J. E. Mainer
# J. E. Mainer

J. E. Mainer (July 20, 1898 – June 12, 1971) was an American old time fiddler who followed in the wake of Gid Tanner and his Skillet Lickers.

## Biography

Joseph Emmett Mainer grew up on a farm in the mountains near Weaverville, North Carolina, United States, and learned to play the banjo and fiddle from an early age. Since Wade, his brother, also was interested in learning to play the banjo, he left that to Wade and concentrated on the fiddle. Soon, Mainer began performing at local country barn dances. He found work at a textile mill in Knoxville, Tennessee, but moved to Concord, North Carolina in 1922 for another work in a mill.

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. Mainer and his Crazy Mountaineers. The band appeared on several radio stations in the following years until 1935, when they received a recording contract. In August the same year, the Mountaineers, with the addition of "Daddy" John Love, recorded for Bluebird Records. Wade Mainer and Zeke Morris temporarily left the band in the early 1936 to form a duo. In the meantime, Ollie Bunn, Howard Bumgardner and Clarence Todd replaced Wade, Zeke and "Daddy" John Love on the next recording session. In the summer of 1936, Wade and Zeke returned to record with "the mountaineers". The next year, in 1937, Wade Mainer formed the "Sons of the Mountaineers". Shortly, a new change of personnel occurred when Leonard "Lester" Stokes and George Morris became members of "the mountaineers" calling themselves "Handsome and Sambo". They added Snuffy Jenkins on banjo on the following recording session. In late 1938, Stokes and Morris were once more replaced by Clyde Moody and Jay Hugh Hall. The band continued to perform on radio stations in both North and South Carolina.

The Mountaineers disbanded at the outbreak of World War II, but Mainer continued to record in the late 1940s, together with his sons, Glenn and Curly, for King Records. Between 1967 and 1971, the year of his death, literally hundreds of post-war recordings were released on Rural Rhythm Records.

Mainer was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame on October 11, 2012.

