- Joe Maphis
Joe Maphis, born Otis W. Maphis (1921–1986), was an American
country music guitarist . He married singerRose Lee Maphis in 1948.One of the flashiest country guitarists of the 1950s and 1960s, Joe Maphis was known as "The King of the Strings". [cite web|url=http://home.exetel.com.au/mosrite/Joe%20Maphis.php|title=The Vintage Guitar Gallery, "Joe Maphis"] He was able to play many stringed instruments with great facility. [cite web|url=http://youtube.com/watch?v=Oi4W3qH4xxs|title=Video, "Pickin' and Singin'"] However, he specialized in dazzling guitar virtuosity. Working out of
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 likeJohnny Burnette ,The Collins Kids ,Wanda Jackson ,Rose Maddox andRicky Nelson . His playing was an influence on such greats asMerle Travis ,Jimmy Bryant andChet Atkins .Fact|date=February 2007 He was known for his use of a double-neckMosrite guitar, specially built for him bySemie Moseley , which was a boon to Moseley's fledgling career as a guitar builder. He was a regular guest on theJimmy Dean television show in the 1960s.Joe's guitar hero was Mother Maybelle Carter, matriarch of the Carter Family. Her daughter June Carter and husband Johnny Cash so admired Joe's guitar playing that Joe is buried in a Hendersonville, TN cemetery next to Maybelle, her husband, Ezra Carter (A.P.'s brother), and daughter, Anita Carter.
Mosrite guitar
Today, [http://www.bobsyouruncle.net/TNM_Guitars/tnmpage.htm TNM Guitars] manufactures a remake of the
Mosrite guitar, recreated by guitar luthier Terry N. McArthur. Singer/songwriterMarshall Crenshaw has said "If I ever buy another guitar it'll be one of these." [cite web|url=http://www.marshallcrenshaw.com/|title=The Marshall Crenshaw Page]External links
* http://www.geocities.com/shakin_stacks/joemaphis.txt
* http://rcs.law.emory.edu/rcs/artists/m/maph1000.htmFootnotes
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