Joe Maphis????

Subject: Joe Maphis????
From: Bluesman and kde
Date: 29 Mar 01 - 06:46 PM

Decided to start a thread on Joe Maphis. I remember him in the '50's, don't think I've heard his name since. He was an awesome picker and I think his family had a singing group together. Would appreciate any info on him and especially anything on his recordings. Also want to say that joining this list was one of the highlights of my musical life. Especially the threads talking about Merle Travis. The first finger-picking song I learned was "I Am a Pilgrim" and learning it on that little $18 guitar that an older brother gave to me, I don't think anything on my body has been as sore as my fingers were when I finally got it down to where if you had any musical knowledge at all you might know what I was playing!!!! LOL

Subject: RE: Joe Maphis????
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 29 Mar 01 - 07:15 PM

Joe Maphis was born in Suffolk, Va. and played for many years on the Old Dominion Barn Dance in Richmond, Va. with Sunshine Sue and Sam and John Workman. That show was broadcast on WRVA. Sue sometimes called him "Cousin Joe". He was also known as "Crazy Joe" as he was the comedian and multi-instrumentalist with that group. He was also a good friend of Grandpa and Ramona Jones and Merle Travis. Joe and his wife Rosalee later moved to Southern California and were an important part of the post war music scene. I think it was in California that he began to play the double neck electric guitar. He was one of the fastest pickers around and could still hit notes cleanly. He and Rosalee did some recording for CMH and he did a CMH recording with Travis. Bluesman, I grew up listening to Joe and the gang and later had a chance to meet him and Rosalee when he came to Mountain View to perform in a tribute to Grandpa Jones. Thanks for the chance to remember Cousin Joe Maphis.

Subject: RE: Joe Maphis????
From: Mark Clark
Date: 29 Mar 01 - 07:25 PM

We had the following three threads last year in which Joe was at least mentioned.

The Forum Results

0.7967 - Thread - Message - RE: 'Bonanza' guitarist - Apr 24 2000 5:26PM -  

NonMember

0.7742 - Thread - Message - RE: Could I play like Doc Watson? seriously. - Sep 20 2000 3:33PM -  

Mark Clark

0.7742 - Thread - Message - RE: BS: Dream Folk Group - Feb 16 2000 2:21PM -  

Bill D

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Joe Maphis????
From: jeepman (inactive)
Date: 29 Mar 01 - 08:16 PM

Good memories of Joe Maphis. He was and maybe still is a great picker. Very fast. I met him once in Nashville at the DJ Convention. First man I ever saw wearing Alligator Boots. Jeepman

Subject: RE: Joe Maphis????
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 29 Mar 01 - 11:54 PM

Joe, along with The Ventures helped popularize the MOSRITE guitar company. Quite the picker. In later years he did quite a bit of multitrack recording, playing guitar bass banjo and fiddle. When he played "Fire on The Mountain" it burned!

Rick

Subject: RE: And Town Hall Party
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 30 Mar 01 - 12:27 AM

Joe and Rosalee were also on the Town Hall Party out of So. Cal hosted by Tex Ritter and featuring The Collins Kids, Johnny bond, Carrot Top Anderson, Skeets MacDonald--- to name a few... and BIG NAME GUESTS ....

I have some of the videos [B&W] from the 58/59/60 era...along with several LPS of Joe Maphis and Merle Travis and Grandpa Jones

Subject: RE: Joe Maphis????
From: Mark Clark
Date: 30 Mar 01 - 12:31 AM

Gene, are those videos commercially available or simply recored from rebroadcasts of the programs? They would surely be fun to see.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Joe Maphis????
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 30 Mar 01 - 01:33 AM

A friend made me copies of his Nth copies of the original TV shows - weak video, jumpy, in places, etc - but what great performances by some of the country greats..

Subject: RE: Joe Maphis????
From: wes.w
Date: 30 Mar 01 - 08:04 AM

This may not be related, but I think I have (or had) a record by Earl Scruggs and family (Earl Scruggs Review?)which had a 'Jody Maphis' in the line up. I'll try to dig it out over the weekend.

Subject: RE: Joe Maphis????
From: Gene
Date: 30 Mar 01 - 09:20 AM

one of the LPS is Merle [Travis]
and Grandpa's [Jones]
FARM and HOME HOUR - RECORDED LIVE
also featuring Joe Maphis And RosaLee
1985 CMH-9032

Subject: RE: Joe Maphis????
From: Mark Clark
Date: 30 Mar 01 - 09:43 AM

Wes, Joe Maphis' son Jody was a member of the Earl Scruggs Review together with Earl, his two sons, Randy and Gary, Buck Graves and Vasser Clements. Jody played drums.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Joe Maphis????
From: GUEST,oj
Date: 30 Mar 01 - 12:50 PM

columbia recently released a nice collection on joe. i think it's called fire on the strings and has 19 or 20 cuts on it. many of his best numbers and some duets with larry collins.

Subject: RE: Joe Maphis????
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Mar 01 - 11:52 AM

Thanks to all of you for the info on Joe. I did find some other things about him by doing a search on Yahoo. This list is so great...........Jim

Subject: RE: Joe Maphis????
From: wes.w
Date: 02 Apr 01 - 08:17 AM

Mark - found the LP, no Vasser Clements on it. Others as you say, except Buck is called Josh. Steve Scruggs also appears in cover photo, but is not listed as a musician. -w