| ians have long been playing fiddle music in the | | | | day as Jimmie Rodgers signed with Victor Records, |
| Appalachians for years, but it wasn’t until | | | | so did the Carter Family, who would become one of |
| 1927 in Bristol, Tennessee that the first recording | | | | the most famous country music bands of all time. |
| country music recording deal was signed. In this year, | | | | They remained with Victor Records until 1936. Not |
| Victor Records signed Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter | | | | even divorce could separate the band though and |
| Family. | | | | they continued to record with Decca until 1939. |
| Jimmie Rodgers was born in Meridian Mississippi, in | | | | Things started to hit a rough patch at this stage and |
| 1897. Originally he worked on the railroads until his ill | | | | despite signing for Universal and eventually Victor |
| health got the better of him and it was only during | | | | Records again, the band split in 1941. |
| this time that he followed his earlier love of | | | | It is widely acknowledged that that big day in 1927 |
| entertaining. In 1927 he followed word that Victor | | | | was the introduction of country music to the rest of |
| Records were setting up a portable recording studio | | | | the country. Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family |
| and made his way there. He was immediately signed | | | | were met with huge critical acclaim and became |
| and continued recording and playing music until he | | | | incredibly popular helping to sell a great many records. |
| died in 1933. | | | | Country music singers and bands of today will often |
| In 1965 he was one of the very first musicians to be | | | | talk about the Carter Family or Jimmie Rodgers as |
| added to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961 | | | | being their major influence and with very good |
| along with Hank Williams and Fred Rose. On the same | | | | reason. |
