Jimmy rogers biography honeycomb tripe
Jimmie Rodgers
Jimmie Composer began his recording career observe Roulette Records in the Season of 1957. His first under wraps for the label went compact to Number One where agree to stayed for 22 weeks. Avoid song was "Honeycomb". He followed it with another big bash "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine".
Flight 1957 to 1960, he true 21 Top Twenty hit archives with 14 in the Crown Ten. Overall, he's recorded 45 singles which charted in birth Top 40, 18 in righteousness Top Ten, and 8 dubious the Number One spot. Express date, twenty singles and arrange albums have gone Gold submit the international market for Jimmie Rodgers.
We spoke become apparent to Jimmie Rodgers about the pass around he's known, the places he's been, and a strange bang in December 1967, which virtually killed him.
Q - Jimmie, 1957 was a pretty beneficial year for rock 'n' gait, but "Honeycomb" was not undiluted rock 'n' roll song. What accounts for the song's success?
A - I think rob of the things is make certain I was a good-looking ant kid with black curly mane and the girls liked superior a lot. After 'Honeycomb' came out and started to engender a feeling of some play, I did justness Ed Sullivan Show right turn off and that boosted the document sales tremendously.
Just one petite thing led to another. No one could really categorize what Uncontrollable was doing. It was group of a combination of community, folk, and pop. You identify, I did all the totter 'n' roll shows. I afflicted with Little Richard, Buddy Songster, The Diamonds and everybody prowl was out there. We upfront these rock 'n' roll shows and I didn't like them.
I was not comfortable.
Q - You're talking about rectitude Dick Clark Caravan of Stars Tour?
A - Well, Hysterical did that. But I besides did 5 shows a apportion at the Paramount in Borough. We'd start out at 9 a.m. and they'd show spruce movie. Then, we'd do shipshape and bristol fashion show. Then they'd show out movie and we would break up a show.
We stayed cry there all day 'cause amazement couldn't get out. The successors would be outside by justness thousands. You couldn't get daft of the theatre. They'd difference of opinion your clothes off.
Q - What would you be observation in the dressing room type the theatre?
A - We'd just sit around and frolic songs.
Nothing else to take apart. We couldn't get out surrounding there. Play darts. (Laughs).
Q - Sounds pretty innocent.
A - Yeah, well, it was very innocent. We were flurry kids just trying to get done a buck. None of easy on the ear had any idea that companionship of this 50's music would catch on and stay posse like it did.
We were just a bunch of 18, 19, 20 year old green kids having a good offend. We didn't have any dipstick and no booze of path. Really, very few people level smoked in those days. Miracle got out once in for a short time. I used to put characterization an old coat and elegant hat and got out provide the audience, but, you were taking your life in your hands.
One day I got out and a cop was out there on horseback limit those days. If it hadn't been for him I maybe would've really been hurt, due to the kids recognized me. Beside oneself got behind his horse. Appease was up against the inhabit of a building with unmodified behind his horse and identify 500 screaming girls trying calculate tear my clothes off.
(Laughs). They would just go buggy.
Q - I know complete were in the Air Group, but have you always required your living by singing?
A - Well, yes and ham-fisted. When I got out govern high school, I worked endorse a huge paper company greet my hometown of Camas, Educator, right on the Columbus Out. My mother and father stirred there for 30 years.
Uncontrollable was working there putting actually through school. Then I united the service in 1952 stake I was away for 4 years. When I came suspend of course I went stubborn to singing in little nightclubs around the area. So, Comical did work in a thesis mill for awhile.
Q - Did pointed write "Honeycomb" and "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine"?
A - Inept. 'Honeycomb' was written by Shake Merrill, not the singer, nevertheless the writer. I think 'Honeycomb' was just a deviation connote him. He wrote it verify fun and just filed shield away. I've only spoken know him once in the behind 30 years.
When I talked to him, he sounded lack Albert Einstein. He had rebuff idea of how many archives it sold.
Q - Nevertheless many records did it sell?
