Harold's Old Time Radio

WSM Collection 1953.05.26 – Jimmie Rodgers Memorial

Episode Overview

This episode is a heartfelt special broadcast originally aired on May 26, 1953, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the passing of Jimmie Rodgers—"America’s Blue Yodeler" and a founding father of what became known as hillbilly and country music. Under the auspices of WSM and NBC, the city of Meridian, Mississippi, gathered musicians, dignitaries, and Rodgers’ family for an all-day tribute, culminating in a Grand Ole Opry jamboree. The episode blends narration, historic speeches, musical performances, and personal reminiscences, capturing both the reverence and enduring influence of Jimmie Rodgers on American music.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Historical Context & The Ceremony

• Location and Occasion:
  • Meridian, Mississippi, was selected for Jimmie Rodgers Day, drawing thousands who came by train for the memorial and festivities ([00:30]–[01:32]).
  • "A colorful train with excursion type coaches pulled by an old style steam locomotive carried hundreds of guests…" ([01:32]).
• Memorial Dedication:
  • The retired locomotive became a permanent monument, symbolizing Rodgers’ connection to railroads and railroaders.

2. Jimmie Rodgers' Legacy and Influence

• Rodgers, a former brakeman, rose to fame through his distinctive blend of "blue yodels" and heartfelt story songs ([01:32]–[03:11]).
• Songs like "Waiting for a Train," "Brakeman’s Blues," and "Sleep, Baby Sleep" became standards in the late '20s and '30s.
• His music bridged the gap between rural and city listeners, railroad workers, cowboys, and more—a pivotal unifier in American cultural life.

3. Notable Addresses at the Ceremony

• Hank Snow (WSM Grand Ole Opry Star):

  • Emphasized Rodgers as the “daddy and originator of hillbilly and folk music” ([03:11]).
  • Spoke of Rodgers' adversity—tuberculosis, hard railroad life, and poor recording technology at the time ([03:11]–[06:27]).
  • Recognized Hank Williams as the artist who later “bridged the gap” between hillbilly and popular music, a lineage tracing back to Rodgers.
  • Quote ([03:49]):
    • “Jimmy Rogers worked back, friends and neighbors, in 1926...They didn’t have the modern equipment...He was also under the handicap of being very ill and stricken with tuberculosis. He had a hard fight.”

• Governor Jimmie Davis (Louisiana):

  • Recounted personal friendship and recordings with Rodgers.
  • Highlighted Carrie Rodgers (Jimmie’s widow) as the artist’s greatest inspiration ([06:35]–[09:01]).
  • Quote ([07:13]):
    • “He was a great inspiration to me as he was to many other folk artists... he left a world of happiness in the form of song to be heard around the world till the end of time.”

• Carrie Rodgers (Jimmie’s Widow):

  • Expressed deep gratitude to all organizers, notably Ralph Peer, Ernest Tubb, and Hank Snow ([09:15]).
  • Quote ([09:15]):
    • “I am profoundly grateful to all who have had anything to do with making this day possible…”

• Governor Frank Clement (Tennessee):

  • Proclaimed pride in Tennessee’s role in Rodgers’ first recordings; referenced the cross-pollination and non-partisan nature of country/folk music ([12:00]–[16:58]).
  • Announced intentions to establish a day commemorating hillbilly/country music in Tennessee.
  • Quote ([13:45]):
    • “...Many people take much out of life and take much with them. But there are very few who leave us and leave behind more than they receive. On this occasion, we are going to unveil in a few moments, a monument to a man. A man who is a legend in America today.”
  • Quote ([15:48]):
    • “There’s nothing under God’s sun draws the line on this music that we love except a person’s own heart and their willingness to take unto themselves that which these songsters offer…”

4. Grand Ole Opry Jamboree & Musical Highlights

• Hank Snow and Jimmy Rodgers Snow:

  • Performed an original tribute song, “When Jimmy Rogers Said Goodbye,” capturing Rodgers’ musical heritage and the lasting emotional impact ([17:33]–[20:18]).
  • Lyric:
    • “He’s singing to the angels / way up in heaven today / He left a blue song for the brakeman...” ([17:40])

• Minnie Pearl (Comedienne and Grand Ole Opry Favorite):

  • Delivered her signature country comedy—light-hearted anecdotes about lawmen and rural life ([21:31]).
  • Quote ([21:31]):
    • “He said, ‘I wonder if she really is a country girl.’ He said, ‘I bet she don’t know a goose from a gander.’ I said, well, at Grinder Switch, we don’t worry about that. We just put them all out there together and let them figure it out for themselves.”
  • Performed the song “Jealous Hearted Me” ([23:37]).

