|
Rose Maddox
In Rose's heyday, she commanded the
respect and admiration of the biggest names in the music
business. "I remember seeing a television interview
with Bing Crosby, years ago," Rose recalled.
"They asked him who his favorite country singer was
and Bing said, 'Rose Maddox.'"
Hank Williams once sat alone in the empty Riverside
Rancho ballroom, waiting for promoter Marty Landau to
introduce him to Rose. "I never thought I'd get a
chance to meet you," Hank told her. The Hillbilly
Shakespeare and the Sweetheart of Hillbilly Swing talked
for hours, mostly of music and mutual friebds. "You
are as important to hillbilly music right now,"
Hank said to Rose, "as Roy Acuff was ten years
ago."
Forty years later, she still commanded the respect of
her peers. During the taping of CBS-TV's "Women of
Country" special in 1992, Pam Tillis, Suzy Bogguss,
Trisha Yearwood, and Lorrie Morgan all clamored for
Rose's approval, as well they should have. Rose Maddox
was country's original, high-kicking firebrand. As
leader of the Maddox Brothers and Rose from 1937 to
1957, she exploded the previously inconsequential role
of the 'girl singer' in country music, established
herself as one of country music's first national female
stars and set the tone for every woman that followed
her. A member (briefly) of both the 'Grand Ole
Opry" and "Lousiana Hayride," she reached
national radio audiences. Her recordings on the 4 Star,
Columbia, Capitol, and Starday labels consitute one of
the most influential and groundbreaking bodies of work
in country music history. Strongly rooted in traditional
Gospel singing, her fiercely declamatory vocal style
was, and still is, a pure blast of Southern soul."
- From "Ramblin Rose" by Johnny Whiteside
The singing career of Rose Maddox extended over a period
of fifty-five years. One of Country music’s great
survivors, she had fought her way back from three heart
attacks to gain recognition as a pioneering female
artist in her profession while continuing to perform as
health and circumstances allowed.
Rose Maddox at age 7 had taken the difficult trek from
Alabama to California with her parents and four brothers
in the spring of 1933. Her career as the Maddox Brothers
and Rose began in 1937 at KTRB Modesto and lasted until
1957 with time out for her brother’s military service.
Rose’s lead and solo vocals were a major contribution
to their appeal and commercial success.
In May 1953, Rose began to record for Columbia as a solo
artist. Rose also cut six duets with Buck Owens, four of
which were hits; Loose Talk (Top 5) /Mental Cruelty (Top
10) (1961) and We’re The Talk Of The Town (Top 15)/
Sweethearts In Heaven (Top 20) (1963).
Her album, Rose Maddox Sings Bluegrass, was the first
all-Bluegrass album by a female performer and ranks as a
true classic. It featured instrumental support from such
greats in their own right as Tommy Jackson, Bill Monroe,
John Palmer, Don Reno, Red Smiley and Donna Stoneman.
By the mid-70’s, Rose, who had continued working
whenever and wherever she could, began to gain some
respect as a pioneer female in Country music and she
ranks alongside Wilma Lee Cooper and Molly O’Day, as
one of a triumvirate of strong-voiced women of
Appalachian origin who paved the way for the likes of
Kitty Wells, Wanda Jackson, and Jean Shepard.
Arhoolie and Bear Family reissued some of the Maddox
Brothers and Rose recordings of a generation earlier and
her new albums on Varrick, Takoma, and another Bluegrass
effort for Arhoolie showed that the venerable lady still
had plenty of the old fire left. She played at major
Folk and Bluegrass festivals throughout the country.
During the 80’s, Rose Maddox survived three heart
attacks, one of which left her in a coma for three
months and the death of her only child, son Donnie from
a stroke.
Still, even after her last recovery, the trouper and
survivor went back to work as soon as she could. On
April 15, 1998, Rose Maddox died at her home in Ashland,
Oregon at the age of 72.
Thanks Pam at Ram
Radio for writing this bio. Check out Ram Radio
where you can hear this wonderful singer's music and
other great music.
|
|
