Rodgers

Rodgers, Bill, 1947-, American distance runner, b. Hartford, Conn. He helped to popularize distance running in the U.S. He won the Boston Marathon and the New York City Marathon four times each between 1975 and 1980.

Rodgers, Christopher Raymond Perry, 1819-92, American naval officer, b. Brooklyn, N.Y. Appointed midshipman in 1833, he served in the Mexican War. In the Civil War he took part in the Union reduction of Port Royal, S.C., received the surrender of St. Augustine and other Florida and Georgia coastal towns, and commanded the naval forces in the trenches at the capture (Apr., 1862) of Fort Pulaski before Savannah, Ga. He was fleet captain commanding the New Ironsides in the attack on Charleston in Apr., 1863. From Oct., 1863, to the end of the war he commanded the Iroquois in its worldwide search for the Shenandoah and other Confederate cruisers. Promoted to captain in 1866 and rear admiral in 1874, he was chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks (1871-74), superintendent of Annapolis (1874-78), and commander in chief of the Pacific squadron (1878-80).

Rodgers, Jimmie (James Charles Rodgers), 1897-1933, American singer, guitarist, and songwriter often called "the father of country music," b. Meridian, Miss. The son of a railroad foreman, he left school at 14 and worked various railroad jobs, meanwhile learning the blues from his African-American fellow workers. Known as the "Singing Brakeman," he retired from the railroad c.1924 due to the tuberculosis that eventually would take his life. Rodgers soon became a full-time musician, signed (1927) and recorded with RCA Victor, and toured widely. He was extremely popular for his sweet, yodeling tenor; his 12-bar, black-inflected country blues ("blue yodels"); and his songs of railroad, hobo, and cowboy life. His trademark songs include "Mississippi Delta Blues," "Waiting for a Train," "In the Jailhouse Now," "Brakeman's Blues," and "My Time Ain't Long." The first country musician to attain success in both rural and urban America, Rodgers has had an enduring musical influence on later generations. In 1961 he became the first singer named to the Country Music Hall of Fame and in 1986 was the first country singer inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Rodgers, John, 1773-1838, American naval officer, b. Harford co., Md. He had seen years of merchant service before he became (1798) a lieutenant in the new U.S. navy. He served in the Tripolitan War, securing senior command in 1805. In 1811, Rodgers, in command of the President, was ordered to cruise off the U.S. coast to stop the impressment of American sailors by the British frigate Guerrière. He encountered a British ship, which he apparently took to be the Guerrière, and gave chase. Accounts of what happened vary, but a battle took place, and the British ship, the Little Belt, was defeated and cut to bits. The incident was one of those leading up to the War of 1812. Rodgers, at the outbreak of that war, at once set out to pursue British ships and captured several British merchantmen. In a battle with the frigate Belvidera he was wounded by an explosion of a gun on his own vessel. He later participated in the naval defense of Baltimore. After the war he was president of the board of naval commissioners (1815-24, 1827-37) and acting secretary of the navy in 1823.

Rodgers, John, 1812-82, American naval officer, b. Harford co., Md.; son of John Rodgers. He became (1828) a midshipman and saw varied service. He conducted (1852-56) exploring expeditions in the N Pacific, off the coast of China, and in the Arctic. In the Civil War he served on the Atlantic coast, taking part in the bombardment of Fort Darling (1862), the attack on Fort Sumter (1863), and the capture of the ironclad Atlanta. He commanded the Asiatic fleet (1870-72). Later he was in charge of the Mare Island navy yard (1873-77) and superintendent of the U.S. Naval Observatory (1877-82).

Rodgers, Richard Charles, 1902-79, American composer, b. New York City. Rodgers studied at Columbia and the Institute of Musical Art, New York City. He met both of his future collaborators, Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein 2d, while at Columbia. Rodgers wrote his first song at 14 and had his first Broadway show, a flop, produced when he was 18. Rodgers and Hart began collaborating in 1919 and had their first hit play with The Garrick Gaieties (1925) and their first hit song with "Manhattan." Frequently characterized by a brash insouciance and lively sophistication, the duo's outstanding musical comedies include The Girl Friend (1926); A Connecticut Yankee (1927; rev. 1943); On Your Toes (1936), containing the famous "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue"; Babes in Arms (1937); The Boys from Syracuse (1938); Pal Joey (1940); and By Jupiter (1942).

