Contact: Chaplain David M. Wagner, 951-787-9776, ddbwagner81@aol.com

PALM SPRINGS, Calif., June 9, 2015 /Christian Newswire/ -- On June 7, 2015 Jimmie Rodgers and the Singing Chaplain Jimmie Linzey joined forces in a patriotic concert at Calvary Chapel in Palm Desert. Jimmie Rodgers, a United States Air Force veteran who is now 81, gave a resounding presentation of music that made America great—hymns, spirituals, and of course his greatest hits for which he received Grammy Awards. Jimmie Linzey, a highly decorated United States Army veteran, opened the concert with the famed "Battle of the Green Beret." He then sang an original produced by Chuck Girard, "Narrow Road," and closed the program with the hit "God Bless the USA," bringing the packed out audience to their feet.

Some of Jimmie Rodgers' hits included "Honeycomb" which went to number one on the Billboard pop charts. Rodgers' next two singles, "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine" and "Oh, Oh, I'm Falling in Love Again" also went to the Top Ten. His fifth release, "Secretly," was his last visit to the Top Ten while continuing to record and tour. In 1959 he hosted his own television series. Jimmie Rodgers left Roulette Records in 1962 and signed with Dot Records.

While with the Dot Records, Jimmie Rodgers recorded many singles on the Adult Contemporary charts. In 1966, his recording of "It's Over," which he wrote, was in the Top 40. His screen debut was in the 1961 film The Little Shepard of Kingdom Come and in 1964 he co-starred in the film Back Door to Hell, featuring Jack Nicholson. In 1967, Rodgers signed a new recording deal with A&M, after which he recorded his song "Child of Clay," which advanced to #31 on the singles charts.

Jimmie Linzey was a Dove Award Runner Up for his inclusion in the 1996 Special Event Album of the Year When the "World Turns to God" (Compilation CD including "A Heart of Love," which he co-wrote). He had a role in the film Iniquity. He hosted Operation Freedom TV Programs around the world. He appeared on TBN, CBN, Daystar, ABC, NBC, CBS, and the Glenn Beck Show. He performed for military National Prayer Breakfasts, Alamo Village and the Military Chaplains Awards banquet in Washington DC in 1999.

Jimmie Linzey directed the US Army Soldiers' Choir at Fort Lee, Virginia, while serving as the chaplain for the largest battalion in the US Army, the 244th Quartermaster Battalion. He served as the first full-time chaplain for the Leader's Training Course under the US Army Cadet Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He also supervised the religious support program for the largest Mobilization and Demobilization mission in the continental United States at Fort Bliss, Texas.

In attendance was Jimmie Linzey's mother, Southern Gospel recording artist Verna Linzey, who wrote the hymn "Oh Blessed Jesus."