## Original discography

### J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers

| Matrix | Title | Record # | Recording date | Notes |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 94328 | "Ship's Sailing Now" | Bluebird 6088 | August 6, 1935 | |
| 94329 | "This World Is Not My Home" | Bluebird 6088 | August 6, 1935 | |
| 94330 | "Maple On the Hill" | Bluebird 6065 | August 6, 1935 | |
| 94331 | "Take Me In the Lifeboat" | Bluebird 6065 | August 6, 1935 | |
| 94332 | "Seven and a Half" | Bluebird 6792 | August 6, 1935 | |
| 94333 | "New Curly Headed Baby" | Bluebird 6104 | August 6, 1935 | |
| 94336 | "Broken Hearted Blues" | Bluebird 6090 | August 6, 1935 | |
| 94337 | "Greenback Dollar" | Bluebird 6090 | August 6, 1935 | |
| 94338 | "Let Her Go God Bless Her" | Bluebird 6104 | August 6, 1935 | |
| 94339 | "City On the Hill" | Bluebird 6160 | August 6, 1935 | |
| 94340 | "The Longest Train" | Bluebird 6222 | August 6, 1935 | |
| 94341 | "Write a Letter To Mother" | Bluebird 6194 | August 6, 1935 | |
| 94342 | "Lights In the Valley" | Bluebird 6160 | August 6, 1935 | |
| 94343 | "Searching For a Pair of Blue Eyes" | Bluebird 6194 | August 6, 1935 | |
| 99106 | "My Wife Went Away and Left Me" | Bluebird 6294 | February 14, 1936 | |
| 99107 | "Railroad Blues" | Bluebird 6624 | February 14, 1936 | |
| 99109 | "Over the Hills In Carolina" | Bluebird 6675 | February 14, 1936 | |
| 99110 | "Budded Roses" | Bluebird 6675 | February 14, 1936 | |
| 99111 | "What Makes Him Do It" | Bluebird 6624 | February 14, 1936 | |
| 99112 | "My Little Red Ford" | Bluebird 6294 | February 14, 1936 | |
| 99113 | "Goin' Back West In the Fall" | Bluebird 6440 | February 14, 1936 | |
| 99114 | "New Lost Train Blues" | Bluebird 6424 | February 14, 1936 | |
| 99115 | "Number 111" | Bluebird 6424 | February 14, 1936 | |
| 99116 | "I Am Walking In the Light" | Bluebird 6385 | February 14, 1936 | |
| 99117 | "Don't Cause Mother's Hair To Turn Grey" | Bluebird 6324 | February 14, 1936 | |
| 99118 | "When I Reach My Home Eternal" | Bluebird 6385 | February 14, 1936 | |
| 99119 | "Fatal Wreck of the Bus" | Bluebird 6290 | February 14, 1936 | |
| 99120 | "Behind the Parlor Door" | Bluebird 6440 | February 14, 1936 | |
| 99121 | "Satisfied" | Bluebird 6324 | February 14, 1936 | |
| 99122 | "One To Love Me" | Bluebird 6290 | February 14, 1936 | |
| 99138 | "Maple On the Hill, Part 2" | Bluebird 6293 | February 15, 1936 | |
| 99139 | "Going To Georgia" | Bluebird 6423 | February 15, 1936 | |
| 99140 | "Nobody's Darling But Mine" | Bluebird 6423 | February 15, 1936 | |
| 102600 | "On a Cold Winter Night" | Bluebird 6629 | June 15, 1936 | |
| 102601 | "John Henry Was a Little Boy" | Bluebird 6629 | June 15, 1936 | |
| 102602 | "The Old and Faded Picture" | Bluebird 6479 | June 15, 1936 | |
| 102603 | "Take Me Home To the Sweet Sunny South" | Bluebird 6479 | June 15, 1936 | |
| 102604 | "Walk That Lonesome Valley" | Bluebird 6596 | June 15, 1936 | |
| 102605 | "Got a Home In that Rock" | Bluebird 6539 | June 15, 1936 | |
| 102606 | "Johnson's Old Grey Mule" | Bluebird 6584 | June 15, 1936 | |
| 102607 | "Won't Be Worried Long" | Bluebird 6738 | June 15, 1936 | |
| 102608 | "Going Down the River of Jordan" | Bluebird 6539 | June 15, 1936 | |
| 102609 | "Why Do You Bob Your Hair Girls" | Bluebird 6792 | June 15, 1936 | |
| 102610 | "Down Among the Budded Roses" | Bb unissued | June 15, 1936 | |
