Jimmie Rodgers was an influential American singer and songwriter, often referred to as the "Father of Country Music." Born on September 8, 1897, in Meridian, Mississippi, he gained fame in the late 1920s with his unique blend of folk, blues, and country styles. His distinctive yodeling and storytelling in songs helped shape the genre and inspired many artists. Rodgers recorded numerous hits, including "Blue Yodel" and "In the Jailhouse Now," before his untimely death from tuberculosis in 1933. He was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961, solidifying his legacy in American music history.