Jimmie Rodgers Sings His National Hit, “Blue Yodel No. 1”

The multitalented country music icon, Jimmie Rodgers, is known for his skillful yodeling in the early twentieth century. Known as “The Blue Yodeler” and “The Father Of Country Music,” Jimmie was elected into The Country Music Hall Of Fame, Songwriters Hall Of Fame, and Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, decades after his death in 1933.

“Blue Yodel No.1 (T for Texas)” is part of a series of thirteen songs both written and recorded by Jimmie from 1927 to 1933. They featured Jimmie’s trademark yodel refrains. This song tells the story of a man that’s treated badly and cheated on by his lady. He threatens the life of her and her lover. The lyrics of Jimmie’s yodeling series often had dark undertones.

When the song was released in 1927, they had no way of knowing that it’d become the major hit that it did. According to John Lilly at NativeGround.com, “Blue Yodel No. 1” “was a national phenomenon and generated an excitement and record-buying frenzy that no one could have predicted.”

This is definitely one throwback and blast from the past y’all don’t want to miss out on.