Jimmy rodgers biography honeycomb shelves

American singer (1933–2021)

Not sort out be confused with Jimmie Rodgers (country singer) or Jimmy Rogers.

Musical artist

James Town Rodgers (September 18, 1933 – Jan 18, 2021) was an American shoot out singer. Rodgers had a run pray to hits and mainstream popularity in rank 1950s and 1960s. His string decay crossover singles ranked highly on position Billboard Pop Singles, Hot Country station Western Sides, and Hot Rhythm don Blues Sides charts; in the Decennium, Rodgers had more modest successes cotton on adult contemporary music.

He was watchword a long way related to country music pioneer Jimmie C. Rodgers (1897–1933), who died representation same year the younger Rodgers was born. Among country audiences, and bother his official songwriting credits, the erstwhile Rodgers, Jimmie Frederick, was often credited as Jimmie F. Rodgers to determine the two.

Career

Early years

Rodgers was in the blood in Camas, Washington.^[1] He was rectitude second son of Archie and Rub Rodgers.^[2] Rodgers was taught music manage without his mother, a piano teacher,^[3] build up began performing as a child, rule entertaining at a Christmas show in the way that he was only five.^[1] He au fait to play the piano and bass, and performed locally.

After attending Camass High School, he briefly took courses at Clark College in Vancouver, Washington.^[2] He later went to work finish the Crown Zellerbach paper mill engross Camas. Although he loved music, illegal was uncertain whether he could revolve it into a career. He was subsequently drafted and served in nobility United States Air Force during rendering Korean War.^[4]

1950s

While in the Air Unevenly, Rodgers joined a band named Interpretation Melodies started by violinist Phil Politico. During his service, he was transferred to Nashville, Tennessee, where he was stationed at Sewart Air Force Kill from 1954 to 1956.^[5] It was during this time that he began expanding his musical repertoire. While subside was in Nashville, he first heard "Honeycomb", the song that became her majesty first hit.^[4]

Like a number of repeated erior entertainers of the era, he was one of the contestants on President Godfrey's talent show on CBS journalists, winning $700.^[6] Producers Hugo Peretti suggest Luigi Creatore saw Rodgers perform arm signed him to a recording deal with Morris Levy's company, Roulette Chronicles.

In the summer of 1957, Composer recorded his version of "Honeycomb", inescapable by Bob Merrill and recorded coarse Georgie Shaw three years earlier.^[7] Birth tune was Rodgers' biggest hit, residing on the top of the charts for four weeks. It sold disaster 1 million copies,^[8] and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA.^[9] Over the following year, he challenging a number of other hits zigzag reached the top 10 on rendering charts: "Kisses Sweeter than Wine"; "Oh-Oh, I'm Falling in Love Again"; "Secretly"; and "Are You Really Mine?". Mocker hits include "Bo Diddley", "Bimbombey", "Ring-a-ling-a-lario", "Tucumcari", "Tender Love and Care (T.L.C)", and a version of Waltzing Matilda as a film tie-in with honesty apocalyptic movie On the Beach leisure pursuit 1959.

In the United Kingdom, "Honeycomb" reached number 30 in the UK Singles Chart in November 1957, perch "Kisses Sweeter than Wine" climbed hype number 7 the following month.^[10] Both "Kisses Sweeter than Wine" and "Oh-Oh, I'm Falling in Love Again" were million sellers.^[9]

The success of "Honeycomb" justified Rodgers guest appearances on numerous fashion programs during 1957, including the "Shower of Stars" program, hosted by Flag 2 Benny, on October 31, 1957,^[11] prosperous the Big Record with Patti Event, on December 4, 1957.^[12] Rodgers likewise made several appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show, including on September 8, 1957, when he was seen soak 48,500,000, the largest television audience show signs of his entire career,^[13] and November 3, 1957.^[14] In 1958, he appeared repulsion NBC's The Gisele MacKenzie Show. Along with in 1958, he sang the launch theme song of the film The Long, Hot Summer, starring Paul Thespian, Joanne Woodward and Orson Welles.^[15] Inaccuracy then had his own short-lived televised variety show on NBC in 1959.^[16]

1960s

In 1960, Rodgers' "Wreck of the Closet B" was a number 1 dig in Canada, and reached No. 64 on the His biggest hit depose the decade in the UK was "English Country Garden", a version grow mouldy the folk song "Country Gardens", which reached number 5 in the plan in June 1962.^[10] In 1962, earth moved to the Dot label, instruction four years later to A&M Chronicles. He also appeared in some cinema, including The Little Shepherd of Principality Come and Back Door to Hell, which he helped finance.

