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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZMAPHIS, Joe and Rose Lee(Otis Wilson Maphis, b 12 May '21, Suffolk VA, d 27 June '86; and Rose Lee Schetrompf, b 29 Dec. '22, Baltimore MD) Husband and wife team called Mr and Mrs Country Music, his guitar style one of the most innovative in '50s and still echoing in contemporary styles. His family moved to Maryland; he played piano in the Railsplitters, his father's square dance band; took up guitar, banjo and fiddle and worked with Blackie and his Lazy K Ranch Boys on WRVA Richmond VA '39, moved to WLW Minneapolis as Cousin Joe '42, fronted US Army Special Services group called the Swingbilly Revue '44; after discharge back to WRVA on the Old Dominion Dance Show '48 and met Rose Lee. She began on radio '37 as singer/guitarist Rose of the Mountains; they married, moved to LA '51, appearing on Cliffie Stone's Hometown Jamboree, then Town Hall Party for ten years. He sessioned with Johnny Bond, Tex Ritter etc, worked in TV music (The Virginians, FBI Story etc), films (Thunder Road, God's Little Acre, both '58); they signed to Columbia '52, recorded for other labels but had no hit singles. He wrote 'Dim Lights, Thick Smoke And Loud, Loud Music' (became country standard); played on many West Coast rock'n'roll records incl. Ricky Nelson's first sessions, introduced him to James Burton and James Kirkland, who became the backbone of his band. They moved to Nashville '68 and were still active, appearing regularly on TV's Hee-Haw '81--5. Son Jody was part of the impressive Earl Scruggs Revue '72--9 and a session musician in Nashville. Flying Fingers on Bear Family compiles 24 of Joe's instrumentals. |