TISBA honors Rodgers' 107th birthday

By By Penny Randall / staff writer
September 10, 2004
Nashville recording artist and Quitman resident Angela White leads an impressive line-up of local talent at Saturday's celebration to honor the 107th birthday of Jimmie Rodgers.
The International Singing Brakemen Association will host the celebration beginning at noon at the Best Western hospitality room. The public is invited; admission is $5 per person.
Also performing: Rick McWilliams, Theola Grayson, Bo Smith, Tinker Frazier and Cathlene Munn, who will keep the crowd entertained as "TISBA's answer to Minnie Pearl." McWilliams is Rodgers' great-nephew
A celebration to honor Rodgers' birthday has been held every year for the past seven years.
In addition to the entertainment and a giant birthday cake, a lunch plate will be sold for $6 each.
Jones said the TISBA chapter continues to hold a birthday celebration for one simple reason: "We love the music and want to keep it traditional, especially the old-time Southern gospel and country music like Jimmie Rodgers, Ernest Tubb and Hank Snow did."
The International Singing Brakemen Association was formed in 1989 by Carl Fitzgerald and the late Charlie Ezell as a club for fans of Rodgers music.
TISBA members host a hospitality room each year at the Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Festival for visitors and fans to gather and perform. The club meets the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Meridian Masonic Center.