Otis Wilson (Joe) Maphis was born May 12, 1921 in Suffolk, VA. He and wife, Rose Lee Maphis during the 1950s and 1960s was ranked as one of show business' most successful husband - and - wife duos, due largely to Joe's distinctive, highly influential brand of guitar picking. His wife, Rose, was born December 29, 1922 in Baltimore, MD. Both became active in music at a young age: after playing guitar in a group with his family's group, The Railsplitters