall, at the time a prisoner at the Texas State Penitentiary , to help him write the song "T.B. Blues" after McWilliams refused to help. Rodgers recorded and released the composition in 1931. In the summer of 1931, Rodgers recorded two sides with the Carter Family . That year, his health quickly deteriorated and his sales fell to an average of 30,000 copies per record as

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5928-525: The Great Depression progressed. Meanwhile, his excessive expenditures forced him to sell his Kerrville home. "Rodgers' Puzzle Record", a compilation containing three recordings of the singer on one side, was released in England, India, and Australia in 1931. The same year, the singer accepted an offer to make appearances, when available, on San Antonio radio station KMAC 's Tuesday show. When he

6042-592: The Victor Talking Machine Company in Camden, New Jersey . The first few numbers that Rodgers tried did not appeal to Peer, as they were once again not original material. Rodgers then attempted a number he had been working on using yodeling, which Peer called " Blue Yodel ". 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

6156-527: The age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were not families. Nearly 32% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26, and the average family size was 2.84. In the city, the age distribution was 21.1% under 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 or older. The median age

6270-485: The band had a dispute with the singer regarding the name to be used on the label of the recording. The Tenneva Ramblers then deserted Rodgers, who convinced Peer to record him alone with his guitar. Peer later commented that he considered Rodgers an individualist, who, due to his blues-leaning style, was incompatible with the sound of the Tenneva Ramblers band, which based its music around the use of fiddles. By

6384-523: The birthplace of country music. Bristol is located in the northeast corner of Tennessee, at 36°34′9″N 82°11′51″W  /  36.56917°N 82.19750°W  / 36.56917; -82.19750 (36.569135, −82.197489). Bristol is located 20.95 miles east of Kingsport, Tennessee , 21.51 miles northeast of Johnson City, Tennessee , 38.74 miles northwest of Boone, North Carolina , 105.96 miles northeast of Knoxville, Tennessee , and 132.61 miles southwest of Roanoke, Virginia . According to

6498-622: The blues that inspired Rodgers in the first place". Rodgers was the first artist inducted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970 for his influence in artists of "every genre" through music that "fused hillbilly, gospel, blues, jazz, pop and mountain folk music into timeless American standards". That same year, he was inducted to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame . The entry on Rodgers remarked on his "undying" influence on multiple generations of musicians. He

6612-536: The central and western United States." The Carter Family's story was profiled in the accompanying book, American Epic: The First Time America Heard Itself . Selected 78 rpm records: The Carter Family's career predated any sort of best-selling chart of country music records. ( Billboard did not have a country best sellers chart until 1944.) Below is a select list of their 78 rpm releases. Victor Records Montgomery Ward Records Decca Records Vocalion Records Bristol, Tennessee Bristol

6726-441: The city. The population density in 2000 was 846 people per square mile (326.5/km ). The 11,511 housing units averaged 392.2 per square mile (151.4/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 95.15% White, 2.97% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.24% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 0.68% of the population. Of the 10,648 households, 26.2% had children under

6840-574: The early 1930s, he befriended Lesley "Esley" Riddle , a black guitar player from Kingsport, Tennessee . Lesley accompanied A.P. on his song-collecting trips. In June 1931, the Carters did a recording session in Benton, Kentucky , along with Jimmie Rodgers . In 1933, Maybelle met the Speer Family at a fair in Ceredo, West Virginia , fell in love with their signature sound, and asked them to tour with

6954-519: The early 19th century and revivals in the South. Throughout the group's career, Sara Carter sang lead vocals and played rhythm guitar or autoharp . Maybelle sang harmony and played lead guitar. On some songs A.P. did not perform at all; on some songs he sang harmony and background vocals, and occasionally he sang lead. Maybelle's distinctive guitar-playing style became a hallmark of the group. Her Carter Scratch (a method for playing both lead and rhythm on

