Country music has two pillars: Hank Williams and Jimmie Rodgers. There was hillbilly and mountain music before these two giants but these two brought it to the masses. Honky Tonkin' is a good place to start but there are many others. Don't forget Jimmie listed Geiger, AL as his birth place so there are a half dozen of his songs that are significant as well.
Reasonable people can argue endlessly about the first rock and roll record. Rocket 88 has as good a claim as any and Sam Phillips of Florence, AL knew it. Significant? You bet!
Big Mama Thornton was one of the artists that young Elvis Presley absorbed and used to shape the sound that exploded out of Memphis. Plenty significant.
Arthur Alexander's success with You Better Move On allowed the expansion of FAME studios. Try to imagine the 1960's soul scene without FAME and Muscle Shoals.
Thus the debate continues. It's like picking the most significant rock & roll album, best guitarist or most influential whatever. Everyone will have their own opinion. That's what makes it fun. Whether his birthplace was Meridian, Mississippi or Geiger, Alabama, Jimmie Rodgers' recordings were highly significant and having Alabama in his background would include him on some peoples' list. That's why the list has 10 choices not 5. We could probably list 100 and still leave someone of significance out. Alabama is rich in musical history.
Thanks for the input. I'm sure Jimmie's recordings will get a mention at our April meeting.
Question: Does Geiger, Alabama do as much for Jimmie Rodgers' legacy as Meridian, Mississippi? Not to dispute but to discover if we Alabamians do as much as we should to honor and remember our own.
Comments
Significant recordings with an Alabama connection
Country music has two pillars: Hank Williams and Jimmie Rodgers. There was hillbilly and mountain music before these two giants but these two brought it to the masses. Honky Tonkin' is a good place to start but there are many others. Don't forget Jimmie listed Geiger, AL as his birth place so there are a half dozen of his songs that are significant as well.
Reasonable people can argue endlessly about the first rock and roll record. Rocket 88 has as good a claim as any and Sam Phillips of Florence, AL knew it. Significant? You bet!
Big Mama Thornton was one of the artists that young Elvis Presley absorbed and used to shape the sound that exploded out of Memphis. Plenty significant.
Arthur Alexander's success with You Better Move On allowed the expansion of FAME studios. Try to imagine the 1960's soul scene without FAME and Muscle Shoals.
One man's opinion...rock on!
Thus the debate continues.
Thus the debate continues. It's like picking the most significant rock & roll album, best guitarist or most influential whatever. Everyone will have their own opinion. That's what makes it fun. Whether his birthplace was Meridian, Mississippi or Geiger, Alabama, Jimmie Rodgers' recordings were highly significant and having Alabama in his background would include him on some peoples' list. That's why the list has 10 choices not 5. We could probably list 100 and still leave someone of significance out. Alabama is rich in musical history.
Thanks for the input. I'm sure Jimmie's recordings will get a mention at our April meeting.
Question: Does Geiger, Alabama do as much for Jimmie Rodgers' legacy as Meridian, Mississippi? Not to dispute but to discover if we Alabamians do as much as we should to honor and remember our own.