Joe Maphis

He played across Virginia until he became a regular featured performer on the "Old Dominion Barn Dance," broadcast live on radio WRVA-AM and aired in 38 states.

[2] During this period Maphis met many country music stars of the day who played the same circuit, including Merle Travis.

Maphis' recording career took off in 1951 when he was invited to Los Angeles by Merle Travis and country music entertainer Johnny Bond.

He made two LPs with Travis, recorded for countless country and pop stars and worked on many themes for television programs and movie soundtracks.

[4] "Dim Lights" has become a honky-tonk standard with numerous artists recording versions of the tune including Flatt and Scruggs, Vern Gosdin, Daryle Singletary and Dwight Yoakam.

He played on Ricky Nelson's first Imperial Records hits "Stood Up (song)", "Waitin In School", and "Be-Bop Baby before James Burton assumed lead guitar duties.

Maphis was a band member and featured soloist on the Town Hall Party radio (and later television) program broadcast throughout the 1950s.

The duo performed on the PBS television broadcast "Austin City Limits," in 1984 as part of the programs, "Legends Series."