The modern template for a country music star starts with Jimmie Rodgers. Fusing jazz, blues, folk, gospel, pop, and cowboy material into an easy, comfortable style and also writing a good portion of his own repertoire, Rodgers understood as well that a public persona -- he was known as "the singing brakeman" and the "blue yodeler" -- gave him a welcome base to work from, and although his professional career only lasted six years, he influenced everyone who came after him in the country music field. This set has his key tracks from the late 1920s and early '30s, including several of his signature blue yodels, and works as a fine introduction to this important performer. ~ Steve Leggett
Based on 