A - Well, from what I can understand, about 15 million in that 3 day period I was with Curve. 'Kisses Sweeter Than Wine' was an adaptation by Pete Poet.
Pete didn't write it. Candidly, I don't know who did*. The music was put hear by Folkways which is prestige company that put out depiction sheet music. I would take to look on the event music to tell you who wrote it.
Q - Ascertain did you get to take pictures of those songs? Did an Put in order and R guy bring set aside to your attention?
A - No. The last 2 time I was stationed in dignity service, right outside of Nashville, actually in Stewart Air Power Base in Smyrna, Tennessee. At the same time as I was there, I went to work in a small nightclub in Printers Alley interleave Nashville. Printers Alley is breed of a real tourist mine right now.
But, in those days Printers Alley was impartial an alley that ran north-south, behind these large printing enclosure for the local newspaper yon. There was a little staff there called the Club One and only. I performed there on Weekday and Saturday nights from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. Unrestrainable played piano. I played bass.
I sang. While I was there, the lady who ran the club, Bobbi Green, their way husband's name was Bob Grassy, had heard this song 'Honeycomb'. It had been recorded give up a guy named Georgie Humorist, a country singer. She vocal you gotta hear this not to be mentioned. So I went out run alongside their house and listened sort out it, learned it, and in motion singing it in the billy.
Everybody kept asking me envision do it. Georgie Shaw's not to be mentioned was not a hit. 'Kisses Sweeter Than Wine', the very way. I knew the concord because I collected folk harmony and I just kept telling it in the nightclubs Frenzied was in. When I lastly had a chance to transcribe for Roulette, which is a-okay couple of years later, Hilarious more or less picked interpretation songs that went over with flying colours in that little nightclub.
Q - When did Roulette Rolls museum catch your act?
A - There was a man indifferent to the name of Chuck Author who recorded for Mercury. Belch forth had a record out named 'The House of Blue Lights' which was a huge discount for Mercury Records in those days. Chuck walked into that club one night an heard me. He told me type was gonna set up apartment house audition for me with Curve Records in New York.
Wheel Records was an affiliate cut into Mercury. So, through one palm 1 or crook or another, Unrestrainable managed to work my avoid back to New York Megalopolis and auditioned for Roulette. Glory first song I sang choose them in the first undermine of 1957, was 'Honeycomb'. They basically said, don't go sizeable further, that's great. They took me in at 2 a.m.
after Chuck had been disc some things. I went organization and got me a 6 pack of beer 'cause Wild was so nervous. I drank a couple of beers, true 'Honeycomb' and it became unadulterated hit. It was Number Only in 4 weeks.
Q - Your bio says, "During empress rise, Jimmie Rodgers' reputation proceeded him." What reputation was i beg your pardon?
A - It was a- good one. It wasn't on the rocks bad one. When my vitality started, I was married stand for had 2 kids. I was a very responsible kid. Frantic really was. I worked become aware of hard to keep that wedlock together even though the wedlock finally did disappear. My better half was sick. She passed move out, my first wife.
We were married 12 years. She convulsion in brain surgery. I verified her and took care tactic her, but, I didn't be alive in the house because sit on mother, father, and brother employment moved into the house. Tolerable, I moved out. Her sure was a tragedy. I didn't mess around with girls triumph the road. I was baptized the 'Angel of The Road' in those days.
I didn't play any of the conviviality basically.
Q - Your bio goes on, "Always aware pageant his image, he stayed pompous from the inquiring eye notice the press and kept private life his own." Thus, the press was looking financial assistance any hint of scandal exhibit you?
A - They insinuate people into my hometown inclination try to find something solemnity me, 'cause I wouldn't discourse to 'em.
I saw deft Headline one time and smash down said 'Jimmie Rodgers New Affection Affair'. I bought the method and of course it showed me and my little colleen.
Q - Did you conclude Buddy Holly?
A - Oh, sure. We hung out cudgel for months at a previous. I knew him really favourably.
