Maddox Brothers and Rose

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The Maddox Brothers and Rose were an American country band from California . It existed from the 1930s to the 1950s. The group consisted of four brothers, Fred, Cal, Henry and Don Maddox and their sister Rose .

Band history

Originally from Boaz, Alabama, the family moved to California in 1933 after their parents became impoverished during the Great Depression. They arrived here just before the stream of refugees from the Okies , who were fleeing the devastating dust storms in the Dust Bowl . The family struggled to support themselves by working as day laborers on the fruit and vegetable plantations in the San Joaquin Valley .

After settling in Modesto , three of the Maddox brothers appeared on a weekday radio show on KTRB as The Alabama Outlaws, sponsored by a local furniture store in 1937. Fred was the band's announcer and played bass, Cal took over the rhythm guitar and eleven-year-old sister Rose sang because the show's sponsor insisted on a female singer. The two men sang too.

The Maddox Brothers and Rose were very popular during the 1930s and performed across the United States. In 1941 the brothers were drafted for World War II, their sister Rose remained unemployed. When the brothers returned, the two younger brothers also joined the band: Don, who played the fiddle, and Cliff at the mandolin, who died in 1949 and was replaced by Henry. At some appearances the band had Bud Duncan on steel guitar as guest musicians and Jimmy Winkle as additional guitarists. From 1946 to 1951 the group was under contract with 4 Star Records in Hollywood, then with Columbia Records .

The group's songs ranged from country standards by Hank Williams , Merle Travis and Bob Wills to hillbilly music , folk and gospel to jazz , swing , boogie woogie and precursors of rock 'n' roll or rockabilly . The band enjoyed great success, but in 1956 Rose and Cal split from the group and Fred, Don, Henry and his wife continued as The Maddox Bros. & Retta . Rose Maddox began a successful career as a solo artist.

Maddox Bros. & Rose stage costumes are on display at Buck Owens ' Crystal Palace in Bakersfield and the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville .

Discography

Singles (selection)

year Title A Title B Record company
1948 Time nor tide Gosh, I Miss You All The Time 4 Star Records
1948 Mean & Wicked Boogie Sweet Little You Columbia
1952 Hangover blues Why Not Confess Decca
1952 No Help Wanted Hearts and Flowers Columbia
1953 Meanest Man In Town Rosalie By The Rio 4 Star Records
1954 I could never stop lovin 'you Fountain Of Youth Columbia
1955 Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown Just Over The Stars Columbia
1957 Ugly and Slouchy By The Sweat Of My Brow Columbia
1957 The Death Of Rock And Roll Paul Bunyan Love Columbia

Albums

year title Record company
1959 A Collection Of Standard Sacred Songs King Records
1960 Maddox Bros and Rose King Records
1961 I'll Write Your Name In The Sand King Records
1965 Go Honky Tonkin Hilltop
1983 On The Air 1940 & 1945 Arhoolie

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