I was particularly struck by Rodgers’ commitment to his music. He was incredibly sick, barley hanging on the thread of life, and yet he managed to record so many songs. He obviously had a lot of passion for music. His songs are described as emotional but realistic; not trying to tug at the listener’s heartstrings. I think that Rodgers found a sweet spot that not many other people have found, something that was part talent, part practice, and part luck. I also admired his ability to shift his image into what was needed. The way the article described it was like a with a doll, Rodgers was plain enough that he could change with ease. He was “the Man with the Guitar”, which I think is meant to show that he had no permanent musical identity other than that.
Throughout his life, Jimmie Rodgers’ had an identity crisis similar to other artists. In the article it suggests that Rodgers looked different in almost every picture. Even during his music career, he would change outfits constantly, which reflected his various music song choices. Looking back at his younger self, I could tell Rodgers was a man who was trying to find himself. Even when he grew up, he was still trying to find himself because he was never satisfied. Although he struggled with his identity, he found his top music skill, yodeling. His music style was also something he mastered. Rodgers sang the blues, which was mainly an African American style music, and was able to sing it quite well. Even though he mainly sang the blues, he also snag country music as well because of the meaning of the songs. Because blues is not meant to be overly sentimental, he sang country music when he wanted the exaggeration of emotions. In the end, Rodgers died of tuberculosis, but he sang songs until his last day.
Jimmie Rodgers was a prominent person/artist of the 19th century. He is known as the “father of country music” and is famous for his yodeling. Country music originated in the farm fields and railroad yards, it came from fiddle tunes, and from hymns chanted in church. It was white music and arose from the heart. Much of country music brought nostalgia to its listeners. Rodgers was successful because his music reflected all of these things. He sang of many things people could relate to, which is what all good country music did. Something that made him stand out was recording more songs than any other artist of that time had done. With the invention of the radio, the country music audience was widely expanded. Through his notorious career, he suffered from tuberculosis. It amazes me that despite being at a disadvantage with this disease, he was able to maintain the colorful and energetic feeling that country music brings.
I found it interesting and sad how Jimmie Rodgers died so young. Not only was he a talented musician but also a committed father and husband and it’s a shame that he passed away so early due to tuberculosis. According to the article, Rodgers was a man of many looks, changing appearance in every picture taken of him. After he gained popularity and fame the way his adaptive nature only was more masterfully shown, except this time his photos were taken by professionals. I found it really cool how he was considered “The Father of Country Music” and created what one would call the first music video ever. He’s also described to have a trademark yodel, which is said to have brought him his fame. He’s also said to have recorded with many different instruments, giving his music a wide cultural range and most likely what really allowed country music to develop as it did. It’s safe to say that Rodgers’ influence is what helped country music to evolve into what it’s become today.
“The father of country music,” Jimmie Rodgers, was the first ever white person to sing a blues song. I found this interesting since it shows the mix between black music with white artists. What I found interesting is that Rodgers didn’t stay in one place to record his songs. He traveled all over to record his songs and I never would have thought that’s what an artist would do. From what it seems like, he went to the places where blues music was such a popular genre in that specific area. I also took note of that Rodgers recorded with more black musicians than other white musicians would. This, to me, shows that Rodgers was an open guy and he was okay with recording with other folks. It also shows that he wanted to record with these musicians and he didn’t care that they were of a different race. I also took notice that Rodgers was suffering from a serious illness but he still persevered through it and was able to record songs for everyone to listen to. I think this is incredible because he showed that even though you may suffer from an illness or just anything in general, you can still do the things you love even though you may be at a disadvantage. Rodgers’ story is such a sad one but it was such an interesting story and makes me want to listen to some of the songs he recorded.
After reading “Jimmie Rodgers Died for Your Sins,” I realize Jimmie Rodgers is the perfect example of an American artist. He came from a working background, an ordinary guy, but with America’s availability and the opportunities that America gave him, Rodgers was able to earn the nickname “father of country music.” One thing I found particularly interesting about Rodgers is that he sang until his very last breath; he tried to sing until he no longer had the strength. To me, this shows that he was dedicated to his work and was truly passionate about singing. This passion translates to his work because he was deemed the first white singer to be able to convincingly sing the blues. I feel as if him coming from a working background contributed to this. I wonder how his career would have been affected if technology wasn’t there to spread his talent. I’m sure his career wouldn’t be as prosperous as it is in the history books, but I’m confident he would have to be recognized somehow for his amazing talent and love for music.
