Otis Wilson " Joe" Maphis
One of the flashiest country guitarists of the 1950s and 1960s, Joe Maphis was known as "The King of the Strings".
Biography
Early life
Maphis was born in Suffolk, Virginia, United States.
His family moved to Cumberland, Maryland, in 1926 when his father Robert Maphis landed a job with the B&O Railroad. Joe Maphis's first band was called the Maryland Rail Splitters. He also played in the local (Cumberland) Foggy Mountain Boys as well as The Sonnateers before Maphis hit the road in 1939. He played across Virginia until he became a regular featured performer on the "Old Dominion Barn Dance," broadcast live on radio WRVA-AM and aired in 38 states.
In 1944, Maphis went into the U.S. Army. His musical skills landed him a gig entertaining the troops around the world. Maphis was discharged from the Army in 1946. On his return to the states, he began playing on WLS radio in Chicago.
Recording career
Maphis' recording career took off in 1951 when he was invited to Los Angeles by
Merle Travis and country music entertainer
Johnny Bond. He made two LPs with Travis, recorded for countless country and pop stars and worked on many themes for television programs and movie soundtracks.
Maphis recorded for
Columbia Records and other labels. Later based in Bakersfield, California, he rose to prominence with his own hits such as "Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (And Loud, Loud Music)",
as well as playing with acts like
Johnny Burnette,
Doyle Holly, The Collins Kids,
Wanda Jackson,
Rose Maddox and
Ricky Nelson.
"Dim Lights" has become a honky-tonk standard with numerous artists recording versions of the tune including Flatt and Scruggs, Vern Gosdin, Daryle Singletary and Dwight Yoakam. He played on
Ricky Nelson's first
Imperial Records hits "Stood Up (song)", "Waitin In School", and "
Be-Bop Baby before
James Burton assumed lead guitar duties.
Maphis was a band member and featured soloist on the Town Hall Party radio (and later television) program broadcast throughout the 1950s.
Death
Maphis was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1985. He died in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 27, 1986.
His guitar hero was Mother Maybelle Carter, matriarch of the Carter Family. Maybelle's daughter June Carter Cash and June's husband
Johnny Cash so admired Maphis that he was laid to rest in the Cash and Carter family Hendersonville, Tennessee, burial plot next to Maybelle, her husband, Ezra Carter, and her daughter,
Anita Carter.
Maphis family
They had three children: Dale, Lorrie and Jody. Dale died in an automobile accident in 1989. Jody Maphis is an active musician. He has played drums or guitar for
Earl Scruggs,
Johnny Rodriguez,
Johnny Cash,
Gary Allan,
Marty Stuart and many others.
Mosrite guitar
Today, TNM Guitars manufactures a remake of the
Mosrite guitar, recreated by
Luthier Terry N. McArthur.
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