Few things are certain in the history of country music, unless you’re talking about the early influence of Jimmie Rodgers. The Meridian, Miss., native’s sound, look and business plan ...

Rodgers, considered "the father of country music," got his musical start in Asheville. As we've previously reported, Rodgers was born James Charles Rodgers near Meridian, Mississippi, in 1897.

Jimmie Rodgers was one of the artists who helped popularize country music in the late 1920s. His blend of folk and blues inspired generations of artists. In fact, one could trace the influences of ...

Country singer Jimmie Rodgers and bluegrass musicians the Carter Family circa 1930 in Poor Valley, Virginia. (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) In Bristol, Virginia, there is a living monument ...