A number of important events occurred in 1927. Charles Lindberg piloted “The Spirit of St. Louis” nonstop from New York to Paris, a heroic feat that was celebrated across the world and was the talk of the nation. That also was the same year that Babe Ruth slammed his 60th homer, a remarkable record at the time. Also, in that year Ford Motor Company saw its 15 millionth Model “T” car come across the assembly line. It was the car that had put America on wheels with its simple design and low price tag. Too, it was the year of the first real talking movie: “The Jazz Singer” starring Al Jolson.

While perhaps not as notable on the national stage, another event took place in 1927 in a town not far from Mountain City that brought into being recognition of a musical genre that had not gained a lot of popularity until then. That genre was Country or Hillbilly music and the event was The “Bristol Sessions.” Ralph Peer, an agent for the Victor Talking Machine Company, rented space in an empty hat warehouse in Bristol Tennessee to record a variety of talented groups or individuals. The sessions saw the emergence of The Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers and others as important figures in the genre. Peer brought state of the art recording equipment with him that produced better sound quality than had been possible before. The sessions lasted from Monday, July 25 until through Friday, August 5. He returned in 1928 for another session.

The two most popular acts recorded were The Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers (yes, that’s the way his name is spelled.) Much has been written about The Carter Family. The original group was comprised of A. P. Carter, his wife Sara Carter and Maybelle Carter. But, I think less recogni-tion has been afforded Rodgers who had a very short but prolific career. He recorded 110 songs in a span of six years.  More...