Rose Lee Maphis Explained

Birth Name:Doris Helen Schetrompf
Birth Place:Baltimore, Maryland, US
Birth Date:29 December 1922
Death Place:Nashville, Tennessee, US
Occupation:Musician
Children:3
Module:
Embed:yes
Genre:Country

Rose Lee Maphis (born Doris Helen Schetrompf; December 29, 1922October 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. They appeared on numerous radio and television programs, including as cast members of Town Hall Party.

Early life

Maphis (pronounced "MAY-fiss")[1] was born Doris Helen Schetrompf on December 29, 1922 in Baltimore, Maryland, to Margaret Helen (Schriever) and Stanley Schetrompf.[2] 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.[3] [4] As a child, Maphis listened to the Grand Ole Opry. Rose attended business college after graduating high school in 1941.[1]

Career

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.[5]

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 and Roy Acuff.[6] [7] [8] 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. She and her husband would later be called "Mr. and Mrs. Country Music".

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".

Around the 1950s, Maphis and her husband were cast members of the television show Town Hall Party on KTTV in Los Angeles.[9]

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.[10]

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.[5]

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, 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.[11]

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.[1] Jody Maphis is also a musician, who has performed with such stars as Johnny Cash.[6] [2]

Discography

Singles

Columbia Records

Mosrite Records

Starday Records

Chart Records

Albums

Sources

Notes and References

  1. News: Friskics-Warren . Bill . 2021-10-29 . Rose Lee Maphis, Early Star of Country Music TV, Dies at 98 . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-03-09 . 0362-4331.
  2. News: Friskics-Warren. Bill. October 29, 2021. Rose Lee Maphis, Early Star of Country Music TV, Dies at 98. en-US. The New York Times. October 29, 2021. 0362-4331.
  3. Book: Ankeny, Jason . All Music Guide to Country: The Experts' Guide to the Best Recordings in Country Music . Michael . Erlewine . . 9780879304751 . 291 . 1997 . October 29, 2021 . Google Books.
  4. Book: Wel, Stephanie Vander. Oxford Music Online. January 13, 2015 . Oxford University Press. 1. en. Maphis, Joe and Rose Lee. 10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.a2276025.
  5. Web site: Country Music Hall of Fame visitors unaware greeter is star. Jessica. Bliss. The Tennessean.
  6. Web site: Oermann. Robert K.. October 27, 2021. Country Star Rose Lee Maphis Dies At Age 98. October 28, 2021. MusicRow.
  7. Web site: October 27, 2021. 'Mrs. Country Music,' The Pioneering Rose Lee Maphis Has Died. October 28, 2021. Saving Country Music.
  8. News: Schelle. Crystal. 2014. Rose of the Mountains has connection to Hagerstown. The Hagerstown Herald-Mail. October 28, 2021.
  9. News: Joe Maphis, Country Music Star of 'Town Hall Party' . October 28, 2021 . Los Angeles Times . July 5, 1986 . ProQuest.
  10. Web site: Rose Lee Maphis, Early Star of Country Music TV, Dies at 98. Bill. Friskics-Warren. October 29, 2021. NYTimes.com.
  11. Web site: Bliss . Jessica . Country Music Hall of Fame visitors unaware greeter is star . The Tennessean. January 9, 2015. October 28, 2021.
  12. Web site: Larry . Greg . Rose Lee Maphis, 'Mrs. Country Music,' dies at 98 . 2023-03-09 . The Cumberland Times-News . en.
  13. Web site: https://twitter.com/DekeDickerson/status/1423826657052352517 . 2023-03-09 . Twitter . en.
  14. Book: Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series . . 77 . 1956 . October 29, 2021 . Google Books.
  15. Book: Agenant, Willem . Columbia 78 Rpm Record Listing, 20001 Thru 21571, Plus OKeh Records 18001 Thru 18059 . Joyce Record Club . 59 . 1996 . October 29, 2021 . Google Books.
  16. Country Music . . 78 . 21 . 0006-2510 . 48 . May 28, 1966 . October 29, 2021 . Google Books.
  17. Spotlight Singles . . 79 . 26 . 0006-2510 . 16 . July 1, 1967 . October 29, 2021 . Google Books.
  18. Book: Osborne, Jerry . The Complete Library of American Phonograph Recordings . Osborne Enterprises . 55 . 1964 . October 29, 2021 . Google Books.
  19. Singles Reviews . . 77 . 11 . 0006-2510 . 75 . March 13, 1965 . October 29, 2021 . Google Books.
  20. Spotlight Singles . . 77 . 36 . 0006-2510 . 16 . September 4, 1965 . October 29, 2021 . Google Books.
  21. Spotlight Singles . . 78 . 1 . 0006-2510 . 12 . January 1, 1966 . October 29, 2021 . Google Books.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Rose Lee Maphis".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.