WELCOME

The term Hillbilly used here is designed
as a generic term to describe Country & Western Music of the nineteen
forties and fifties. Feel free to use any of the information contained herein for what ever
purpose you deem appropriate; however, please acknowledge The Hillbilly
Researcher, and any individual who contributed information used to compile
these listings.
If you wish to reproduce any
photograph that is contained in the Blogg, please check first with the
individual who supplied the original. This does not apply to label scans which
you are most welcome to copy and use.

Feedback is most welcome, as are any
additions or corrections to the published listings. Check back on earlier
listings as they are updated when new information is received. Also click on
the Comments button, some great feedback coming through, Thanks to everyone who
has taken the time to contribute, especially Johan for the BILLBOARD data.


Search This Blog

Wednesday 31 March 2010

"COUSIN JOE" MAPHIS


It was a widely held belief that Joe Maphis made his recording debut for the West Coast based LARIAT label in 1952, a belief which until recently I also subscribed to.

However, it transpires that he may have actually made his first recordings three or four years earlier, sometime in the late forties, with Sunshine Sue and her band for the obscure ASTRA label. There are no clues as to where this label originated, or who else may have recorded for this particular company. Given that Sunshine Sue, and Joe Maphis were both regulars at the time on The Old Dominion Barndance, out of Richmond, Virginia, it is not unreasonable therefore to suggest that this at least was where the recordings were made, the title suggests that the song was a reference to the Barndance itself.

Any additional information about this disc would be most welcome.




Hear "Barn Dance Boogie"

2 comments:

  1. Definitely pre-dates 1952! Joe's still playing acoustic. 1946?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bb 1947/Nov. 22 (p.100) says "Cousin Joe Maphis, Astra recording artist..." which points to a date around '47/48.
    It's not that rare, I've got 2...
    No others on Astra, tho'.

    Johan

    ReplyDelete