The year was 1957, and I was in first grade, but two of the main neighborhood playmates of mine were two girls who were five years older (Barbara and Sherry) and just beginning to “discover boys.” One had a record player and played one song more than often—“Kisses Sweeter than Wine”—and she has probably forgotten all about it. For some reason, I actually rather liked the way the singer emphasized and intensified those four words. I didn’t pay much attention to the rest of the lyrics at the time.
Move ahead a little, and I heard a song, called “Honeycomb,” and it reminded me of the time my Uncle let me eat some “out in the nature” honeycomb—it was almost “heaven” in my mouth!
1962 or 1963, my cousin, Doug, and I played hours of ping-pong (table tennis) in his family’s basement in Oklahoma, and we always fired up the record player and filled the “feeder” to the turntable with 45 r. p. m. records and sang along as we played.
One afternoon, guess what song Doug had loaded? Yes, you are right. It was “Kisses Sweeter than Wine.” And, guess what came up next? Yes, you are right again. It was “Honeycomb.” So, I asked Doug who sang those songs, and he looked on the labels and announced that each was by the same guy—JIMMIE RODGERS. To this day, those two songs hold dear spots in my heart!
Son of a piano teacher and factory worker, James Frederick Rodgers was born 9/18/33 in a place in Washington called Camas, where he sang in church and school, while he taught himself to play the piano. He attended Clark College in Vancouver for a short time but left to join the Korean War efforts while working at a paper mill, since he did not really think he could support himself with music!
Doing a little research for this article led me to the story that Mr. Rodgers had performed for “pocket change” while with the U. S. Air Force in the Nashville area during Korean War times or a little after and was signed to a record contract after being “discovered” during a talent show. Guess what he was “crooning?” Some of you were right again— “Honeycomb.”
Late 1950s— pop, country, folk, and maybe some other types—Rodgers became a “hit” along with his records, two liked (at least later) by me—”Oh-Oh, I’m Falling in Love Again” and “Are You Really Mine?” I guess you could best call him a “cross-over” singer.
1960s—His rise continued with renditions of “The Wreck of the John B.” and others that had also been recorded by fellow artists. He also had several parts in television shows, especially the “variety” types (hosts Ed Sullivan, Patti Page, Jack Benny), and moved on into movies, and one especially impressed me so much so that I have watched it probably 15 times. Have you ever heard of and/or viewed The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come? No, then hurry and find it. It is probably “free” on some venue! He also sang the opening theme song for the movie, The Long, Hot Summer (Paul Newman, Orson Welles).
1967—Jimmie Rodgers was injured in some type “car/police incident” and was severely “set back” with his singing, acting, and life in general. (He did receive a lawsuit settlement of approximately $200,000.)
His recovery was never total but was good enough that he did return to televi sion on a limited basis and also performed in the Rodgers Theater in Branson, Missouri—even though he was never quite the same! However, he did perform several times in his home town of Camas and sold out the venue each time!
Interesting to note for a good conclusion to this look back is his recollection of obtaining a $10 guitar while in the Air Force in Korea and singing for other soldiers, who were sitting around on the floor with only candles for light, and noticing that some had tears flowing down their cheeks.
His thought was that if his music could have that effect upon soldiers, then he had found what he want ed to do with the rest of his life—and that is what he did until he passed on recently. And, if you really pay
And, if you really pay attention and listen to some of his ballads, especially “KISSES SWEETER THAN WINE,” I believe you might feel a hint of a tear and a tug at your heart, certainly at least when you are kissing that “certain someone,” who is as sweet as “Honeycomb!”
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