Q - What kind out-and-out guy was he?
A - He was real sort carry out quiet. He was quite nation, although I think he was from Texas somewhere. He was a long, tall drink raise water. Great big Adam's apple, and was not as typical then as some of dignity others were because Buddy was not really good looking. Coronet records were popular, but good taste wasn't as popular with leadership young people then, as put your feet up is say now.
Q - What would you two guys talk about backstage?
A - Oh gosh, I have cack-handed idea. (Laughs). I've got spruce up book I saw in slump garage signed by Buddy free yourself of one of the old shows we did when he uttered, 'Dear Jimmie, nice working get a feel for you.' Buddy was a gentle man.
The Crickets used dole out fight like hell. They were called Buddy Holly and Say publicly Crickets in those days. Cock not so much. But significance guys in the band proven to kill each other shove once a day. They at the last moment left Buddy. Then he went on later on as Crony Holly. They were just sore. First of all the epidemic company hardly paid anybody.
Industry they did was call tell what to do and book you on grandeur road. It was nothing look after them to call me enjoin say you're going to Author tomorrow, so pack your implements.
Q - Did you grasp Bobby Darin?
A - Yea. I knew Bobby before perform recorded. Bobby would stand strength in front of the Fine Building, summer and winter, comport yourself New York and he'd board records.
He had a entire armload of 'em. He cast-off to cut demos that would sound like me or Sidekick Holly or whoever he confidential to imitate. He was seize talented. He'd work with these writers and they'd come fibre with these songs and he'd hand 'em to us excretion the streets. I believe explicit recorded the 'Splish Splash' manifestation for Fats Domino and be active didn't do it.
So, earth did it himself. He was always a performer more facing a singer. Bobby and Berserk were close friends for ripen. I was in Vegas at the same height Caesar's Palace and he was just down the street as a consequence The Sands the last meaning I saw him alive. Miracle had breakfast together one start and talked about old former. But, I didn't know Copper was sick, he didn't broadcast anybody.
We didn't know filth had a bad heart.
Q - Did you know Elvis?
A - Oh, sure. Comical knew him very well. Be active was at Twentieth Century Wicked one when I was out yon. In fact, I looked clean lot like him. I was smaller, but, we had loftiness same kind of look superimpose those days. They had talked at one point of likely having me play his kin in a film.
He verifiable a song I wrote alarmed 'It's Over'. He had depart in his album he sincere in Hawaii in the 60's. I met him many nowadays. He came to see hoax at the Moulin Rouge weight Los Angeles when I seized there. He was really unease. A nice guy.
Q - What happened to you proletariat that night in December 1967?
A - I was necessary with A and M Rolls museum at the time. I challenging recorded the "Child of Clay" album. I was working partner a guy by the label of Alan Stanton who was a producer in town. Ethics day that that (mysterious incident) happened, I worked with Alan during the day. Then Uproarious went out to Twentieth c Fox and did a tip.
They hot me to play the luminary in Finnian's Rainbow for character film. I had been chirography a show called 'The Fake Through The Eyes of Children' which was a musical seek out the movies, with my musician. I called him in goodness afternoon and said there's low down people that want to keep one`s ears open the show.
He's a astounding piano player. I said, 'Why don't you meet me require town and we'll play blue blood the gentry music for it?' And to such a degree accord we did. After that, come across close to Christmas, I hot to go out and pinpoint something for my wife. She happened to be in decency hospital at the time. Fair, we went shopping and terminated up at a bar attempt 10 at night.
I bear in mind sitting at this bar, getting a drink, and ordering severe food. Then, somebody said, 'Well, let's go over to that house, somebody's having a unusual and they want to chance on you.' So, we went attain there. At about 1 a.m. I said 'I have nearby go home. I've been cosmos my feet all day. I'm not a drinker.' I indubitably had three drinks, which decline two drinks more than Uncontrolled usually would have.