| 102611 | "Watermelon On the Vine" | Bluebird 6584 | June 15, 1936 | |
| 2530 | "They Said My Lord Was a Devil" | Bluebird 6653 | October 1936 | |
| 2533 | "Just One Way To the Pearly Gates" | Bluebird 6784 | October 1936 | |
| 2534 | "Dear Daddy You're Gone" | Bluebird 6752 | October 1936 | |
| 2537 | "Cowboy's Pony In Heaven" | Bluebird 6653 | October 1936 | |
| 11815 | "I'm Not Turning Backward" | Bluebird 7165 | August 2, 1937 | |
| 11818 | "Mountain Sweetheart" | Bluebird 7587 | August 2, 1937 | |
| 11819 | "Don't Forget Me Lil Darlin'" | Bluebird 7587 | August 2, 1937 | |
| 11987 | "We Can't Be Darlings Anymore" | Bluebird 7151 | August 5, 1937 | |
| 11988 | "Tell Mother I'll Meet Her" | Bluebird 7222 | August 5, 1937 | |
| 11989 | "In a Little Village Church Yard" | Bluebird 7222 | August 5, 1937 | |
| 11990 | "Carry Your Cross With a Smile" | Bluebird 7523 | August 5, 1937 | |
| 11991 | "Swing the Door of Your Heart Open Wide" | Bluebird 7401 | August 5, 1937 | Leonard Stokes/George Morris |
| 11992 | "Answer To Greenback Dollar" | Bluebird 7151 | August 5, 1937 | |
| 11993 | "There's A Green Hill Far Away" | Bluebird 7401 | August 5, 1937 | |
| 11995 | "Floating Down the Stream of Time" | Bluebird 7523 | August 5, 1937 | |
| 11996 | "Don't Go Out" | Bluebird 7349 | August 5, 1937 | |
| 11997 | "Don't Get Trouble In Your Mind" | Bluebird 7289 | August 5, 1937 | |
| 11998 | "Kiss Me Cindy" | Bluebird 7289 | August 5, 1937 | |
| 18763 | "Lonely Tomb" | Bluebird 7424 | January 27, 1938 | |
| 18765 | "All My Friends" | Bluebird 7424 | January 27, 1938 | |
| 18767 | "Don't Get Too Deep In Love" | Bluebird 7483 | January 27, 1938 | |
| 18768 | "Don't Leave Me Alone" | Bluebird 7561 | January 27, 1938 | |
| 18769 | "I Won't Be Worried" | Bluebird 7561 | January 27, 1938 | |
| 18770 | "Where Romance Calls" | Bluebird 7753 | January 27, 1938 | |
| 18771 | "Another Alabama Camp Meeting" | Bluebird 7753 | January 27, 1938 | |
| 26981 | "Farther Along" | Bluebird 8023 | September 1938 | |
| 26982 | "Dear Loving Mother and Dad" | Bluebird 8152 | September 1938 | |
| 26983 | "Can't Tell About These Women" | Bluebird 7965 | September 1938 | |
| 26985 | "If I Had Listened To Mother" | Bluebird 8137 | September 1938 | |
| 26986 | "She Is Spreading Her Wings For a Journey" | Bluebird 8023 | September 1938 | |
| 26997 | "Mother Still Prays For You" | Bluebird 8137 | September 1938 | |
| 27702 | "More Good Women Gone Wrong" | Bluebird 7965 | September 1938 | |
| 32625 | "Sparkling Blue Eyes" | Bluebird 8042 | February 1939 | |
| 32626 | "We Will Miss Him" | Bluebird 8042 | February 1939 | |
| 32627 | "I Left My Home In the Mountains" | Bluebird 8091 | February 1939 | |
| 32628 | "I Met Her At a Ball One Night" | Bluebird 8091 | February 1939 | |
| 32629 | "You May Forsake Me" | Bluebird 8120 | February 1939 | |
| 32630 | "Look On and Cry" | Bluebird 8120 | February 1939 | |
| 32631 | "One Little Kiss" | Bluebird 8145 | February 1939 | |
| 32632 | "Mama Don't Make Me Go To Bed" | Bluebird 8145 | February 1939 | |
| 32635 | "Drunkard's Hiccoughs" | Bluebird 8400 | February 4, 1939 | |
| 32636 | "Country Blues" | Bluebird 8187 | February 4, 1939 | |
| 32637 | "I'm A Poor Pilgrim" | Montgomery W. 7880 | February 4, 1939 | |
| 32638 | "Concord Rag" | Bluebird 8187 | February 4, 1939 | |
| ? | "Crying Holy" | Bluebird 8203 | 1939 | |
| ? | "Heaven's Bells Are Ringing" | Bluebird 8203 | | |

