Final answer:
Blue Yodel #9 was influential due to its mixture of musical styles, resembling the later fusion found in rock 'n' roll, with Memphis being a critical environment for such musical innovation, consequently aiding in social change and civil rights by breaking down racial barriers.
Step-by-step explanation:
One culturally significant and influential aspect of Jimmy Rodgers's Blue Yodel #9, recorded in Los Angeles in 1931, was its blend of various American musical styles that contributed to the origins of rock 'n' roll. The phenomenon of blending genres was seen later in Elvis Presley's work, which combined gospel, blues, bluegrass, country, western, and R&B. This hybridization of styles, especially in the Memphis region, played a major role in allowing musical genius to flourish, essentially fermenting musical innovation that helped pave the way for rock 'n' roll.
Artists like Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis, who all had significant contact with African American musical mentors, emerged from the Memphis area and recorded for Sun Records. Memphis provided a unique environment conducive to this musical exchange. Additionally, the social impact of rock 'n' roll is notable for its role in blurring racial lines, influencing social interactions among teenagers of different races, and contributing to the civil rights movement.