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7068-479: The emerging genre of 'hillbilly music' a distinctive, colorful personality and a rousing vocal style" that "created and defined the role of the singing star in country music". The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted Rodgers as an early influence with the class of 1986 . Rodgers was inducted by Jerry Wexler , as the Hall of Fame determined that the genre "owes an immeasurable debt" to the singer, and that, despite being

7182-415: The end of Rodgers' session, Peer felt that although he liked the singer, he could not sign him to the label as he was performing pop music that belonged to New York publishers, instead of the original tunes that Peer was scouting for. The session produced "The Soldier's Sweetheart", an adaptation of an old vaudeville tune with new lyrics by Rodgers, and a version of the showtune, "Sleep, Baby, Sleep". After

7296-494: The family moved according to the needs of his father's employment, or Rodgers' own poor health. 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 . After his father took him back home to Meridian, Rodgers dropped out of school and joined

7410-411: The family's repertoire of songs was Maybelle's guitar playing. She developed her innovative guitar technique largely in isolation; her style is today widely known as the "Carter scratch" or " Carter Family picking ". While Maybelle did use a flatpick on occasion, her major method of guitar playing was the use of her thumb (with a thumbpick) along with one or two fingers. What her guitar style accomplished

7524-541: The first recordings by Jimmie Rodgers. Since 1994, the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance has promoted the city as a destination to learn about country music and the city's role in the creation of an entire music genre. The alliance is organizing the building of a new Cultural Heritage Center to help educate the public about the history of country music in the region. On August 1, 2014, the Birthplace of Country Music Museum opened in Bristol, Virginia to commemorate

7638-980: The group for radio performances, by then in San Antonio, Texas . Here the programs were prerecorded and distributed to multiple border radio stations. (The children did not, however, perform on the group's records.) In the fall of 1942, the Carters moved their program to WBT radio in Charlotte, North Carolina , for a one-year contract. They occupied the sunrise slot, with the program airing between 5:15 and 6:15 a.m. By 1936, A.P. and Sara's marriage had dissolved. After Sara married A.P.'s cousin, Coy Bayes, they moved to California . The Carter Family disbanded in 1944. Maybelle continued to perform with her daughters Anita Carter , June Carter , and Helen Carter and recorded on 3 labels (RCA Victor, Columbia and Coronet) as " The Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle " (sometimes billed as "The Carter Sisters" or "Maybelle Carter and

7752-487: 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. Rodgers made an appointment for the band to record with Peer on August 4, 1927. Before the scheduled recording,

7866-506: The guitar upon returning from picking cotton during his childhood. Although he performed with the instrument for many years, he only knew a few chords, which he complemented with a flatpicking technique. As he worked on the railroads through the late 1910s and the 1920s, he developed his style of music and singing. His material was based on classic Anglo - Celtic storytelling and ballad singing and black blues heavily influenced him. Ethnomusicologist Norm Cohen defined five categories for

7980-449: The guitar) has become one of the most copied styles of guitar playing. The group (in all its incarnations, see below) recorded for a number of labels, including RCA Victor (and subsidiary label, Bluebird), ARC group, Columbia, Okeh and various imprint labels. The Carter Family made their first recordings on August 1, 1927. The previous day, A.P. Carter had persuaded his wife Sara Carter and his sister-in-law Maybelle Carter to make

8094-551: The historical significance of the Bristol sessions . The museum features a 24,000-ft building that houses core exhibits, space for special exhibits, a performance theater, and a radio station. Every year, during the third weekend in September, a music festival called the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion takes place. The festival is held downtown, where Tennessee and Virginia meet, and it celebrates Bristol's heritage as

8208-415: The intention of enrolling him at a new school. Soon after, his step-mother died. Instead of attending school, Rodgers followed his father to learn his profession with the working crews of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. Rodgers started working for the railroad as a waterboy for the black gandy dancer crews, who introduced him to the railroad jargon, their work songs, and banjo playing. Eventually, he became