I realized that this article was a little different from what we had previously read about other musicians. Even though it is a biography of an influential singer, it goes in depth explaining more on Jimmie Rodgers himself. His impact in the country music made a huge difference through radio music. His yodeling and fiddling made a crucial existence during the 1920s. Although he suffered from tuberculosis and died at such a young age, his perseverance and determination was more than alive. Through his magnificent musical skills and performance, he satisfied his audience. He was known as a father of country music which seemed like the perfect name for him. The lyrics and the melody was especially what struck me the most as they were both emotional and realistic. Through his pain, he recorded number of songs which portrayed his love for music. It also conveyed how big music or even country music was a part of his life.
I found this article very interesting and I thought that Jimmie Rodgers had a very different life. He ended up dying very young so he didn’t get to live a very long life, but when he was here, he made the most of it. One thing that I think makes him stand out from other musicians is that he worked and persevered for his career as well as loving every bit of it. He was just like everyone else, but was given the opportunity and took off with it and was able to be “the father of country music.” His country music helped influence a lot of the later songs making each evolve in its own way. He even died only shortly after recording his last song. He used every piece of his life that he could make music and because of it, he will be remembered for the wonderful songs he’s made.
Jimmie Rodgers and his music had a huge impact in the 1920s, Rodgers recorded music all over America and worked with many different type of artists. Rodgers was also a man of many trades, he was very well known for his yodeling skills, but was most importantly known for country music and was even named "the Father of Country Music." His music brought people all over the world together with his nostalgic tones, which was especially needed during this time of segregation. I think his willingness to work with different artists showed his disapproval of segregation in the south. What stood out to me the most was Rodgers commitment to music and his family even when he was dying of Tuberculosis and thousands of miles from home he continued to play music and produce, and even traveled back home to ensure his wife and daughter were taken care of.
I thought that Jimmy Rodgers was actually a very interesting person. From a young age he has always been hardworking. He loved music so much and continued to record all around the country learning from different cultures and creating true american music. He worked with all kinds of people including Hawaiian Guitarist, pianist, and many others. I thought that this is what made his music truly american. American being a mix of all the cultures coming together. And this is why I think he is “the Father of Country Music”. Because of how country music was just a mix of cultures like the fiddle from Europe and the banjo from Africa.
I think it’s interesting that he had no set personality. He would dress differently and present himself differently for photo shoots. Many times singers are put into one category or one aesthetic and they only dress that way so it’s nice to see a singer who’s shown more like regular, every day people. It describes him as having a “fluid identity” and his music also being that way. He recorded in a slew of different places with an even more varied group of artists. He recorded with people of different races as well as “country fiddlers, slick studio jazz bands, Hawaiian guitarists, pianists, banjo players, jug bands, and blue guitarists.” Overall he was an unpredictable man, singing heart wrenching blues but also being named a centaur deity, he accomplished everything a musician at the time could hope to. And he recorded until his last breath, the way any musician would want to.
Right off bat they already praise Jimmie Rodgers with the title of the article, “Jimmie Rodgers Died for Your Sins.” They respect Rodgers so much that the writer of this article decided compare him with Jesus. Rodgers was what you would call an American, he and his music was the embodiment of America at the time. Rodgers was very influential because of how he actually traveled all over spreading his music while just enjoying himself. But it wasn’t just his constant traveling it was the realness in his voice. As stated in the article he was, “the first white performer to sig the blues convincingly on recordings.” Despite the blues being mostly claimed by the Native Americans, African Americans and, etc, he was able to share his own blues that the nation connected with. Not only was his voice special but he himself was different than most singers because he had a “fluid identity” he wanted to be known for more than just his singing.
While familiar with the name Jimmie Rodgers, I didn’t know much about the revered country singer. I appreciated that this article spent less time focusing on his achievements in the industry and instead provided a glimpse into his personal life and demeanor. I thought it was interesting how Rodgers became a sort of archetype for the quintessential country singer by performing in a way that combined both black and white musical influences. I especially liked the sentence about how he was “a personification of the growing nation itself.” It seems that his music was touched by his history, reflecting the working class experience, and he inspired others with his legacy.
