"Mule Skinner Blues" (AKA "Blue Yodel # 8") was a folk song cowritten by Jimmy Rodgers and George Vaughn in 1931. Telling the tale of a down-on-his-luck mule skinner, who is looking for work, it was recorded by Rodgers in the early 1930s, becoming a hit for him. It would later become bluegrass legend Bill Monroe's signature song, when he recorded it in 1939. In 1960 the Madison, Wisconsin-based duo [1]The Fendermen had a top-ten hit with their electrified version. Another significant version was Dolly Parton's 1970 recording of the song, which reached #3 on the U.S. country charts. Other versions were recorded by Odetta, Merle Haggard, Van Morrison and The Grateful Dead. Jimmie Rodgers was the name of two singers: Jimmie Rodgers (country singer) Jimmie Rodgers (pop singer) Note that there was also a Jimmy Rogers (note the spelling), a blues singer born in 1924. ... 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1931 calendar). ... Bluegrass has three principal meanings, the second two both deriving from the first listed. ... Bill Monroe Bill Monroe (September 13, 1911 - September 9, 1996) developed the style of country music known as bluegrass, which takes its name from his band, the Blue Grass Boys, named for his home state of Kentucky. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American country singer, songwriter, composer, author and actress. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... Odetta (b. ... Merle Haggard Merle Ronald Haggard (nicknamed The Hag; born April 6, 1937 in Bakersfield, California) is an American country music singer, guitarist and songwriter. ... George Ivan Van Morrison (born August 31, 1945) is a singer and songwriter from Belfast, Northern Ireland. ... Jerry Garcia later in life The Grateful Dead was an American rock band, which was formed in 1965 in San Francisco from the remnants of another band, Mother McCrees Uptown Jug Champions. ...