8322-466: The journey from Maces Spring, Virginia , to Bristol, Tennessee , to audition for record producer Ralph Peer . Peer was seeking new talent for the relatively embryonic recording industry. The initial sessions are part of what are now called the Bristol Sessions . The band received $ 50 for each song recorded, plus a half-cent royalty on every copy sold of each song for which they had registered

8436-955: The label, during which he produced over 100 songs. The Rodgers family migrated to the United States from England and Ireland before the American Revolution . They settled around the Appalachian Mountains , and later moved to the Southern and Western United States. Both of Jimmie Rodgers' grandfathers served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War . After the war, his maternal grandfather settled in Meridian, Mississippi , while his paternal grandfather settled around Geiger, Alabama . Rodgers' father, Aaron, worked for

8550-424: The late 1920s. Widely regarded as the " Father of Country Music ", he is best known for his distinctive yodeling . Rodgers was known as "The Singing Brakeman" and "America's Blue Yodeler ". He has been cited as an inspiration by many artists, and he has been inducted into multiple halls of fame. Originally from Meridian, Mississippi , Rodgers was the son of railroad worker Aaron Rodgers. During his early childhood,

8664-430: The live Grand Ole Opry performances. A.P., Sara, and their children Joe and Janette recorded 3 albums in the 1950s under the name of The A.P. Carter Family. After the death of A.P. Carter in 1960, Mother Maybelle Carter and the Carter Sisters began using the name "the Carter Family" for their act during the 1960s and 1970s. Maybelle and Sara briefly reunited, recorded a reunion album ( An Historic Reunion ), and toured in

8778-528: The local Elite Theater for his performance of the songs " Steamboat Bill " and "I Wonder Why Bill Bailey Don't Come Home". Following his success, Rodgers started to perform with a medicine show . He quit the show some weeks later as they reached Birmingham, Alabama , claiming the proprietor did not treat him well. At the age of thirteen, he started working for a tailor in West Blocton, Alabama , until, months later, his father took him back to Meridian with

8892-444: The local sound of traditional "folk" music of the region. One of these local sounds was created by the Carter Family, who got their start on July 31, 1927, when A.P. Carter and his family journeyed from Maces Spring, Virginia , to Bristol to audition for Ralph Peer, who was seeking new talent for the relatively embryonic recording industry. They received $ 50 for each song they recorded. That same visit by Peer to Bristol also resulted in

9006-652: The material brought by Rodgers. The singer often arrived to the recording sessions short of material and he resorted to passing off old vaudeville and minstrel show songs as his own. After Peer rejected several songs, Rodgers contacted his sister-in-law, Elsie McWilliams, to help him with the composition of new material. Few of the songs credited to Rodgers were authored by himself; McWilliams wrote most of his Blue Yodels and Rodgers also hired amateur composers to write other songs. With McWilliams' help, he would also write compositions of his own, which she remarked Rodgers would not stop working on until they "sounded just right". With

9120-542: The monthly support from his estate stopped when Stella re-married. Kathryn Rodgers died soon after, in 1938. Rodgers was a Freemason . 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. That year, he was moved to the San Antonio Scottish Rite Cathedral and received the local degree. He

9234-561: The nickname "The First Family of Country Music". In 1988, the Carter Family was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and received its Award for the song "Will the Circle Be Unbroken". In 1993, the U.S. Postal Service issued a commemorative postage stamp honoring A.P., Sara, and Maybelle . In 2001, the group was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor . In 2005, the group received

9348-523: The plantation and named it Bristol. The G.W. Blackley House , one of the oldest houses in Bristol, was constructed in 1869. The U.S. Congress declared Bristol to be the "Birthplace of Country Music", according to a resolution passed in 1998, recognizing its contributions to early country music recordings and influence, and the Birthplace of Country Music Museum is located in Bristol. In 1927 , record producer Ralph Peer of Victor Records began recording local musicians in Bristol , to attempt to capture