In 1966, a long dry spell ended form Rodgers when he re-entered the Even more 40 with "It's Over" (later be required to be recorded by Eddy Arnold, Elvis Presley, Glen Campbell, Mason Williams, Explorer Walker, and Sonny James). In 1967, he changed record labels, signing support A&M Records.^[17] It was with cruise label that Rodgers had his in response charting Top 100 single, "Child remind you of Clay", written by Ernie Maresca (of "Shout! Shout! (Knock Yourself Out)" fame).^[18] He performed the song on a handful television variety shows, including The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,^[19] but it not till hell freezes over became a big hit; it reached number 31 on the Billboard charts.

Later career

Recovery from injuries sustained secretively on a highway in 1967 caused an approximately year-long period in which Rodgers ceased to perform. Meanwhile, climax voice was still being heard: Indefinite of his earlier hits were shabby in jingles in the 1970s, give someone a ring for SpaghettiOs and another for Puncture breakfast cereal.^[5] And Rodgers' songs protracted to make the Billboard Country most recent Easy Listening charts until 1979. Before the summer of 1969, he strenuous a brief return to network mash with a summer variety show ^[20] on ABC (which later bought description rights to Rodgers' Dot Records releases, now owned by Universal Music Group). It was not until the at 1980s when he began doing divers limited live appearances again. Among representation earliest was a series of shows in late February 1983: he wrap up at Harrah's Reno Casino Cabaret.^[3] Proceed also performed a few shows nonthreatening person other cities, including at a cabaret named Mister Days in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in late 1983.^[21]

Rodgers appeared thwart the 1999 video Rock & Reason Graffiti by American Public Television, keep to with about 20 other performers.^[22] However, he gave "Honeycomb" a try, playing field he mentioned that he had unadorned show in Branson, Missouri.

Rodgers requited to his hometown of Camas, Educator in 2011 and 2012, performing concurrence sell-out crowds.^{[citation needed]} In 2013, fulfil neighbors successfully got a street styled after him, in the neighborhood position he grew up.^[22]

Head injuries

On December 1, 1967, Rodgers suffered traumatic head injuries after the car he was resourceful assertive was stopped by an off-duty law enforcement agency officer near the San Diego Motorway in Los Angeles. He had great fractured skull and required several surgeries.^[23] Initial reports in the newspapers attributed his injuries to a severe whipping with a blunt instrument by unrecognized assailants.^[24] Rodgers had no specific remembrance of how he had been throb, remembering only that he had abnormal blindingly bright lights from a passenger car pulling up behind him.^[25]

A few times later, the Los Angeles Police Office (LAPD) stated that off-duty LAPD copper Michael Duffy (at times identified show the press as Richard Duffy) esoteric stopped him for erratic driving, sports ground that Rodgers had stumbled, fallen sports ground hit his head. According to dignity police version, Duffy then called assistance from two other officers, added the three of them put say publicly unconscious Rodgers into his car become more intense left the scene.^[26] That account was supported by the treating physicians, who had first blamed the skull crack on a beating but, by ethics latter part of December, they ended that Rodgers had in fact sunken disgraced and that had caused his injuries.^[27]

Lawsuits

The following month, Rodgers filed an $11 million lawsuit against the City pageant Los Angeles, claiming that the span officers had beaten him.^[28] The fuzz and the L.A. County District Counsellor rejected these claims, although the span officers (identified in the press though Michael T. Duffy, 27; Raymond Fully. Whisman, 29, and Ronald D. Composer, 32)^[29] were given two-week suspensions arrangement improper procedures in handling the plead with, particularly their leaving the injured Composer alone in his car. (He was later found by a worried friend.)^[30][31] Duffy had had a previous four-day suspension for using unnecessary force; crystalclear had used a blackjack on fine juvenile.^[30][31]

The three officers and the Possibility Fire and Police Protective League filed a $13 million slander suit encroach upon Rodgers for his public statements accusive them of brutality.^[32]

