I . Jimmie Rodgers
(1897–1933)
a US singer who became an early star of country music , selling over 20 million records between 1928 and 1933. He was sometimes called the ‘Blue Yodeler’ because of his ability to yodel (= sing in the traditional Swiss manner with sudden changes of note). He was the first person chosen for the Country Music Hall of Fame , in 1961.
II . Richard Rodgers
(1902–79)
an American composer who wrote the music for many Broadway musical shows. He and Lorenz Hart , who wrote the words, produced 29 such shows, including Babes in Arms (1937) and Pal Joey (1940). He then joined Oscar Hammerstein to write many more, including Oklahoma! , Carousel (1945), South Pacific , The King and I (1951) and The Sound of Music . Many of these shows became films. Rodgers also wrote the music for the television series Victory at Sea .