9462-405: The railroad as a result of his health and decided to focus on his music career. In 1927, Rodgers joined the Tenneva Ramblers band, who at the time were working at a radio station. After the band was fired from their spot, they worked in different resorts in the Blue Ridge Mountains . There, Rodgers became aware of the field recordings that Victor Talking Machine Company 's engineer Ralph Peer

9576-436: The railroad, Rodgers again rarely went to school. Instead, he and his brother Jake went to the local theaters to see vaudeville shows and watch movies. As a result, Rodgers became interested in the entertainment industry. To support his expenditures, he sold newspapers and molasses, or he panhandled . In 1906, he was sent to live with his older brother Talmage and their aunt Dora Bozeman in Pine Springs, while his brother Jake

9690-605: The railroad. In Asheville, he met the Grant Brothers, who led the mountain music string band the Tenneva Ramblers. Rodgers convinced the group to join him as 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

9804-440: The railroads and his foreman complained of his extended absences, he returned to performing music. Rodgers formed a jazz-style band that performed pop standards with the inclusion of horns and the piano accompaniment of his new wife Carrie McWilliams' sister, Elsie McWilliams . The group played on the road in tents, on city streets and in various other small locations without any commercial success. In 1927, Rodgers left his work on

9918-655: The sales of his records still improving after the release of "In the Jailhouse Now", Rodgers embarked on a tour of the United States: he appeared on the Southern Time circuit of Loews Theaters and the East Coast circuit of Publix Theaters . The pairing of "Blue Yodel No. 4 (California Blues)" / " Waiting for a Train " became popular due to the success of the flipside record. The recording would eventually become Rodgers' second best seller of his career, with

10032-577: The session, Peer told Rodgers that he would contact him at a later date to hear new original material. Rodgers then moved with his family to Washington, D.C., and the record sold some copies. After a month of not hearing back from Peer, Rodgers decided to travel to New York City, where he checked into the Manger Hotel and called the producer to let him know that he was ready to undertake his next recording session. Impressed by Rodgers' boldness, Peer set an appointment for November 30, 1927, at Studio 1 of

10146-402: The singer "affected the history of country music by making it a viable, commercially popular medium". Country singers Gene Autry and Jimmie Davis , as well as western swing singer Tommy Duncan , were heavily influenced by Rodgers. Autry, Davis and Duncan recorded multiple songs of his repertoire, including yodeling tracks, until they changed their styles to avoid being deemed imitators. As

10260-435: The singer's most successful recording, with over a million copies sold during his lifetime. Soon, Rodgers' show billed him as "America's Blue Yodeler". Following the release of "If Brother Jack Were Here", Victor was threatened with a lawsuit by Joseph W. Stern & Co. for copyright infringement of their original composition "Mother Was a Lady". As a result, the label renamed the record and Peer began to carefully assess

10374-506: The state of health of the singer, Peer arranged a follow-up session to create a backlog for the Rodgers catalog. Rodgers then returned to San Antonio, where he spent most of his time in bed until, in October of that year, he resumed his appearances on the local radio station. In the early winter of 1932, he made appearances throughout East Texas until he collapsed during a show in Lufkin and

10488-404: The streets. He frequented the barbershop of his uncle Tom Bozeman and he often slept during the daytime in the upstairs apartment. He organized a neighborhood carnival that played the nearby towns. Rodgers' appearances made enough money to pay for the sheets he used as a tent. He then organized a second show, which he financed with his father's money, unbeknownst to him. Rodgers then won a contest at

10602-471: The summer, due to elevation; it is part of USDA hardiness zone 6b, with areas to the southwest falling in zone 7a. The normal monthly mean temperature ranges from 35.2 °F (1.8 °C) in January to 74.6 °F (23.7 °C) in July, while, on average, 8.8 days have temperatures at or below freezing and 17 days with highs at or above 90 °F (32 °C) per year. The all-time record low

10716-470: The time—and determined that the singer was suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis, which affected his lungs. Cavities were found on the top of both lungs, while the bottom of his right lung showed pleurisy . As they traveled through Texas performing, Jimmie and Carrie Rodgers stopped in Kerrville . The town offered the dry air and mild weather that the medical authorities of the time considered necessary for

