Comments on: 100 Greatest Women, #31: Rose Maddox

By: Chad

Chad — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 01:32:26 +0000

Thanks for this write-up. As someone who is very “into” country music (for all of my life), I’m embarrassed that I’ve never even heard of Rose.

I’m loving this list

By: Paul W Dennis

Paul W Dennis — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 03:02:53 +0000

I do think that Barbara Mandrell will get into the CMHOF shortly, perhaps even before Reba. I also think one of the pre-80s stars will also get elected and I would suspect that Jean Shepard would be the one from this grouping.

The genre was so thoroughly dominated by male singers for so long that the imbalance won’t be corrected soon, and actually it shouldn’t be, at least for the pre-1980 period. Since then yes but there simply weren’t that many women in the 40s, 50s and 60s having hits compared to their male counterparts, and even the 70s are transitional.

There was also a bias against the west coast – while Buck, Sonny, Merle, Merle, Ernie and Cliffie all made the CMHOF, in most cases it was on a somewhat delayed basis. Wynn Stewart and Tommy Collins aren’t there yet, and I can make a really good case for the Maddox Brothers and Rose and for Cousin Herb Henson

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 01:26:50 +0000

Rick,

The author is embarrassed that he wrote understated instead of overstated, especially since he is an English teacher. The error has been fixed. Thanks!

I think that since it’s a countdown, you can at least be happy that you had to wait so long! Though I suspect you were concerned she wouldn’t be on the list at all, given that Patsy Montana, Jean Shepard and Dale Evans already appeared!

CCF,

The CMT lists were by ballot, resulting in some odd placements. I remember watching the women’s list and going, “Seriously?” But hey, a lot of readers are saying the same thing reading my list, so I shouldn’t throw stones!

By: ccf

ccf — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 01:17:03 +0000

Their placement of Jimmie Rodgers and Lefty Frizzell on the men’s list were in the 30. If not for them Merle Haggard would have not been and all the ones that Hag influenced.

By: Rick

Rick — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 01:16:21 +0000

Finally Rose appears on this list! Its about time. (lol) I think the author meant to say “The importance of her contributions to country music cannot be “overstated”, and it is something of a travesty that Maddox Brothers & Rose are not in the Country Music Hall of Fame.” Without Rose and her brothers there is a good chance that what came to be known as the “Bakersfield Sound” may never have materialized in the form it did. The initial seed had to be planted for that music style and scene to grow, and I say The Maddox Brothers and Rose were that seed and Rose is the one that nutured it to fruition. Thank you so much for giving Rose the recognition she deserves by including her in this list.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 01:04:14 +0000

I should add that I agree with you that being popular before TV is a big deal. When CMT did this list in 2002, the newer stars were way too high, in my opinion. Rose wasn’t even on their list. Patsy Montana was. But I see Rose Maddox as more groundbreaking and influential than Patsy Montana, even though Montana had the bigger hit(s). Maddox created a defiant female country persona that still meets resistance today. That she pulled it off in the forties and fifties is nothing short of astounding.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:57:32 +0000

It’s just hard for women to get in the Hall of Fame to begin with. There are only eight female recording artists in there, despite the Hall being around for forty years: Patsy C. , Kitty, Loretta, Brenda, Patsy M., Tammy, Dolly, Emmylou. That’s it.

Mark my words, the only woman who will go in in the next few years will be Reba McEntire. Maybe the Judds, too, but that’s it. Forget Rose Maddox, Connie Smith, Jean Shepard and the like. We’ve got to get the male stars from the eighties in instead.

By: ccf

ccf — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:48:49 +0000

yea sites were everyone agree is BORING :D
I guess I feel any artist who was successful back before the power of TV and the power of a great lable promotion was around made it on their own had it tougher than the artists of today.

Like Patsy Montana selling a million copies when money was so tight and hard to come by.

I agree it’s a travesty that they aren’t in the hall of fame. as it is that Jean Shepard isn’t I guess she is to vocal :D

By: Paul W Dennis

Paul W Dennis — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:44:35 +0000

Rose Maddox was truly one of the greats. I’m not old enough to have caught the Maddox Brothers and Rose act, but I did see her a few times as a solo act .
There isn’t a lot of her material around especially of her solo work, but the British PROPER label has available a good introductory set of rhe Maddox Brothers and Rose. If you look around (and you definitely should) you can find some of her solo work

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:40:30 +0000

I took no offense at all to your comment. I actually welcome it. What I’d welcome even more is expansion of why an artist like Maddox is important in the comment thread. All the readers would benefit from it. One of the reasons I did this list in the first place is so trailblazers like her could get some acknowledgment for their contributions.

Like I wrote in the post, it’s a travesty that Maddox Brothers & Rose aren’t in the Hall of Fame. I’ve done some research into the act, and have all of their recordings available digitally, but my knowledge is still limited. I would love to hear your thoughts on why Maddox (and others) are so significant. I’m sure I missed some key information and recordings in my post.