Jimmie Rodgers at the Fort Payne Opera House 1932

Jimmie Rodgers was the biggest country music star in America in 1932. Since he signed to Victor Records in 1927 Rodgers had racked up one hit after another singing songs that the common working people could relate to. Songs about cheating songs about stealing songs about murder. Jimmie Rodgers set the template that country musicians would follow for decades. Jimmie Rodgers was also dying of tuberculosis. When Jimmy Rogers appeared at the Fort Payne Opera House in 1932 no one could have imagined the size of the crowds that showed up for the performance. the small Opera House could not hold the people. Many of whom had walked from Sand Mountain and Valley Head. Rodgers being a consummate Showman decided he wasn't going to let anyone down so he performed a complete performance and then emptied out the theater and filled it to capacity and performed the same show again. After hours of non-stop performing Jimmy Rogers collapsed on stage and had to be driven to the hospital in Chattanooga to recover. In depression-era DeKalb County seeing a major star like Jimmie Rodgers was a highlight event in many people's lives. Rodgers died the next year in New York City still recording music until his dying day.