10830-475: The town of Artesia . Rodgers and his brother often arrived late to school or missed it altogether as a result of road conditions and other distractions. Rodgers often missed classes during the winter due to his tendency to suffer from colds and respiratory issues. His father remarried and the family moved to Meridian, where Rodgers was enrolled at the local high school. He and his siblings had problems with their new step-mother. When his father returned to work for

10944-765: The treatment of tuberculosis . Kerrville was home to multiple sanatoriums and a Veterans Hospital , which specialized in pulmonary disease. As Rodgers was badly affected by the weather in Washington, D.C., Meridian and Asheville, he decided to settle in Kerrville. The construction of his new home began in April 1929. With a total cost of approximately $ 20,000 (equivalent to $ 350,000 in 2023 ), he named it "Blue Yodeler's Paradise". With his move to Texas, Rodgers' on-stage attire changed. He had previously worn brakeman's working clothes, which he replaced with regular clothes and

11058-485: Was 16.2 inches (41 cm) on November 21, 1952, while the most in one month is 27.9 inches (71 cm) during March 1960, which contributed to the winter of 1959–60, with a total of 51.0 inches (130 cm), finishing as the snowiest on record. As of the 2020 United States census , there were 27,147 people, 11,450 households, and 6,808 families residing in the city. As of the census of 2000, 24,821 people, 10,648 households, and 6,825 families were residing in

11172-493: Was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 30,039, and for a family was $ 37,341. Males had a median income of $ 28,210 versus $ 21,173 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 18,535. About 11.5% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line , including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over. Bristol

11286-458: Was also a semi-regular performing member of the Carter Family. Third Generation family member Carlene Carter (granddaughter of Maybelle Carter) had ventured into pop music before becoming part of the 1987 Carter Family's second generation revival. June Carter and her sisters were distant cousins of U.S. president Jimmy Carter . This family tree shows the extended Carter family back four generations. Notes: As important to country music as

11400-486: Was also associated with the Alzafar Temple. In 1931, Rodgers was invited to Austin, Texas , and named an honorary Texas Ranger . To commemorate the occasion, the singer would later release the song "The Yodeling Ranger". Rodgers is considered the " Father of Country Music ". The Country Music Hall of Fame inducted Rodgers among the inaugural class of 1961 . According to the Hall of Fame, Rodgers "brought to

11514-748: Was also inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame in 1993 and 2018 respectively. For Encyclopædia Britannica , Rodgers' legacy made him "one of the principal figures in the emergence of the country and western style of popular music". Rolling Stone magazine placed Rodgers at number 11 on its 100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time list, and at number 88 on their 200 Greatest Singers of All Time list. Allmusic has described Rodgers as "the first nationally known star of country music", noted his influence on later musicians and declared that

11628-522: Was born in January 1921. June, their second child, was born in 1923, but she died in December of that year. To return in time for her funeral and Christmas, Rodgers had to pawn his banjo. Both of his wives complained of Rodgers' excessive expenditures, and later his lavish lifestyle. Rodgers resorted to drinking to ease the pain caused by his tuberculosis. On June 9, 1932, Rodgers lost a paternity lawsuit to his former wife Stella. She alleged that Rodgers

11742-489: Was celebrated in an intermittent fashion until it became a recurring event starting in 1972. Attendees at the first event included Carrie Rodgers, Elsie McWilliams, Ralph Peer, Hugh L. White , Frank G. Clement , railroad representatives, Mary Jones (the wife of engineer Casey Jones ) and Lillie Williams ( Hank Williams ' mother). Several performers who were influenced by Rodgers were present, including 25 Grand Ole Opry artists led by Ernest Tubb and Hank Snow. The show attracted