In 1942, Rodgers and Hammerstein began their collaboration; their first musical was the tremendously successful, Pulitzer Prize-winning Oklahoma! (1943). Generally more idealistic and often more markedly American in character than the earlier Hart collaborations, most of their nine musicals were enormously popular, e.g., Carousel (1945), South Pacific (1949), and The King and I (1951). Perhaps the most performed American composer, Rodgers is famous for his inventive and intensely melodic compositions. During his long career he wrote 39 musicals (30 of which became films), more than 1,000 songs, and a few symphonic works, notably the film score for Victory at Sea. From 1962 to 1969 he was head of the Music Theater of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City.

orig. James Charles Rodgers

(born Sept. 8, 1897, Meridian, Miss., U.S.—died May 26, 1933, New York, N.Y.) U.S. country music singer and guitarist. He left school at age 14 to work on the railroad, and he would be known throughout his career as the “Singing Brakeman.” While working on the trains he learned guitar and banjo, absorbed blues techniques from African American railroad workers, and eventually created his characteristic sound—a blend of traditional work, blues, hobo, and cowboy songs and his trademark “blue yodel.” By circa 1924 tuberculosis had made his railroad work impossible; he began instead to perform and soon became a best-selling recording artist, the first solo star of country music. His more than 110 recordings include “Blue Yodel No. 1” and “Mississippi River Blues.” He died at age 35. He was one of the first three inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Learn more about Rodgers, Jimmie with a free trial on Britannica.com.

orig. James Charles Rodgers

(born Sept. 8, 1897, Meridian, Miss., U.S.—died May 26, 1933, New York, N.Y.) U.S. country music singer and guitarist. He left school at age 14 to work on the railroad, and he would be known throughout his career as the “Singing Brakeman.” While working on the trains he learned guitar and banjo, absorbed blues techniques from African American railroad workers, and eventually created his characteristic sound—a blend of traditional work, blues, hobo, and cowboy songs and his trademark “blue yodel.” By circa 1924 tuberculosis had made his railroad work impossible; he began instead to perform and soon became a best-selling recording artist, the first solo star of country music. His more than 110 recordings include “Blue Yodel No. 1” and “Mississippi River Blues.” He died at age 35. He was one of the first three inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Learn more about Rodgers, Jimmie with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Rogers is a surname, originally German and suggesting prowess with a spear, and is modified with the letter d as a Welsh addition. It may refer to many people.

• Aaron Rodgers, American football player
• Alan Rodgers
• Benjamin Paul Rodgers, Aussie Rules Football star, world traveler/author/adventurer.
• Andre Rodgers
• Anton Rodgers, British actor
• Bill Rodgers, one of several people including
• Bill Rodgers, Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bank, British politician
• Bill Rodgers (athlete), American marathon runner
• Bill Rodgers, American baseball player
• Buck Rodgers, American baseball player & manager
• Calbraith Perry Rodgers
• Christopher Raymond Perry Rodgers
• Clodagh Rodgers, Northern Ireland singer
• Dave Rodgers
• Eleazar Rodgers, South African soccer player
• George Rodgers
• Guy Rodgers
• Ilona Rodgers
• Jimmie Rodgers, (1897-1933), American country singer
• Jimmy Rodgers, basketball coach
• Jimmie Rodgers, (b. 1931), American pop singer
• John Rodgers, one of several people including
• John Rodgers (1772 - 1838), U.S. Naval officer during the War of 1812
• John Rodgers (1812 - 1882), U.S. Naval officer during the Civil War, son of the first John Rodgers
• John Rodgers (1881 - 1926), U.S. Naval officer during World War I, great-grandson of the first John Rodgers. Second Naval aviator to fly for the United States Navy.
• Sir John Rodgers, British politician
• Johnny Rodgers, American football player
• Lorraine Rodgers, (born 1921), American pilot, first woman to fly in World War II
• Luke Rodgers, English footballer
• Mario Rodgers
• Mary Rodgers, American composer, daughter of Richard Rodgers
• Nile Rodgers, American bassist and producer
• Paul Rodgers, British singer
• Pepper Rodgers
• Raymond P. Rodgers
• Richard Rodgers, composer of the songwriting teams Rodgers and Hart and Rodgers and Hammerstein
• Simon Rodgers, Canadian Rugby player
• T. J. Rodgers
• Tige Rodgers, radio personality
• Tim Rodgers
• W. R. Rodgers, Northern Ireland poet
• William Ledyard Rodgers
• Woodall Rodgers

See also

• Rogers (surname), Rogers
• Rodgers Instruments, organ builder (Rodgers Organs, digital and pipe combination organs)
• Rodger