Rose Lee Maphis

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Rose Lee Maphis
Born
Doris Helen Schetrompf

(1922-12-29)December 29, 1922
Baltimore, Maryland, US
DiedOctober 26, 2021(2021-10-26) (aged 98)
Nashville, Tennessee, US
OccupationMusician
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1953; died 1986)​
Children3
Musical career
GenresCountry
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar

Rose Lee Maphis (born Doris Helen Schetrompf; December 29, 1922 – October 26, 2021) was an American country singer and musician.

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.[2] They appeared on numerous radio and television programs, including as cast members of Town Hall Party.

Early life[edit]

Maphis (pronounced "MAY-fiss")[3] was born Doris Helen Schetrompf on December 29, 1922 in Baltimore, Maryland, to Margaret Helen (Schriever) and Stanley Schetrompf.[1][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.[3]

Career[edit]

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[1] and Roy Acuff.[9][10][11] 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.[1] She and her husband would later be called "Mr. and Mrs. Country Music".[2]

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".[1]

Around the 1950s, Maphis and her husband were cast members of the television show Town Hall Party on KTTV in Los Angeles.[12]

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.[2]

Post-entertainment career[edit]

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,[1] 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.[1]

Rose's last public appearance was on August 7, 2021 in Cumberland, Maryland for a 100th birthday celebration for her late husband.[13][14]

She died of kidney failure on October 26, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee, at age 98. She had 3 children, Lorrie, Dale, and Jody.[3] Jody Maphis is also a musician, who has performed with such stars as Johnny Cash.[9][4]

Discography[edit]

Singles[edit]

Columbia Records[edit]

  • 1955: "Honky Tonk Down Town / The Parting of the Way"[15]
  • 1955 "I'm Willin' To Try / Let's Pull Together"[16]
  • 1959: "Fire On the Strings / I Love You Deeply" (A-side by Joe Maphis)

Mosrite Records[edit]

  • 1966: "Send Me Your Love A.P.O. / Write Him A Letter"[17]
  • 1967: "Tunin' Up For The Blues / A Lifetime of Love"
  • 1967: "Country Girl Courtship / Pickin' and Guitin'"[18]

Starday Records[edit]

  • 1964: "Hoot'n Annie / Remember I'm Just As Close As the Phone"[19]
  • 1965: "Hot Time in Nashville / I've Got To Take You Home"[20]
  • 1965: "Your Little Black Book / Don't Pass Me By"[21]
  • 1966: "Ridin' Down Ole 99 / Turn On The Bright Lights"[22]

Chart Records[edit]

  • 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[edit]

  • 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[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Bliss, Jessica (January 9, 2015). "Country Music Hall of Fame visitors unaware greeter is star". The Tennessean. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Friskics-Warren, Bill (October 29, 2021). "Rose Lee Maphis, Early Star of Country Music TV, Dies at 98" – via NYTimes.com.
  3. ^ a b c Friskics-Warren, Bill (October 29, 2021). "Rose Lee Maphis, Early Star of Country Music TV, Dies at 98". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Friskics-Warren, Bill (October 29, 2021). "Rose Lee Maphis, Early Star of Country Music TV, Dies at 98". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Ankeny, Jason (1997). Erlewine, Michael (ed.). All Music Guide to Country: The Experts' Guide to the Best Recordings in Country Music. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 291. ISBN 9780879304751. Retrieved October 29, 2021 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ Wel, Stephanie Vander (January 13, 2015). "Maphis, Joe and Rose Lee". Oxford Music Online. Vol. 1. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.a2276025.
  7. ^ Wolfe & Akenson 2003, p. 63.
  8. ^ a b Bliss, Jessica. "Country Music Hall of Fame visitors unaware greeter is star". The Tennessean.
  9. ^ a b Oermann, Robert K. (October 27, 2021). "Country Star Rose Lee Maphis Dies At Age 98". MusicRow. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  10. ^ "'Mrs. Country Music,' The Pioneering Rose Lee Maphis Has Died". Saving Country Music. October 27, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  11. ^ Schelle, Crystal (2014). "Rose of the Mountains has connection to Hagerstown". The Hagerstown Herald-Mail. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  12. ^ "Joe Maphis, Country Music Star of 'Town Hall Party'". Los Angeles Times. July 5, 1986. Retrieved October 28, 2021 – via ProQuest.
  13. ^ Larry, Greg. "Rose Lee Maphis, 'Mrs. Country Music,' dies at 98". The Cumberland Times-News. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  14. ^ "https://twitter.com/DekeDickerson/status/1423826657052352517". Twitter. Retrieved March 9, 2023. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  15. ^ Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series. United States Copyright Office. 1956. p. 77. Retrieved October 29, 2021 – via Google Books.
  16. ^ Agenant, Willem (1996). Columbia 78 Rpm Record Listing, 20001 Thru 21571, Plus OKeh Records 18001 Thru 18059. Joyce Record Club. p. 59. Retrieved October 29, 2021 – via Google Books.
  17. ^ "Country Music". Billboard. Vol. 78, no. 21. May 28, 1966. p. 48. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved October 29, 2021 – via Google Books.
  18. ^ "Spotlight Singles". Billboard. Vol. 79, no. 26. July 1, 1967. p. 16. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved October 29, 2021 – via Google Books.
  19. ^ Osborne, Jerry (1964). The Complete Library of American Phonograph Recordings. Osborne Enterprises. p. 55. Retrieved October 29, 2021 – via Google Books.
  20. ^ "Singles Reviews". Billboard. Vol. 77, no. 11. March 13, 1965. p. 75. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved October 29, 2021 – via Google Books.
  21. ^ "Spotlight Singles". Billboard. Vol. 77, no. 36. September 4, 1965. p. 16. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved October 29, 2021 – via Google Books.
  22. ^ "Spotlight Singles". Billboard. Vol. 78, no. 1. January 1, 1966. p. 12. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved October 29, 2021 – via Google Books.

Sources[edit]

External links[edit]

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