Rogers and Rodgers: Distant Father, Native Son, or The Short Saga of “The World’s Only Yodeling Rope-Throwers” illuminates the relationship between Mississippi’s “Father of Country Music” and Oklahoma’s “Favorite Son,” Jimmie Rodgers and Will Rogers.
During January and February of 1931, Will Rogers, American cowboy, vaudeville performer, humorist, social commentator and motion picture actor, mounted a Red Cross relief tour to distant drought victims in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. This tour, presenting a total of 52 performances in 48 towns and lasting a mere 18 days, raised approximately $250,000 for the needy in these states. Mississippi’s own Jimmie Rodgers, a.k.a. “America’s Blue Yodeler” and “The Father of Country Music,” joined up with Will for a portion of this endeavor, performing a limited number of engagements due to his rapidly deteriorating health. It was during this short period of time that Will and Jimmie became fast friends. Will took to referring to Jimmie as his “Distant Son.”
This presentation employs primary and secondary documents, along with music and visual images, to elucidate the nature of this relationship between these two hugely popular icons of the first half of the 20th century and their impact on American society of this period and beyond.
As Special Projects Director for the Mississippi Humanities Council, including state coordinator for the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street traveling exhibit program, Morgan has undertaken extensive primary and secondary research into the relationship between Jimmie Rodgers and Will Rogers.