Published: November 12, 2009 09:16 pm      

Roots in South End, home of late, great guitarist

“Well you take West Street, East Street, North Avenue (Cause I know) South Street's the best street — To have a ball with you.” That was a short excerpt from a song in the 1960s sung by the little-known group called The Orlons. I’m not sure, but I think I had some socks made out of orlon.

We have a South Street in Cumberland that just might be one of my favorites. I carried mail there for quite a few years. I liked it because it was the last street on my route, and when I was done with it, I was finished for the day. South End is relatively flat compared to North End, and the also very steep West Side. I lived there as a youngster till the age of 7. My parents were both South Enders. Dad’s family was lastly rooted at 105 Race St., in a double house that currently sits across from the library. My mom was living on Homer Street with extended family. Number 429 was the cradle of the now widespread Squires clan. The Kellers, Davises, Hoyles, Morrises and Squires all came forth from the home of John and Katherine Squires, the daughters marrying into other families.

Joe Dorsey Sr. married Phyllis Keller, and I was their first prize. I remember us living on Penn Avenue, and then down to Lafayette, and from there into the countryside of LaVale. Thus, I have a lot of South End flowing through my veins. It was only natural that the very first mail route I got was No. 36. That was the designation for Virginia Avenue, and all points crossing it for a block to the east, and the Industrial Boulevard to the west. I ended up on Cresap Street, before heading back to the post office.

Upon getting married to Cheryl, my Coney girl, we rented an apartment from Skip and Dottie Squires, on the corner of First and Arch, and there we stayed until we needed another bedroom. I fondly remember lying in bed listening to the sounds of the railroad, and watching the walls light up with the airport beacon, as it spun around ... all ... night long.

Enough family history; by now you all know I have South End blood mixed in with my LaVale and West Virginia blood.

About the middle of September, I went to one of my favorite places to learn historical facts about this area, the barbershop of Don Martin, who has Hair Care located in the suicide triangle of Baltimore Street, Park Street and U.S. Route 40. Don was talking about a lot of old stuff, and we finally touched on “the Avenue.” He excused himself for a moment, and came back with a paper. He handed it to me along with the admonishment ... “I want this back when you’ve read it.”

I read it, and immediately decided it was worthy of sharing with the readership of this column. I don’t know who to give credit for accumulating all the information that was on those two pages, but thanks a bunch for going to all that trouble. I hope you don’t mind if I use a column’s worth of it. I promise, that I will not go off on the supernatural/alien tangent again, and that I will concentrate on the local historical stuff that’s always lurking where you would least expect it. Oh, Don also wanted me to mention a local musician that made the big-gig, but never really got much credit locally for his effort.

That local guitarist was none other than the late Joe Maphis, who passed away back in 1983. He was known back in the day as “The King of the Strings.” I am told that Joe, born in Suffolk, Va., was raised in South Cumberland, below the railroad. Here are a few precious tidbits about him: he played the guitar solo in the famous movie “High Noon” starring Gary Cooper. You know the theme song, “Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darling,” which was sung by the velvet voice of Tex Ritter.

Joe also did the initial theme of “Bonanza” the long-running television hit featuring the late Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, Michael Landon and Pernell Roberts, who is 81, and still kicking. That show took place on the 1,000-square-mile Pondorosa ranch in Nevada.

Joe got his musical roots growing while playing in a local group that was called The Maryland Railsplitters. Other members of that group were Tommy Green and Lou Kerns, who both still live in the area. Lou has sent me a bio on Joe, and also some recordings of the quickest fingers I have ever heard on a guitar. He played a double-neck Mosrite, which he made famous for its inventor, Semie Moseley. That guitar is now in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Joe outgrew Cumberland, and went big-time, with gigs in Richmond, and on to Nashville. He influenced many famous entertainers, including Barbara Mandrell, who he took on tour at age 11.

He played for the late Rick Nelson, Chet Atkins, Willie Nelson and Gene Autry, and there were far too many others for me to mention here. Unfortunately, Joe spent enough time in honky-tonks and nightclubs to pick up the bad habit of smoking, and it eventually cost him his life.

He died while traveling on the road, near Nashville, and some friends of his buried him in their own family plot. Those friends were June Carter and Johnny Cash. I guess you could say that Joe is still in the company of great musicians. His bronze plaque reads, “Still Pickin.’” You can still see and hear him play, if you try online. I am sure that there are a few albums of his still for sale on E-bay.

Joe Dorsey, a resident of Short Gap, W.Va., is a retired employee of the U.S. Postal Service. He writes occasional columns for the Times-News.