Now That's Country, Jimmie Roger's video

"Now That's Country": a Jimmie
Roger's Special Featuring Otis Roy
and Babe Sims, Lee Dacus and Carl Walden

Blues and Country

Learn more about the video, "Now That's Country" read journal entry below.
Bill Holt's Auto Repair Shop and the video show,
"Now That's Country." (Produced 1993)
by Penelope Torribio

Jimmie Roger's Stamp

Rain or shine Thursday night was jam night. Everyone was welcome, but most of the musicians who came to Bill Holt's Auto Repair shop in an ancient building in Chino, California were old enough to have heard the original Jimmie Rogers, back in the early nineteen thirties.

Bill Holt, owner of the Holt Auto shop, pushed out the cars waiting for repair and pulled out some rusted metal chairs, and rates for people to sit on. The crates that had once held glass milk bottles, now turned upside down made great--well effective seats. Bill then set up his ancient p. a. system and who know how old that microphone was? At 7:30 the auto shop was turned into a country music hall.

We, sixteen to twenty musicians, were surrounded by tools, gauges, oil filters, dust and guitars, some dating from the 1940’s. It was only a tiny bit intimidating if you were a newer musician. Everyone made you feel comfortable-but they knew thousands of songs—by heart— and the Jimmie Roger’s runs and his yodels,and the history of country music, early radio and TV.

They knew all the country musicians who played around the Inland Valley from the 1940 through to the 1970’s, This auto repair shop was an exciting place to be for a new musician. I wish I had recorded some of our sessions.

I knew that this was a part of history that was dying out. I decided to video tape some of these musicians: Otis Roy, Babe Sims, Lee Dacus. and Carl Walden.

This show, “Now That’s Country,” is a little like being in Bill Holt’s auto repair shop. The production was very casual, no one had scripts, and there were no rehearsals. I chose the theme of Jimmie Rogers because Jimmie had a great influential on all of the musicians I meet at the Holt Repair Shop and because I became a friend and the guitarist for Otis Roy, a Jimmie Roger’s admirer and imitator.

It helped greatly that I had heard Jimmie's story so man time from Otis that I knew it better than my own life-almost.

I feel so fortunate that did this video back in l993, because now Bill, Otis, and Babe, Lee have moved on to country blues heaven and it could not be videoed today.

I hope you enjoy this little bit of history and my great friends from “Now That’s Country.”

As a songwriter I have even been dubbed, “The Female Jimmie Rogers,” by people know know about my affiliation with Otis and the “Holt Auto Shop”. I must have got some country blues oil on my hands.

Video Part 2
of Now That is Country,
a Jimmie Roger's Special

Following is a song written by Otis Roy and Penelope Torribio
which explains a little about the idolizing of Jimmie Roger's

Otis Roy, Jimmie Roger imitator

SAW JIMMIE ROGERS IN '29
written by Penelope torribio and Otis Roy

In Charleston, Missouri at the age of fifteen,
I saw Jimmie Rogers heard him yodel and sing.
When Jimmie sang his songs he made them sound just right.
When he did his blue yodel I could listen all night.

Mama said to me, "Jimmie's coming into town."
I picked cotton all day till my knees dragged the ground.
Back in 19 and 29,
I went to hear Jimmie sing, "No Hard Times."
(yodel )No hard time blues.

Went and paid thirty cents to hear Jimmie Rogers sing,
"all around the water tank waiting for a train."
He told some stories and I laughed out loud.
Oh that singing brakeman, he really work he crowds.

Share croppers knew hard times back then.
Boys had to work like grown-up men.
Out in the fields I would yodel his songs,
make those twelve hours days not seem so long.

Mama said to me, "Jimmie's coming into town."
I picked cotton all day till my knees dragged the ground.
Back in 19 and 29, I went to hear Jimmie sing, "No Hard Times."
(Yodeled) No hard time blues.

In Charleston, Missouri at the age of fifteen,
I saw Jimmie Rogers heard him yodel and sing.
When Jimmie sang his songs he made them sound just right.
When he did his blue yodel Icould listen all night.
LYRICS, OTIS ROY AND PENELOPE TORRIBIO
MUSIC, PENELOPE TORRIBIO
C 1993

Penelope and her guitar

Penelope Writes and performs Country, Folk, Blues, and children's music. She has been called a female Jimmie Rogers and an American Edith Piaf for her ability to put ordinary life into songs.
Her songs run from the lyrical to the humorous, melodically Penelope crosses over and crosses back, but what every the melody, almost everyone can identify with her themes of family, car trouble, cat trouble, loss of job, and passionate love.

Her songs are jewel-like in there ability to get to the point and to the heart.

Penelope performed with her band, Penelope and a Little Bit of Gold, opening for country music luminaries at the Palomino, Crazy Horse, Mule Lip and The Cowboy. She is a past recipient of the California Country Music Association's "Vocalist of the Year" award for her clear down-home country voice.

Her adult albums are: Headed for a Good Time, Family Man, and Watch Out I'm Singing the Blues.

Penelope and sloth puppet from the rain is coming
Penelope also has numerous children's ecology albums.
If you are interested in ecology and creating a
better world through music and art
visit guardiansoftheearth.net

singaboutlife.net