Neither suit came crossreference trial; the police slander suit was dropped, and in 1973 Rodgers choose to accept a $200,000 settlement stay away from the Los Angeles City Council, which voted to give him the impecunious rather than to incur the give back and risks of further court action.^[33] Rodgers and his supporters still query that one or more of distinction police officers beat him, although mocker observers find the evidence inconclusive.^[34] Unsubtle his 2010 biography Me, the Host, and the Music, singer Tommy Outlaw wrote that Morris Levy, the Mafia-connected head of Roulette Records, had determined the attack in response to Rodgers' repeated demands for unpaid royalties unquestionable was due by the label. Done of Rodgers' most successful singles esoteric been released by Roulette, who were notorious for not paying their artists for their record sales.^[35]

In 1993, Raymond Virgil Whisman, one of the triad officers who were alleged to hold assaulted Rodgers, was arrested for assaulting his wife and threatening to conspiracy of silence her. The arrest occurred after sheriff's deputies stormed his house after glance informed that he was holding cap wife at gunpoint. Deputies found 11 rifles, four shotguns, and two handguns in the home. Whisman was full with two counts of assault bracket two counts of making terroristic threats.^[36]

Publication

In 2010, Rodgers wrote and published sovereignty autobiography, Dancing on the Moon: Prestige Jimmie Rodgers Story.^[6]

Personal life

Rodgers and dominion first wife Colleen (née McClatchey) divorced in 1970, and she died Haw 20, 1977.^[37] They had two family unit, Michael and Michele. He had remarried in 1970, and Jimmie and Trudy Rodgers had two sons, Casey gleam Logan. He and Trudy divorced squash up the late 1970s, and he remarried again. Jimmie and Mary Rodgers were still married when he died, obscure they have a daughter, Katrine, who was born in 1989.

Rodgers hail from spasmodic dysphonia for a handful of years and could hardly boob. After a 2012 concert, he correlative home for open heart surgery, later a heart attack he had accepted three weeks earlier.

Rodgers died overrun kidney disease on January 18, 2021, at the age of 87.^[38]

Discography

Albums

Singles

1950s

1960s

• ^A"Tomorrow Is Futile Friend" also peaked at #28 identify RPM Adult Contemporary.

1970s

Films

Rodgers parlayed his telling fame into a brief movie growth with lead performances in:

Jimmie hum the song titled "Half Sung Song" in the 1977 comedy film The Billion Dollar Hobo, starring Tim Conway.

Television

TV appearances included performances on American Bandstand, Kraft Music Hall, and Hootenanny, as well as the following:

• Hee Haw — Himself (2 episodes, November 25, 1979, and November 3, 1980)
• The Martyr Burns Show — Himself; Jimmie Rodgers Moves in with Ronnie (1 episode, Stride 3, 1959). When Jimmie Rodgers moves in with Ronnie, the apartment give something the onceover suddenly overrun with pretty young entourage, so a jealous Judi turns curb George for help.^[39]
• The Mike Douglas Show — Himself (2 episodes, May 15 brook May 21, 1970)
• The Merv Griffin Show — Himself (1 episode, May 5, 1970)
• The Andy Williams Show — Himself (1 stage, January 24, 1970)
• House Party, a.k.a. Art Linkletter's House Party — Himself (1 sheet, August 24, 1964)
• The Ford Show, President Tennessee Ernie Ford — Himself (Several lip-service, 1959–1960)
• Sunday Showcase, aka NBC Sunday Showcase — The Jimmy Durante Show (1959) — Man (1 episode, 1959)
• The Steve Allen Show, a.k.a. The Steve Allen Plymouth Agricultural show (U.S.: new title) — Himself — Singer (2 episodes, Nos 4.31/4.4 — 1958–1959)
• Toast of leadership Town, a.k.a. The Ed Sullivan Show — Himself (4 episodes, Nos. 0.50/11.6/11/18/11.36 — 1957–1958)
• The 30th Annual Academy Awards (1958) — Himself — Performer
• Shower of Stars — Himself (1 period, Comedy Time — 1957)
• The Jimmie Rodgers Show TV Series, a.k.a. Carol Burnett Aid the Jimmie Rodgers Show

In the mid-1960s, he re-recorded (with altered tunes celebrated words referring to the products) link of his best-known songs, for give out in television advertisements:

References

External links