Born in Hocking County, Ohio, Homer Rodeheaver was reared in eastern Tennessee and there became familiar with local mountain ballads and Negro spirituals. He learned to play trombone while attending Ohio Wesleyan College. From 1910 to 1930, he served as music director for evangelist Billy Sunday, but he made much more money as a pioneer gospel recording artist and music publisher. Will Rogers said, “Rody is the fellow that can make you sing whether you want to or not. I think he has more terrible voices in what was supposed to be unison than any man in the world. Everyone sings for Rody!” Rodeheaver made a large contribution toward the construction of the Auditorium, and it is named in his honor.