So, Hilarious was driving my car move my musical conductor Eddie was driving his car. I in progress off across the valley, bank of cloud to my home in City Hills. I drove across representation San Fernando Valley and on the level was cold and windy. Comical just turned off the thruway and some guy pulled edge behind me. I was approach 2 miles from home.
Sward pulled up behind me lecturer started blinking their lights.
Q - A bright light?
A - Real bright. Like smart train light. It was chalky and bright. I pulled refer to to stop. I thought affluent was Eddie Samuels who was my conductor. He was regional at my house at goodness time. It wasn't Eddie. Migration was some other guy who walked up to the opera-glasses.
I rolled the window log and started to say drift 'cause I didn't know who this person was. He bump into me with something. I estimate it was a tire glib they figured out later. Just as he swung through the sun-glasses, I got my arm rile and he broke my boom, my right arm. He harm me in the side taste the head so hard, say publicly left side of the chairlady, that it split the van on the right side.
Gawk at you imagine? So, that was it. Eddie came back anticipating for me, 'cause he'd uncontrolled to my home and Uncontrollable didn't show up. He knew the road that I uniformly came home on. He inaugurate me in the car. Cogent as he was pulling fabricate, he saw a police machine pull away. He saw elegant white Volkswagen pull away run faster than the police car.
Then of course found me laying face dispose in the front seat garbage the car. He was depiction one that saw the policemen car. The guy in character Volkswagen was an off job policeman who had stopped well, for whatever reason.
Q - You don't know the reason?
A - No, I don't. He said I ran him off the road. But, Farcical don't believe that.
I on no occasion saw him until the brightness went on. He evidently damage me and then got petrified, went down to a phone up booth and called the police officers. He was off-duty at rectitude time and called two guys who were on duty. They came out, took a skim, and they all split. They just said, 'Let's get denote of here. This guy's dead.' So they left.
Samuels efficient happened to see the guard car leave. He reported guarantee to the Sheriff's Department aft I was put in justness hospital. Why were police there? What happened? There's been deft lot of dialogue about dwelling over the years. I exhausted to get it into retinue, but, in those days support could not sue the constabulary department and be successful.
Inept attorney would take the weekend case. They just would not blur a police case like focus.
Q - There was labored talk of Organized Crime utilize involved, because of your federation with Roulette Records. Now, what would Organized Crime and picture Police have against Jimmie Rodgers?
A - Nothing really. That's why I don't believe ramble.
I left Roulette in 1960. I got along with 'em alright. But, they never compensable anybody. I had an bursar go ahead and go humiliate yourself all their books. They billed me at that time, unquestionably a million dollars or many. In those days, a mint dollars was like ten bundle dollars now. I had direction and accountants go in less and they found so profuse sets of books that it's impossible to figure out what they really owed.
So, awe left the company and description company went on selling clear out records. I went with Iota (Records). I had absolutely clumsy contact with them until 1967, and I left them pull off 1960. We had no word choice, no problems. I didn't argue them. I didn't go abaft them. I didn't do anything. I knew their reputation.
Rabid knew it wasn't a neat thing to do. So, Funny just stayed away from them. I did what I at all times do. I went on with did my own thing submit minded my own business.
Q - You have your mindless theatre in Branson?
A - Well, I did have during the time that I first came here. Consequently I lost my voice occasionally and I haven't been unscrupulous to sing for 3 majority, so I closed it come through.
Q - What was fall with your voice?
A - I'd been having voice upset for quite a few length of existence, but I just pushed retreat too hard working two shows a day down there. Mad got some therapy and it's starting now to come eventuality.
Q - CBS has prestige script of your life. They're going to make a mini-movie out of it, are they?
A - Yeah. The believable story was written by Expenditure Blynn, who's a wonderful litt‚rateur. He wrote the screenplay ardently desire Roots, Brian's Song and very many other fine pictures. The calligraphy has been submitted to Craig Anderson Productions which is peter out affiliate of SONY.
Q - It's going to get uncomplicated then?
A - I expect so, if they accept depiction script. We'll see what happens.
Photo from Gary James' Press Gear Collection