The Maddox Brothers and Rose were an American country music group active from the 1930s to 1950s, consisting of four brothers, Fred, Cal, Cliff, and Don Maddox, along with their sister Rose; Cliff died in 1949 and was replaced by brother Henry. Originating in Alabama, but gaining success after the Maddox family relocated to California during the Great Depression, the group were among the earliest "hillbilly music" stars to emerge from the West Coast. The group disbanded in 1956, with Rose Maddox embarking on a solo career.
The family hailed from Boaz, Alabama, United States, but rode the rails and hitch-hiked to California in 1933 when the band members were still children, following the failed efforts of their sharecropper parents during the early part of the Depression. They were a little in advance of the flood of Okies who were to flood the state in the 1930s. They struggled to make a living as itinerant fruit and vegetable pickers, following the harvest as far north as Washington and as far east as Arizona, as well as the San Joaquin Valley. They often worked from dawn to dusk, sleeping and eating on the ground.[1]
Having settled in Modesto, California, the family developed their musical ability, and in 1937, performed on the radio, sponsored by a local furniture store. In 1939, they entered a hillbilly band competition at the centennial Sacramento State Fair after driving to Sacramento in their Model A. When they took the stage, they tore through "Sally Let Your Bangs Hang Down" with rocking rhythms and risqué lyrics. They became, officially, California's best hillbilly band.[2][3]
The brothers and Rose appeared at places such as the 97th Street Corral in Los Angeles.[4]
From 1946-1951, the group recorded for 4 Star Records (Hollywood), then for Columbia Records. Some 4 Star masters were leased and released by US.-Decca Records at the beginning of the 1950s. Rose Maddox stated: "We were called hillbilly singers — not country — then. No, none of this country music then. People just called us hillbilly... People tell me that I was one of the first women to sing what I sang — country boogie. I guess I was. There was no rock 'n' roll in those early days, before 1955. Only country boogie. My brothers also played that way. We called it country then."[5][6]
Fred Maddox played upright bass using the "slap bass" technique as early as 1937.[7][6]
Fred Maddox's bass is displayed at the Experience Music Project in Seattle. "They wanted his bass because they believe he might have hit the first note of rock 'n' roll on it."[8]
Don Maddox was the last surviving member of the band and lived in Ashland, Oregon. He experienced a career resurgence 50 years after his success with Maddox Bros and Rose, while he played at the Britt Festival in Jacksonville, Oregon, opening for Big and Rich, performing at the Muddy Roots festival in Cookeville, Tennessee, in 2011 and 2012, playing on the Marty Stuart show, and receiving a standing ovation show at the Grand Ole Opry. He also performed in Las Vegas at the first annual Rockabilly Rockout at the Gold Coast Casino on October 5, 2014.[7]
Don Maddox died on September 12, 2021, at the age of 98.[9]
^. Archived from the original on 2007-04-04. Retrieved 2007-02-27.
^ ab"Honky Tonks, Hymns, & the Blues". Honkytonks.org. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
^ ab. Rockabillyhall.com. Archived from the original on July 3, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
^The Blue Moon Boys - The Story of Elvis Presley's Band. Ken Burke and Dan Griffin. 2006. Chicago Review Press. page 26. ISBN1-55652-614-8
^ abRobert K Oermann, "The Last Maddox Brother, Don Maddox, Dies Don Maddox – Final Member of Maddox Brothers & Rose – Has Died", MusicRow, September 17, 2021
External linksedit
Biography of the Maddox Brothers and Rose 2007-03-12 at the Wayback Machine
Listing of all Maddox Bros. & Rose songs and alternatives
April 13, 2024
maddox, brothers, rose, were, american, country, music, group, active, from, 1930s, 1950s, consisting, four, brothers, fred, cliff, maddox, along, with, their, sister, rose, cliff, died, 1949, replaced, brother, henry, originating, alabama, gaining, success, a. The Maddox Brothers and Rose were an American country music group active from the 1930s to 1950s consisting of four brothers Fred Cal Cliff and Don Maddox along with their sister Rose Cliff died in 1949 and was replaced by brother Henry Originating in Alabama but gaining success after the Maddox family relocated to California during the Great Depression the group were among the earliest hillbilly music stars to emerge from the West Coast The group disbanded in 1956 with Rose Maddox embarking on a solo career The Maddox Brothers and RoseOriginBoaz Alabama U S GenresCountry Western swing Old Time GospelYears active1937 1956LabelsFour Star Columbia DeccaMembersRose MaddoxFred MaddoxCal MaddoxHenry MaddoxDon MaddoxPast membersCliff MaddoxContents 1 Biography 2 Band members 3 Discography 4 References 5 External linksBiography editThe family hailed from Boaz Alabama United States but rode the rails and hitch hiked to California in 1933 when