Yodel for Your Neighbors Day

Yodel for Your Neighbors Day is an annual event on January 30th.

History of Yodel for Your Neighbors Day

The sound of yodeling will fill the air today, as it is Yodel For Your Neighbors Day. Yodeling is created by rapidly alternating voices between the low-pitched and high-pitched registers of the head register — a register also known as pseudo-voice. The word "yodel" has originated from the German word "jodeln", which means "to emit the syllable jo" - known as "yo" in English. Alpine shepherds call out to communicate with others at long distances, and to gather around livestock. The first written record of yodeling dates back to 1545. African tribes such as the Pygmy and Bantu, as well as others, have historically used yodeling in their songs, and still do to this day. . Yodeling is also an important part of European folk music, especially in Switzerland, Austria and South Germany.

Yodeling may have been introduced to America by German immigrants in Pennsylvania in the early 1800s. In the 1840s, the Tyrolese Minstrels of Austria crossed the United States, transforming the country into Alpine music. Throughout the 1840s, other singing groups from Germany, Switzerland, and Austria traveled around the country and introduced yodeling. American family singing groups following the same tradition were soon established, most notably the Hutchinson Family Singers.

The actor's traveling shows in the 19th century soon attracted the attention of the music industry. Some notable groups are Christy's Minstrels and Dan Emmett's Virginia Minstrels. Yodeling is not only featured in travel shows but is also recorded. L.W. Thomas Edison was recorded by Lipp at his Phonograph Company in New Jersey in the 1890s.

By 1905, black yodels were singing and touring the country; Notable singers are Monroe Tabor, Beulah Henderson and Charles Anderson. Lottie Kimbrough was a singer who sang and recorded from 1924 to 1929 in country blues. She collaborated with Winston Holmes, who recorded her records.

Blind singer from Georgia, Riley Puckett, is credited with being the first person to record a country disc featuring yodeling; he recorded "Rock All Our Babies to Sleep" in 1924, and it became one of the biggest hits of the year. Emmett Miller was another yodeler of the 1920s; he recorded "Lovesick Blues", which was later covered by Hank Williams. The most famous yodeler of all time was Jimmie Rodgers. Known as the "Singing Brawler," Rodgers blended cowboy, hobo, and blues music into his songs. He released "Blue Yodel No. 1 (T For Texas)" in February 1928, and it sold over a million copies. His "Blue Yodel No. 9", released in 1930, featured Louis Armstrong on the trumpet. Collectively, his thirteen "Blue Yodel" songs started a craze of yodel songs in the United States. Both black and white musicians began copying Rodgers. This popularity lasted through the 1940s, but the fascination with Western country music dwindled in popularity by the 1950s.

How to celebrate Yodel for Your Neighbors Day

Celebrate the day by walking around your neighborhood and hanging out with your neighbors. It might be helpful to relearn how to yodel before sharing your yodel talents with them. For some inspiration for your indulgence, it can be helpful to listen to some important songs that take the form of singing such as Hank Williams–"Lovesick Blues", Lottie Kimbrough and Winston Holmes–"Wayward Girl Blues", Jimmie Rodgers–"Blue Yodel No. 1 (T For Texas)"...