New Jukebox Wonder

Around recording studios, where the best musical reputations are stubbed out during coffee breaks like smoked-down cigarettes, a West Coast lad named Jimmie Rodgers currently enjoys unanimous popularity. Jimmie is one of the hottest new singing properties in the trade. Without the benefit of Elvis' sweaty circumvolutions or Pat Boone's white-buckskin charms, 24-year-old Jimmie figures to rake in $200,000 this year. The charge that propelled him to success, a ditty called Honeycomb recorded several months ago for a small New York label, hymns in strongly rolling accents the wonders of birds, bees and matrimony. By a mysterious chemistry that even the song pluggers do not understand, the song became an overnight sock. Jimmie followed it up with his current hit, Kisses Sweeter Than Wine, which is also sweeter than syrup. Jimmie's professional equipment includes a pleasant, relaxed young voice, a hunchy, fingersnapping rhythmic sense, and a totally undistinguished way with a guitar.

A year ago Jimmie was prowling the back alleys of Los Angeles, collecting Coke bottles to pad out his food budget. A small-town boy from Washington, he picked up a smattering of guitar while he was in the Air Force, and after his discharge he started touring the West Coast's less-than-first-water water holes. His darkest hour came in the Elks Club in Wenatchee, Wash. The three other hillbillies in his four-billy band were delayed in the hills; alone, Rodgers faced some 40 disappointed Elks. "I started strumming so hard it brought deep blisters up, and I lost a fingernail. But finally they began to dance. I got a hundred and fifty bucks a week, damned near more money than I'd ever seen before at one time--and I got my rhythm for Honeycomb."

Last summer, when he and his wife were living mostly on Tootsie Rolls, Jimmie wangled a spot on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, won a recording contract. He has just finished his second LP album, is talking about his first movie--and is still unable to read a note of music. He learns most of his songs by memorizing what comes blaring over the car radio.

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