After reading this article I thought that it was interesting that they started it off with details on how he died. The way they described his death sounded pretty painful and tragic. He died from massive hemorrhaging due to tuberculoses. Then the article begins to describe Jimmie Rodgers personality and how he repeatedly cast himself into the river of possibility for an identity. They tell us that in his pictures he looks slightly different in each one. I was also pretty interested in the part that described his crazy life. He ran away from home a couple times as a teen and at age 14 started working on the railroads. He contacted tuberculosis which he would battle his whole life. He juggled his railroad jobs and trying to start a music career on top of taking care of his wife and child. Another thing that caught my eye was the part about how Rodgers was the first white performer to be able to convincingly sing the blues. It was cool to see how his chaotic life full of struggles was able to help him sing the blues with some of the same emotions that the black singers did.
I listened to the last song Jimmie Rodgers recorded, “Years Ago,” and I was surprised at how upbeat he sounds. The man was on his death bed and still recording music that sounded like it was the product of just another average day in the studio. I didn’t know anything about Jimmie Rodgers before reading this article, but now I can see how he influenced many of the artists I listen to today. The article talks about how he searched for an identity, and continued to after he became famous. Many famous artists today find themselves stuck in a box, but Jimmie Rodgers could appeal to all sorts of people by representing them.
I think Jimmie Rodgers' story is very interesting. He was really a pioneer for country music. I found it extremely interesting on how he was also he was one of the first white artists to sing the blues well, as well as record with black artists. It really shows how the Rodgers used different elements from black and white music to create a new sound for country music. I also like the part in the article where it relates Rodgers' music to the "endless American dynamic," describing the story of making yourself a whole different person to be able to pursue new possibilities, and as you do so looking back at the past nostalgically. His last days recording seemed amazing to me. Recording multiple songs while battling disease in his last weeks of life is really something. It showed Rodgers' commitment not only to music, but to his family, as he pushed himself to record so that his wife and daughter would have some more money to lean on after his passing.
I think that Jimmie Rodgers has a pretty incredible story, and I think it was pretty crazy how sick he was, but he still kept doing what he loved. I also thought that it was pretty interesting that he was able to crossover genres and sing the blues and interact with the other blues artists who were black. I think it was really inspiring in a way that he always did what he loved no matter the circumstances, and he really did his best not to let his sickness stand in his way.
Jimmie Rodgers story is a very unique tale that really captured my attention. The main point across the article was that Jimmie had such a difficult life and because of it he could sing the blues incredibly well. The most unique thing about Jimmie was that he was a white man who sang amongst black people who were the greatest jazz artists of all time and yet he had such emotion in his voice that he was accepted and respected by them. Jimmie Rodgers is a key figure in ending segregation in America because of his impact of the blues and he represents an intersection between working class white and black people.
Jimmie Rodger’s life and music career was different from the past white singers I’ve listened to. I was glad to read that he’s the first Caucasian to sing the Blues well enough to make music that the African Americans could also relate to. His tuberculosis allowed him to feel that agony and pain and sing about in a similar way to the black people. I was also not surprised to read about his several identities or looks that he often switched up because it reflected the way he was able to touch different groups of people with his music. That also shows his unstableness which shined through his blues music. Jimmie Rodgers was a profound artist who used his tragedies to make moving music and lived an short yet important life.
Jimmie Rodgers definitely is unique in his life story and in his music that he made. It’s interesting how he grew up in Mississippi, but then went all over the place as he grew in fame. It’s very unfortunate that he contracted tuberculosis, especially as his career relied on his strong lungs to perpetuate the famous bluesy sound he had. I love how he looks different in all his pictures, it gives me a vibe that he was very spontaneous. It’s interesting how he naturally had an incredibly powerful bluesy sound for a white man. Pain, instability, and longing for identity seems to be themes in his music. Unfortunately, his death seems to just tie off his whole story in a sad but memorable way.
