J. E. Mainer (July 20, 1898 – June 12, 1971)[1] was an American old time fiddler who followed in the wake of Gid Tanner and his Skillet Lickers.
Joseph Emmett Mainer[1] grew up on a farm in the mountains near Weaverville, North Carolina, United States,[1] and learned to play the banjo and fiddle from an early age.
Mainer's fame as a fiddler rose and sponsored by the Crazy Water Crystals in 1933, he and his newly formed band consisting of J. E. on fiddle, Wade Mainer on banjo, and Zeke Morris on guitar, made their radio debut on WBT in Charlotte, North Carolina, calling themselves J.E.
In the meantime, Ollie Bunn, Howard Bumgardner and Clarence Todd replaced Wade, Zeke and "Daddy" John Love on the next recording session.
Shortly, a new change of personnel occurred when Leonard "Lester" Stokes and George Morris became members of "the mountaineers" calling themselves "Handsome and Sambo".