the band members were still children following the failed efforts of their sharecropper parents during the early part of the Depression They were a little in advance of the flood of Okies who were to flood the state in the 1930s They struggled to make a living as itinerant fruit and vegetable pickers following the harvest as far north as Washington and as far east as Arizona as well as the San Joaquin Valley They often worked from dawn to dusk sleeping and eating on the ground 1 Having settled in Modesto California the family developed their musical ability and in 1937 performed on the radio sponsored by a local furniture store In 1939 they entered a hillbilly band competition at the centennial Sacramento State Fair after driving to Sacramento in their Model A When they took the stage they tore through Sally Let Your Bangs Hang Down with rocking rhythms and risque lyrics They became officially California s best hillbilly band 2 3 The brothers and Rose appeared at places such as the 97th Street Corral in Los Angeles 4 From 1946 1951 the group recorded for 4 Star Records Hollywood then for Columbia Records Some 4 Star masters were leased and released by US Decca Records at the beginning of the 1950s Rose Maddox stated We were called hillbilly singers not country then No none of this country music then People just called us hillbilly People tell me that I was one of the first women to sing what I sang country boogie I guess I was There was no rock n roll in those early days before 1955 Only country boogie My brothers also played that way We called it country then 5 6 Fred Maddox played upright bass using the slap bass technique as early as 1937 7 6 Fred Maddox s bass is displayed at the Experience Music Project in Seattle They wanted his bass because they believe he might have hit the first note of rock n roll on it 8 Don Maddox was the last surviving member of the band and lived in Ashland Oregon He experienced a career resurgence 50 years after his success with Maddox Bros and Rose while he played at the Britt Festival in Jacksonville Oregon opening for Big and Rich performing at the Muddy Roots festival in Cookeville Tennessee in 2011 and 2012 playing on the Marty Stuart show and receiving a standing ovation show at the Grand Ole Opry He also performed in Las Vegas at the first annual Rockabilly Rockout at the Gold Coast Casino on October 5 2014 7 Don Maddox died on September 12 2021 at the age of 98 9 Band members editCliff Maddox born May 19 1912 Boaz Alabama died August 8 1949 Modesto California Cal Maddox born November 3 1915 Boaz Alabama died July 2 1968 Jackson County Oregon Fred Maddox born July 3 1919 Boaz Alabama died October 29 1992 Kern California Don Maddox born December 7 1922 Boaz Alabama died September 12 2021 9 Rose Maddox born August 15 1925 Boaz Alabama died April 15 1998 Ashland Oregon Henry Maddox born March 19 1928 Boaz Alabama died June 11 1974 Ashland Oregon Bud Duncan born March 18 1928 Pollard Arkansas Discography editA Collection of Standard Sacred Songs King 1959 Maddox Bros and Rose King 1960 I ll Write Your Name In the Sand King 1961 Maddox Brothers and Rose Wrangler 1962 Go Honky Tonkin Hilltop 1965 America s Most Colorful Hillbilly Band v 1 Arhoolie 1976 LP 1993 CD America s Most Colorful Hillbilly Band v 2 Arhoolie 1976 LP 1995 CD Old Pals of Yesterday Picc A Dilly 1980 On the Air v 1 Arhoolie 1983 LP 1996 CD Maddox Bros and Rose Columbia Historic Edition Columbia 1984 On the Air v 2 Arhoolie 1985 LP 1996 CD Live On the Radio Arhoolie 1996 recorded 1953 The Hillbilly Boogie Years Rockateer 1996 all Columbia recordings The Most Colorful Hillbilly Band in America Bear Family 1998 4 CD set A Proper Introduction to Maddox Brothers amp Rose That ll Learn Ya Durn Ya Proper 2004 References edit NPR Honky Tonks Hymns and the Blues Npr org Retrieved February 14 2020 Ramblin Rose The Life and Times of Rose Maddox Jonny Whiteside 1997 page 42 ISBN 0 8265 1269 0 Rose Maddox Sally Let Your Bangs Hang Down Lyrics Archived from the original on 2011 06 10 Retrieved 2010 02 20 Lyrics Billboard January 15 1949 p 33 Americas Most Colorful Hillbilly Band Archived from the original on 2007 04 04 Retrieved 2007 02 27 a b Honky Tonks Hymns amp the Blues Honkytonks org Retrieved February 14 2020 a b The Maddox Brothers amp Rose Rockabillyhall com Archived from the original on July 3 2011 Retrieved February 14 2020 The Blue Moon Boys The Story of Elvis Presley s Band Ken Burke and Dan Griffin 2006 Chicago Review Press page 26 ISBN 1 55652 614 8 a b Robert K Oermann The Last Maddox Brother Don Maddox Dies Don Maddox Final Member of Maddox Brothers amp Rose Has Died MusicRow September 17 2021External links editBiography of the Maddox Brothers and Rose Archived 2007 03 12 at the Wayback Machine Photo discography label shots and samples Maddox Brothers and Rose discography at Discogs Additional samples and label shots Recordings of appearances Listing of all Maddox Bros amp Rose songs and alternatives Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maddox Brothers and Rose amp oldid 1205415346, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