I was particularly struck by Rodgers’ commitment to his music. He was incredibly sick, barley hanging on the thread of life, and yet he managed to record so many songs. He obviously had a lot of passion for music. His songs are described as emotional but realistic; not trying to tug at the listener’s heartstrings. I think that Rodgers found a sweet spot that not many other people have found, something that was part talent, part practice, and part luck. I also admired his ability to shift his image into what was needed. The way the article described it was like a with a doll, Rodgers was plain enough that he could change with ease. He was “the Man with the Guitar”, which I think is meant to show that he had no permanent musical identity other than that.
ReplyDeleteThroughout his life, Jimmie Rodgers’ had an identity crisis similar to other artists. In the article it suggests that Rodgers looked different in almost every picture. Even during his music career, he would change outfits constantly, which reflected his various music song choices. Looking back at his younger self, I could tell Rodgers was a man who was trying to find himself. Even when he grew up, he was still trying to find himself because he was never satisfied. Although he struggled with his identity, he found his top music skill, yodeling. His music style was also something he mastered. Rodgers sang the blues, which was mainly an African American style music, and was able to sing it quite well. Even though he mainly sang the blues, he also snag country music as well because of the meaning of the songs. Because blues is not meant to be overly sentimental, he sang country music when he wanted the exaggeration of emotions. In the end, Rodgers died of tuberculosis, but he sang songs until his last day.
ReplyDeleteJimmie Rodgers was a prominent person/artist of the 19th century. He is known as the “father of country music” and is famous for his yodeling. Country music originated in the farm fields and railroad yards, it came from fiddle tunes, and from hymns chanted in church. It was white music and arose from the heart. Much of country music brought nostalgia to its listeners. Rodgers was successful because his music reflected all of these things. He sang of many things people could relate to, which is what all good country music did. Something that made him stand out was recording more songs than any other artist of that time had done. With the invention of the radio, the country music audience was widely expanded. Through his notorious career, he suffered from tuberculosis. It amazes me that despite being at a disadvantage with this disease, he was able to maintain the colorful and energetic feeling that country music brings.
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting and sad how Jimmie Rodgers died so young. Not only was he a talented musician but also a committed father and husband and it’s a shame that he passed away so early due to tuberculosis. According to the article, Rodgers was a man of many looks, changing appearance in every picture taken of him. After he gained popularity and fame the way his adaptive nature only was more masterfully shown, except this time his photos were taken by professionals. I found it really cool how he was considered “The Father of Country Music” and created what one would call the first music video ever. He’s also described to have a trademark yodel, which is said to have brought him his fame. He’s also said to have recorded with many different instruments, giving his music a wide cultural range and most likely what really allowed country music to develop as it did. It’s safe to say that Rodgers’ influence is what helped country music to evolve into what it’s become today.
ReplyDelete“The father of country music,” Jimmie Rodgers, was the first ever white person to sing a blues song. I found this interesting since it shows the mix between black music with white artists. What I found interesting is that Rodgers didn’t stay in one place to record his songs. He traveled all over to record his songs and I never would have thought that’s what an artist would do. From what it seems like, he went to the places where blues music was such a popular genre in that specific area. I also took note of that Rodgers recorded with more black musicians than other white musicians would. This, to me, shows that Rodgers was an open guy and he was okay with recording with other folks. It also shows that he wanted to record with these musicians and he didn’t care that they were of a different race. I also took notice that Rodgers was suffering from a serious illness but he still persevered through it and was able to record songs for everyone to listen to. I think this is incredible because he showed that even though you may suffer from an illness or just anything in general, you can still do the things you love even though you may be at a disadvantage. Rodgers’ story is such a sad one but it was such an interesting story and makes me want to listen to some of the songs he recorded.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading “Jimmie Rodgers Died for Your Sins,” I realize Jimmie Rodgers is the perfect example of an American artist. He came from a working background, an ordinary guy, but with America’s availability and the opportunities that America gave him, Rodgers was able to earn the nickname “father of country music.” One thing I found particularly interesting about Rodgers is that he sang until his very last breath; he tried to sing until he no longer had the strength. To me, this shows that he was dedicated to his work and was truly passionate about singing. This passion translates to his work because he was deemed the first white singer to be able to convincingly sing the blues. I feel as if him coming from a working background contributed to this. I wonder how his career would have been affected if technology wasn’t there to spread his talent. I’m sure his career wouldn’t be as prosperous as it is in the history books, but I’m confident he would have to be recognized somehow for his amazing talent and love for music.