11856-459: Was deeply affected by his mother's death. Rodgers was sent, along with his brother Talmage, to live with relatives of his father in Scooba, Mississippi , and later to Geiger. Rodgers attended school irregularly during his early childhood; he did not attend at all for a time following the death of his mother. After the family moved to Lowndes County, Mississippi , he and his brother went to school in

11970-483: Was likely influenced by several vaudevillian performers or by the recordings and live performances of Emmett Miller . From the gandy dancers, Rodgers learned to elongate or shorten words to fit the metric of a song. He also carried a banjo or a guitar with him as he worked on the railroads. His live performances and recordings included the use of spoken remarks between verses to encourage his musicians, or exclamations when he played alone. Additionally, Rodgers developed

12084-673: Was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album . In 2007, Rodgers was honored with a marker on the Mississippi Blues Trail in his hometown of Meridian, the first outside of the Mississippi Delta. In May 2010, a marker on the Mississippi Country Music Trail was erected near Rodgers' grave site. The Elton John and Leon Russell 2010 collaboration The Union featured the tribute "Jimmie Rodgers' Dream". In 2013,

12198-470: Was on tour, The Jimmie Rodgers Show played his Victor recordings. In April 1932, he renegotiated his contract with the label: Rodgers was to receive $ 25,000 (equivalent to $ 501,000 in 2023 ) for 24 sides to be released monthly, with the singer receiving $ 250 (equivalent to $ 5,580 in 2023 ) in advance payment per side. As his health condition worsened, Rodgers reduced his appearances on tour schedules from five days to one per venue; he also camped in

12312-500: Was out on an errand, returned too late to take him to a hospital. Rodgers fell in a coma and he died soon after. 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

12426-540: Was placed in an oxygen tent . He then stopped performing at KMAC and stayed at home while he arranged a new recording session with Peer for May. Rodgers and his personal nurse, Cora Bedell, traveled to New York City on the SS Mohawk and arrived on May 14, 1933. Peer left the singer to rest at his usual lodging, the Taft Hotel (earlier The Manger), for a few days before the session. Meanwhile, he assigned Rodgers

12540-451: Was revived for a third time, under the name Carter Family III . It was a project of descendants of the original Carter Family, John Carter Cash (grandson of Maybelle Carter, son of June Carter Cash and Johnny Cash) and Dale Jett (grandson of A.P. and Sara Carter), along with John's wife Laura (Weber) Cash . They released their first album, Past & Present , in 2010. Rosie Nix Adams , daughter of June Carter Cash and her second husband,

12654-474: Was sent to other relatives. The routine of the Bozeman household grounded Rodgers with chores and he spent most of his free time outdoors. He started to attend school regularly and he was further assisted by his teacher, who rented a room at his aunt's boarding house. Rodgers received most of his schooling while he lived there until he went back to Meridian in 1911. Upon his return to Meridian, he went back to

12768-471: Was the father of her daughter, Kathryn Rodgers, who was born in February 1918. Although there was no conclusive evidence that Rodgers had slept with Kelly at the time of the child's conception, judge Edgar Vaught held that she was conceived in legal wedlock . Rodgers was ordered to pay $ 50 monthly (equivalent to $ 1,100 in 2023 ) in child support until Kathryn reached 18 years of age. After Rodgers' death,

12882-552: Was to allow her to play melody lines (on the low strings of the guitar) while still maintaining rhythm using her fingers, brushing across the higher strings. Before the Carter family's recordings, the guitar was rarely used as a lead or solo instrument among musicians. Maybelle's interweaving of a melodic line on the bass strings with intermittent strums is now a staple of steel string guitar technique. Flatpickers such as Doc Watson , Clarence White and Norman Blake took flatpicking to

12996-442: Was to undertake in Bristol, Tennessee . During what later became known as the Bristol sessions , Rodgers recorded solo, as he was deserted by his band after a disagreement. A second session with Rodgers was later arranged in Camden, New Jersey , at the singer's own insistence; that session produced " Blue Yodel No. 1 (T for Texas) ". The song became a success, propelling Rodgers to national fame and beginning his recording career with

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