Rose Lee Maphis
American musician (1922–2021) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rose Lee Maphis (born Doris Helen Schetrompf; December 29, 1922 – October 26, 2021) was an American country singer and musician.
Rose Lee Maphis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | Doris Helen Schetrompf December 29, 1922 |
| Died | October 26, 2021 (aged 98) |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Country |
| Instruments |
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She performed as a harmony singer and rhythm guitarist as a duo with her husband Joe Maphis. They were pioneers of the Bakersfield sound that developed in the mid-1950s.[1] They appeared on numerous radio and television programs, including as cast members of Town Hall Party.
Early life
Maphis (pronounced "MAY-fiss")[2] was born Doris Helen Schetrompf on December 29, 1922 in Baltimore, Maryland, to Margaret Helen (Schriever) and Stanley Schetrompf.[3][4] She grew up on a farm in Hagerstown where her family produced eggs and butter, sold Christmas trees and rented out cabins near the river that ran though their property.[5][6] As a child, Maphis listened to the Grand Ole Opry.[7] Rose attended business college after graduating high school in 1941.[2]
Career
Summarize
Perspective
Her father hosted a picnic for WJEJ radio, introducing the station to his daughter who sang and played guitar. The station offered her a 15-minute spot on its Saturday night program.[8]
Before performing with her husband, Maphis was featured in a female quartet, a western group called The Saddle Sweethearts, who often played the same bill as Gene Autry[3] and Roy Acuff.[9][10] After performing with Saddle Sweethearts, she worked briefly for her father as a bookkeeper. She learned that Mother Maybelle and The Carter Sisters were leaving the Old Dominion Barn Dance and were looking for singers. She met her future husband Joe there.[3] She and her husband would later be called "Mr. and Mrs. Country Music".[1]
A producer suggested the name "Rose of the Mountains" for her on her debut performance on a Hagerstown radio station, as she had a rose in her hair and was singing "Carry Me Back to the Mountains".[3]
Around the 1950s, Maphis and her husband were cast members of the television show Town Hall Party on KTTV in Los Angeles.[11]
The Maphises were best known for the self-penned honky-tonk standard "Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (And Loud, Loud Music)", which was originally recorded by Flatt and Scruggs.[1]
Post-entertainment career
After the death of her husband, she worked as a seamstress at Opryland theme park designing for such stars as Brenda Lee and Barbara Mandrell.[8]
In her later years, and no longer well-known as a major star, she worked voluntarily as a greeter at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum,[3] sharing stories about the genre's legends. Maphis's guitar is on display, next to that of her husband's double-neck Mosrite and sheet music for their recording "Dim Lights", in a montage called The Bakersfield Exhibit.[3]
Rose's last public appearance was on August 7, 2021 in Cumberland, Maryland for a 100th birthday celebration for her late husband.[12][13]
She died of kidney failure on October 26, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee, at age 98. She had 3 children, Lorrie, Dale, and Jody.[2] Jody Maphis is also a musician, who has performed with such stars as Johnny Cash.[9][4]
Discography
Singles
Columbia Records
Mosrite Records
Starday Records
Chart Records
- 1969: "Gee Aren't We Lucky / Guitar Happy"
- 1970: "Run That By Me One More Time / I Don't Care"
- 1971: "Slippin', Pickin', Fiddlin' / If I'm Gonna Have Your Lovin'"
Albums
- 1961: Rose Lee Maphis
- 1962: Rose Lee & Joe Maphis (with Joe Maphis and the Blue Ridge Mountain Boys)
- 1964: Mr. and Mrs. Country Music (with Joe Maphis)
- 1964: Hootenanny Star
- 1978: Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (with Joe Maphis)
- 1979: Boogie Woogie Flattop Guitar Pickin' Man (with Joe Maphis)
- 1980: Honky Tonk Cowboy (with Joe Maphis)[5]
References
Sources
External links
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