The Same Day Jimmie Rodgers Made History Twice-45 Years Apart
On May 24, 1933, Jimmie Rodgers walked into a New York recording studio for what would become one of the most heartbreaking sessions in country music history.
By that point, the man often called the "Father of Country Music" had spent years battling tuberculosis, and his health had deteriorated badly.
According to accounts from the session, Rodgers was so physically weak that he needed to lie down on a bed between takes while recording.
Still, he kept singing.
During the session, Rodgers recorded "Mississippi Delta Blues" and "Years Ago," two songs that would become his final recordings.
Just two days later, Rodgers died from a pulmonary hemorrhage while staying at New York's Taft Hotel. He was only 35 years old.
Even nearly a century later, the story continues to resonate with country music fans because of what Rodgers represented to the genre itself.
Rodgers helped define the sound and emotional storytelling that shaped the foundation of country music. His signature blue yodel, railroad imagery and deeply personal lyrics influenced generations of artists who followed.
And decades after his death, his legacy was still being formally recognized.
On the very same date in 1978, exactly 45 years after Rodgers' final recording session, the United States Postal Service issued a 13-cent commemorative stamp honoring him.
Designed by artist Jim Sharpe, the stamp became the very first release in the Postal Service's long-running Performing Arts series.
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This story was originally published May 23, 2026 at 9:00 PM.