Rodgers was born in Meridian, MS on 9/8/1897. He lived with various
relatives before returning home to live with his father, a forean on the
Mobile and Ohio Railroad. By the age of 13 he had twice left home to perform
in traveling shows; each time he was brought home by his father. Jimmie
became the waterboy on his father's work gang, and eventually became a
brakeman on the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad.
In 1924 he contracted tuberculosis, which ended his railroad career
and freed Rodgers to pursue his first love.
On April 18, 1927 Rodgers and a friend appeared on the new Asheville
station WWNC, and he later recruited the Tenneva Ramblers for a weekly
spot as the Jimmie Rodgers Entertainers. In July, when they heard about
the recording in Bristol, TN, they agreed to audition. Peer agreed to
record them, but after an argument about the name, Rodgers announced "All
right...I'll just sing one myself."
On August 4, Jimmie Rodgers recorded "Sleep, Baby, Sleep"
and "The Soldier's Sweetheart," receiving $100. For the test
recordings, Rodgers received $100. They were released on 10/7 with modest
success. The following November Rodgers contacted Peer about more recording;
the next session yielded 4 songs, one of which was "T for Texas."
In the next few years Rodgers toured (he appeared with humorist Will
Rogers on a Red Cross tour of the Midwest), recorded with Louis Armstrong
in 1930, and made a film short entitled "The Singing Brakeman."
During the Depression, fewer field recordings were made, so Rodgers
traveled to New York in 1933 for more recording. Although he recorded
several songs by himself, his illness clearly affected his stamina. He
passed away shortly after the New York sessions.
Alvin Pleasant Delaney Carter, born 4/15/1891, learned traditional songs
on the fiddle as a child; he sang with 2 uncles and a sister for a time
as a gospel quartet. He met sara Dourgherty while traveling and selling
fruit trees. Sara, played a variety of instruments, including autoharp,
guitar and banjo, married A. P. in 1918, and they settled in Maces Springs,
VA. They were eventually joined by Maybelle Carter, wife of A. P.'s brother
Ezra, in 1926 and they began touring more extensively.
The Carter Family recorded six sides at the Bristol sessions for Peer,
and they signed with Victor in 1928. Over the following seven years they
recorded several hits, including "Wabash Cannonball," "Wildwood
Flower," and "Keep on the Sunny Side,"
During the Depression, however, they were unable to tour extensively,
and family members moved away to find work. A. P. and Sara separated in
1932, and for the next few years the Carters saw each other only at recording
sessions. They changed labels in 1935, moving to ARC, for whom they re-recorded
some of their material. They changed labels again the following year,
moving to Decca.
The Carters began appearing regularly on XERF in Del Rio, TX, one of
the high-powered "border radio" stations. This immensely increased
their popularity as well as record sales.
Sara and A. P. divorced in 1939. They continued to perform, however,
until 1943, when Sara retired and moved to California. Maybelle Carter
tour and recorded with her daughters Helen, June and Anita.
A. P. and Sara reformed the Carter family with their grown children
in 1952; their newer material did not generate much interest at the time,
and they disbanded again in 1956.
Jimmie
Rodgers