ReplyDeleteI realized that this article was a little different from what we had previously read about other musicians. Even though it is a biography of an influential singer, it goes in depth explaining more on Jimmie Rodgers himself. His impact in the country music made a huge difference through radio music. His yodeling and fiddling made a crucial existence during the 1920s. Although he suffered from tuberculosis and died at such a young age, his perseverance and determination was more than alive. Through his magnificent musical skills and performance, he satisfied his audience. He was known as a father of country music which seemed like the perfect name for him. The lyrics and the melody was especially what struck me the most as they were both emotional and realistic. Through his pain, he recorded number of songs which portrayed his love for music. It also conveyed how big music or even country music was a part of his life.
ReplyDeleteI found this article very interesting and I thought that Jimmie Rodgers had a very different life. He ended up dying very young so he didn’t get to live a very long life, but when he was here, he made the most of it. One thing that I think makes him stand out from other musicians is that he worked and persevered for his career as well as loving every bit of it. He was just like everyone else, but was given the opportunity and took off with it and was able to be “the father of country music.” His country music helped influence a lot of the later songs making each evolve in its own way. He even died only shortly after recording his last song. He used every piece of his life that he could make music and because of it, he will be remembered for the wonderful songs he’s made.
ReplyDeleteJimmie Rodgers and his music had a huge impact in the 1920s, Rodgers recorded music all over America and worked with many different type of artists. Rodgers was also a man of many trades, he was very well known for his yodeling skills, but was most importantly known for country music and was even named "the Father of Country Music." His music brought people all over the world together with his nostalgic tones, which was especially needed during this time of segregation. I think his willingness to work with different artists showed his disapproval of segregation in the south. What stood out to me the most was Rodgers commitment to music and his family even when he was dying of Tuberculosis and thousands of miles from home he continued to play music and produce, and even traveled back home to ensure his wife and daughter were taken care of.
ReplyDeleteI thought that Jimmy Rodgers was actually a very interesting person. From a young age he has always been hardworking. He loved music so much and continued to record all around the country learning from different cultures and creating true american music. He worked with all kinds of people including Hawaiian Guitarist, pianist, and many others. I thought that this is what made his music truly american. American being a mix of all the cultures coming together. And this is why I think he is “the Father of Country Music”. Because of how country music was just a mix of cultures like the fiddle from Europe and the banjo from Africa.
ReplyDeleteI think it’s interesting that he had no set personality. He would dress differently and present himself differently for photo shoots. Many times singers are put into one category or one aesthetic and they only dress that way so it’s nice to see a singer who’s shown more like regular, every day people. It describes him as having a “fluid identity” and his music also being that way. He recorded in a slew of different places with an even more varied group of artists. He recorded with people of different races as well as “country fiddlers, slick studio jazz bands, Hawaiian guitarists, pianists, banjo players, jug bands, and blue guitarists.” Overall he was an unpredictable man, singing heart wrenching blues but also being named a centaur deity, he accomplished everything a musician at the time could hope to. And he recorded until his last breath, the way any musician would want to.
ReplyDeleteRight off bat they already praise Jimmie Rodgers with the title of the article, “Jimmie Rodgers Died for Your Sins.” They respect Rodgers so much that the writer of this article decided compare him with Jesus. Rodgers was what you would call an American, he and his music was the embodiment of America at the time. Rodgers was very influential because of how he actually traveled all over spreading his music while just enjoying himself. But it wasn’t just his constant traveling it was the realness in his voice. As stated in the article he was, “the first white performer to sig the blues convincingly on recordings.” Despite the blues being mostly claimed by the Native Americans, African Americans and, etc, he was able to share his own blues that the nation connected with. Not only was his voice special but he himself was different than most singers because he had a “fluid identity” he wanted to be known for more than just his singing.