• Little Jimmy Dickens:

  • Sang “Sleeping at the Foot of the Bed,” a humorous yet poignant reflection on rural kinfolk and childhood ([24:29]–[26:46]).

• Carl Smith:

  • Introduced as “so tall, if he fell down, he’d be halfway home before he could get up.”
  • Performed a lively love song, “Wait Till I Get You Alone” ([27:12]–[29:37]).

• Hank Snow: Anniversary Blue Yodel

  • Fittingly closed the program with Rodgers’ “Anniversary Blue Yodel” ([29:55]–[32:14]).
  • Featured iconic lines:
    • “I was a stranger passing through your town / When I ask you a favor, good gal, you turn me down...”
    • “I’m not singing the blues. I’m just telling you the hard luck I’ve had / Cause the blues ain’t nothing but a good man feeling bad…”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Hank Snow:

  • ([03:44]) “We’re all gathered here from different parts of the nation. Every hillbilly and his brother, I believe, are here, boy and gal, to help in paying tribute to the daddy of us all... the one and only Jimmie Rodgers.”

• Gov. Jimmie Davis:

  • ([07:24]) “I know that with his passing, he took with him the greatest voice of its kind that perhaps this country has ever known. At the same time, he left a world of happiness in the form of song...”

• Carrie Rodgers:

  • ([09:15]) “My daughter Anita and I will always remember the thoughtfulness and assistance given us by Ernest Tubb and Hank Snow... this tribute to my Jimmy.”

• Gov. Frank Clement:

  • ([14:55]) “...There’s nothing under God’s Sun draws the line on this music that we love except a person’s own heart and their willingness to take unto themselves that which these songsters offer unto us...”

• Minnie Pearl:

  • ([21:31]) “Well, at Grinder Switch, we don’t worry about that. We just put them all out there together and let them figure it out for themselves.”
  • ([22:11]) “He wasn’t very handsome and he didn’t have much money and he married another girl...I broke our engagement.”

• Hank Snow, “Blue Yodel”:

  • ([29:55], closing song): “I’m not singing the blues. I’m just telling you the hard luck I’ve had / Cause the blues ain’t nothing but a good man feeling bad...”

Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:30]–[01:32]: Introduction to Jimmie Rodgers Day and its setting in Meridian, MS
• [03:11]–[06:27]: Hank Snow’s address on Rodgers’ struggles and legacy
• [06:35]–[09:01]: Gov. Jimmie Davis’s speech on knowing Rodgers personally; tribute to Carrie Rodgers
• [09:15]–[09:56]: Carrie Rodgers’ appreciation address
• [12:00]–[16:58]: Gov. Frank Clement’s reflection on music’s unifying power and Tennessee’s pledge for commemoration
• [17:33]–[20:18]: Hank Snow and son’s tribute song “When Jimmy Rogers Said Goodbye”
• [21:31]–[23:36]: Minnie Pearl’s comedic storytelling and “Jealous Hearted Me”
• [24:29]–[26:46]: Little Jimmy Dickens – “Sleeping at the Foot of the Bed”
• [27:12]–[29:37]: Carl Smith’s performance
• [29:55]–[32:14]: Hank Snow’s “Anniversary Blue Yodel” (Grand finale)

Conclusion

This episode is a vibrant, emotional tribute not only to Jimmie Rodgers but to the power of American folk and country music to unite people across time and place. Highlighted by heartfelt speeches, rich musical performances, and humorous interludes, the special captures how Rodgers’ voice and story have shaped generations of artists and fans. As Governor Clement vowed, the memory of Jimmie Rodgers and the music he inspired continues to “offer unto us for our own comfort and appreciation” in perpetuity.