CUMBERLAND — A book on the life of country music star Joe Maphis, nine years in the making, was released last week and is now available on all publishing platforms.
Written by Gregory H. Larry, “The King of the Strings: The Joe Maphis Story” is a biography detailing the life of the virtuoso guitarist who grew up in Cumberland.
“It sure took awhile,” said Larry, a retired Cumberland Times-News reporter. “But, I’m thrilled to see that it’s finally finished and people can enjoy it. The story of Joe and his wife Rose really needed telling.”
An original pioneer of country music, Maphis (1921-1986) is considered the first flashy lead guitarist of country, combining blazing quick picking with a relaxed, cool stage demeanor.
The book traces Maphis’ life from his early days growing up in Cumberland to performing live on WRVA Richmond, Virginia’s “Old Dominion Barn Dance” as a musician, comedian and announcer during the golden age of radio.
“How I really got fascinated with the life of Joe Maphis was through my great Uncle Lou (Kerns),” said Larry. “Lou and his brother Ivan played in bands with Joe Maphis while they were growing up in Cumberland. Lou would tell me stories of their time together and I was fascinated. I found it all amazing.”
The book details Maphis’ move to Los Angeles in 1951 where he appeared regularly on TV and became a studio musician playing on hundreds of records, including TV and movie soundtracks.
As band leader on the weekly “Town Hall Party” TV program in Los Angeles in the 1950s, Maphis, a multi-instrumentalist, became known as “The King of the Strings.” As Tex Ritter, the show’s announcer put it, “If an instrument had a string on it … then Joe Maphis could play it.”
Maphis’ career benefited greatly from the support of his wife, singer Rose Lee Maphis. After marrying in 1952, Rose performed by Joe’s side for the rest of his life. During their rise to fame in the 1950s, the couple would become known as “Mr. & Mrs. Country Music.”
The book offers an inside look at Joe and Rose’s life through access to a collection of more than 300 letters and postcards shared between the Maphises and their friends and family from 1946 to Joe’s death in 1986.
“Joe and Rose’s careers really paralleled the creation of the country music genre,” said Larry. “It was a relatively obscure classification called ‘Hillbilly music’ when they started and they were there, contributing, as it grew into the enormous country music industry we see today.”
The book shares the story behind “Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (And Loud, Loud Music),” the country and bluegrass classic written by Joe and Rose.
It also tells how Joe, in 1960, discovered 11-year-old saxophonist and steel guitarist Barbara Mandrell, a future megastar of country music.
The book features interviews and commentary from Mandrell, Tommy Emmanuel, Norm Hamlet, Marty Stuart, Deke Dickerson, John McFee, Brian Lonbeck, Jody Maphis, Zen Crook, Eddie Pennington and much more.
A book signing will held April 2 at the Cumberland Times-News, 19 Baltimore St. The event will begin at 4 p.m. with a 30-minute Q&A session. Larry will sign books from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Paperbacks will be available for $20, cash only.
“King of the Strings: The Joe Maphis Story,” which includes 36 photos, is available for order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and from the author by emailing him at greglarry@atlanticbb.net