Some folks credit Joe Maphis (1921-1986) as the man who created guitar flatpicking, back in the 1930s. Before that, the fiddle was the main lead instrument in country and old-timey music, and Maphis was one of the first people to take fiddle solos and transpose them into guitar licks. By the end of the 1940s, his revolutionary style had been copied by Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, Jimmy Bryant and a thousand other hotshot pickers. Maphis stayed in the head of the pack, recording with dozens of country and pop artists, including Wanda Jackson, Ricky Nelson and --of course-- the Collins Kids. He taught Larry Collins, age 12, how to tear through guitar strings like they were tissue paper, and in the late 1950s, the Collins Kids appeared with him on Los Angeles' legendary country TV show, Town Hall Party.
His wife, Rose Lee Maphis (1922-2021) was a regional performer originally from the East Coast who worked with Maphis on a radio show back in Virginia. They moved out to California in 1951 and, working as a duo, they became headliners of the highly influential Town Hall Party. Here's a quick look at their work...
CD Discography
Joe & Rose Lee Maphis "Hot Time In Nashville" (Binge Discs, 1997)
In my book, this is most exciting of these Maphis re-releases, a modest CD with a wicked wallop, featuring Maphis the hardcore honky-tonker, along with his wife, Rose Lee, an underrated and largely forgotten female vocalist from the mid-'50s country scene. These compelling, heartfelt recordings have been out of print for decades, due to inattention and disinterest on the part of Columbia Records. One can only wonder why the powers-that-be have let the hard-working Maphis duo languish out of print for so long. Thank goodness, then for the record collection of Dagmar Binge, who runs the amazing Cowgirlboy/Binge Discs label. This CD may be the hardest Maphis disc to find -- you'll probably have to order it directly from Binge Disc -- but it's a beauty.
Joe Maphis "Flying Fingers" (Bear Family Records, 1996)
This all-instrumental disc starts off at a gallop, and never really lets up. Maphis and a host of super-talented West Coast 50's honky-tonkers try on a variety of styles, from Jimmy Bryant/Speedy West style turbo-twang, to some late '50s tracks which sound an awful lot like proto-surf music. Includes a pair of sizzling duets with Larry Collins that will get the attention of anyone in earshot. By the end of the disc the formula starts to wear out a bit, but only when taken all at once. Great stuff, previously long out of print.
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Joe Maphis "Fire On The Strings" (Sony Legacy, 1959/2001)
For folks eager to hear more of Maphis' instrumental dazzle, this reissue is long overdue. Includes the full 1957 LP of the same name, along with a bunch of extra tracks from singles and an EP Maphis recorded with the rockabilly whizkid, Larry Collins. In some ways it's cornball, but Joe's picking is super-tasty nonetheless. Great sound quality and classy packaging -- let's hope the US labels keep up the quality control on their new reissue efforts... 'cuz with records like this, they're really starting to cook!
Joe Maphis & Merle Travis "Country Music's Two Guitar Greats" (Capitol Records, 1964)
Joe Maphis & Merle Travis "Country Guitar Giants" (CMH Records, 1978)
Joe Maphis & Merle Travis "Country Guitar Thunder" (CMH Records, 1983)
A collection of Maphis/Travis duets from their tenure on CMH, between 1978-81.
The Collins Kids "Rockin' On TV" (Krazy Kat Records)
Spunk galore as this brother-sister teen-scene rockabilly act rips, snorts and jokes their way through live performances on the legendary late '50s Los Angeles' country TV show, Town Hall Party. Prepubescent electric guitar hero Larry Collins took lessons from our hero, show host Joe Maphis, and highlights of this disc include some of the stunning instrumental duets the two performed regularly on the program. Also, this disc reveals the Collins Kids' strong country music background, a side of them which is frequently neglected in recaps of their flashy recording career. Iffy sound quality, but great music.
Various Artists "LIVE AT TOWN HALL 1958-1961" (Country Routes, 1997)
This CD suffers from the same poor sound quality as some other Country Routes releases, but compensates by the exhilarating historic and musical power of these live performances. Hearing Maphis back country legends such as George Jones, Rose Maddox, and Skeets McDonald is a treat not to be missed, whether it's dubbed from video or not.
Joe & Rose Lee Maphis "Ridin' The Frets" (Jasmine Records, 2010)
Discography - Albums
Joe Maphis "Fire On The Strings" (Columbia Records, 1959) (LP)
Joe Maphis "Hi-Fi Holiday For Banjo" (Columbia-Harmony Records, 1959) (LP)
Joe & Rose Lee Maphis "Mr. And Mrs. Country Music" (Starday Records, 1964) (LP)
Joe Maphis "King Of The Strings" (Starday Records, 1965) (LP)
Joe Maphis "Golden Gospel Guitar" (Starday Records, 1965) (LP)
Joe Maphis "Country Guitar Goes On The Jimmy Dean Show" (Starday Records, 1966) (LP)
Video & Other Media
Joe Maphis "At Town Hall Party" (DVD) (Bear Family Records, 2006)
Video & Other Media
Elaine Frizzell "A Tribute To Joe Maphis And Merle Travis" (Mosrite Records)
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