ReplyDeleteWhile familiar with the name Jimmie Rodgers, I didn’t know much about the revered country singer. I appreciated that this article spent less time focusing on his achievements in the industry and instead provided a glimpse into his personal life and demeanor. I thought it was interesting how Rodgers became a sort of archetype for the quintessential country singer by performing in a way that combined both black and white musical influences. I especially liked the sentence about how he was “a personification of the growing nation itself.” It seems that his music was touched by his history, reflecting the working class experience, and he inspired others with his legacy.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this article I thought that it was interesting that they started it off with details on how he died. The way they described his death sounded pretty painful and tragic. He died from massive hemorrhaging due to tuberculoses. Then the article begins to describe Jimmie Rodgers personality and how he repeatedly cast himself into the river of possibility for an identity. They tell us that in his pictures he looks slightly different in each one. I was also pretty interested in the part that described his crazy life. He ran away from home a couple times as a teen and at age 14 started working on the railroads. He contacted tuberculosis which he would battle his whole life. He juggled his railroad jobs and trying to start a music career on top of taking care of his wife and child. Another thing that caught my eye was the part about how Rodgers was the first white performer to be able to convincingly sing the blues. It was cool to see how his chaotic life full of struggles was able to help him sing the blues with some of the same emotions that the black singers did.
ReplyDeleteI listened to the last song Jimmie Rodgers recorded, “Years Ago,” and I was surprised at how upbeat he sounds. The man was on his death bed and still recording music that sounded like it was the product of just another average day in the studio. I didn’t know anything about Jimmie Rodgers before reading this article, but now I can see how he influenced many of the artists I listen to today. The article talks about how he searched for an identity, and continued to after he became famous. Many famous artists today find themselves stuck in a box, but Jimmie Rodgers could appeal to all sorts of people by representing them.
ReplyDeleteI think Jimmie Rodgers' story is very interesting. He was really a pioneer for country music. I found it extremely interesting on how he was also he was one of the first white artists to sing the blues well, as well as record with black artists. It really shows how the Rodgers used different elements from black and white music to create a new sound for country music. I also like the part in the article where it relates Rodgers' music to the "endless American dynamic," describing the story of making yourself a whole different person to be able to pursue new possibilities, and as you do so looking back at the past nostalgically. His last days recording seemed amazing to me. Recording multiple songs while battling disease in his last weeks of life is really something. It showed Rodgers' commitment not only to music, but to his family, as he pushed himself to record so that his wife and daughter would have some more money to lean on after his passing.
ReplyDeleteI think that Jimmie Rodgers has a pretty incredible story, and I think it was pretty crazy how sick he was, but he still kept doing what he loved. I also thought that it was pretty interesting that he was able to crossover genres and sing the blues and interact with the other blues artists who were black. I think it was really inspiring in a way that he always did what he loved no matter the circumstances, and he really did his best not to let his sickness stand in his way.
ReplyDeleteJimmie Rodgers story is a very unique tale that really captured my attention. The main point across the article was that Jimmie had such a difficult life and because of it he could sing the blues incredibly well. The most unique thing about Jimmie was that he was a white man who sang amongst black people who were the greatest jazz artists of all time and yet he had such emotion in his voice that he was accepted and respected by them. Jimmie Rodgers is a key figure in ending segregation in America because of his impact of the blues and he represents an intersection between working class white and black people.
ReplyDeleteJimmie Rodger’s life and music career was different from the past white singers I’ve listened to. I was glad to read that he’s the first Caucasian to sing the Blues well enough to make music that the African Americans could also relate to. His tuberculosis allowed him to feel that agony and pain and sing about in a similar way to the black people. I was also not surprised to read about his several identities or looks that he often switched up because it reflected the way he was able to touch different groups of people with his music. That also shows his unstableness which shined through his blues music. Jimmie Rodgers was a profound artist who used his tragedies to make moving music and lived an short yet important life.
ReplyDeleteJimmie Rodgers definitely is unique in his life story and in his music that he made. It’s interesting how he grew up in Mississippi, but then went all over the place as he grew in fame. It’s very unfortunate that he contracted tuberculosis, especially as his career relied on his strong lungs to perpetuate the famous bluesy sound he had. I love how he looks different in all his pictures, it gives me a vibe that he was very spontaneous. It’s interesting how he naturally had an incredibly powerful bluesy sound for a white man. Pain, instability, and longing for identity seems to be themes in his music. Unfortunately, his death seems to just tie off his whole story in a sad but memorable way.
ReplyDelete