### Daddy John Love

| Matrix | Title | Record # | Recording date |
| - | - | - | - |
| 102725 | "I Am Dreaming of Mother" | Bluebird 6583 | June 20, 1936 |
| 102726 | "Cotton Mill Blues" | Bluebird 6491 | June 20, 1936 |
| 102727 | "Blue Days" | Bluebird 6583 | June 20, 1936 |
| 102728 | "There's No Place Like Home" | Bluebird 6491 | June 20, 1936 |
| 102729 | "Homeless Child" | Bluebird 8199 | June 20, 1936 |
| 102730 | "Where Is My Mama" | Bluebird 8199 | June 20, 1936 |

### Leonard Stokes/George Morris

| Matrix | Title | Record # | Recording date |
| - | - | - | - |
| 18600 | "Your Best Friend Is Always Near" | Bluebird 7586 | January 23, 1938 |
| 18601 | "Lamp Lighting Time In Heaven" | Bluebird 7412 | January 23, 1938 |
| 18602 | "When the Light's Gone Out In Your Soul" | Bluebird 7586 | January 23, 1938 |
| 18603 | "Once I Loved a Young Man" | Bluebird 7659 | January 23, 1938 |
| 18604 | "Somebody Cares" | Bluebird 7659 | January 23, 1938 |
| 18605 | "I'm Living the Right Life Now" | Bluebird 7412 | January 23, 1938 |
| 18606 | "Just Over In the Glory Land" | Bluebird 7730 | January 23, 1938 |
| 18607 | "I'm In the Glory Land Way" | Bluebird 7730 | January 23, 1938 |
| 18608 | "If I Lose Let Me Lose" | Bluebird 7471 | January 23, 1938 |
| 18609 | "Great Reaping Day" | Bluebird 7958 | January 23, 1938 |
| 18610 | "Oh Why Did I Ever Get Married" | Bluebird 7471 | January 23, 1938 |
| 18611 | "Back To Johnson City" | Bluebird 7845 | January 23, 1938 |

## Album discography

| Album Title | Record Label | Record # | Release Year |
| - | - | - | - |
| "Good Ole Mountain Music" | King Records | 666 | 1958 |
| "The Legendary Family From The Blue Ridge Mountains" | Arhoolie Records | F-5002 | 1963 |
| "The Legendary J.E. Mainer & The Mountaineers: Old Time Mountain Music" | Rural Rhythm | RRJEM-185 | 1967 |
| "The Legendary J.E. Mainer & The Mountaineers: More Old Time Mountain Music | Rural Rhythm Records | RRJEM-191 | 1967 |
| "Happy 70th Birthday" | Blue Jay Records | A-101 | 1968 |
| "The Legendary J.E. Mainer Volume 3: with Red Smiley & His Blue Grass Cut-Ups" | Rural Rhythm Records | RRJEM-198 | 1968 |
| "The Legendary J.E. Mainer Volume 4" | Rural Rhythm Records | RRJEM-208 | 1968 |
| "The Legendary J.E. Mainer Volume 5" | Rural Rhythm Records | RRJEM-215 | 1968 |
| "J.E. Mainer's Crazy Mountaineers Volume 1" | Old Timey Records | OT-106 | 1969 |
| "J.E. Mainer's Crazy Mountaineers Volume 2" | Old-Timey Records | OT-107 | 1969 |
| "The Legendary J.E. Mainer Volume 6: Fiddling With His Girl Susan | Rural Rhythm Records | RRJEM-222 | 1969 |
| "The Legendary J.E. Mainer Volume 7: Whittlin', Fiddlin', and....." | Rural Rhythm Records | RRJEM-225 | 1969 |
| "The Legendary J.E. Mainer Volume 8" | Rural Rhythm Records | RRJEM-227 | 1970 |
| "The Legendary J.E. Mainer Volume 9" | Rural Rhythm Records | RRJEM-228 | 1970 |
| "The Legendary J.E. Mainer Volume 10: The Good Old Rebel" | Rural Rhythm Records | RRJEM-229 | 1970 |
| "The Legendary J.E. Mainer Volume 11" | Rural Rhythm Records | RRJEM-230 | 1970 |
| "The Legendary J.E. Mainer Volume 12" | Rural Rhythm Records | RRJEM-231 | 1970 |
| "The Legendary J.E. Mainer Volume 13" | Rural Rhythm Records | RRJEM-234 | 1970 |
| "The Legendary J.E. Mainer Volume 14" | Rural Rhythm Records | RRJEM-240 | 1971 |
| "The Legendary J.E. Mainer Volume 15: with Morris Herbert" | Rural Rhythm Records | RRJEM-241 | 1971 |
| "The Legendary J.E. Mainer Volume 16" | Rural Rhythm Records | RRJEM-246 | 1972 |
| "The Legendary J.E. Mainer Volume 17: With Morris Herbert" | Rural Rhythm Records | RRJEM-247 | 1972 |
| "The Gospel Music of the Legendary J.E. Mainer - Volume 18" | Rural Rhythm Records | RRJEM-248 | 1972 |
| "The Fiddle Music of the Legendary J.E. Mainer - Volume 19" | Rural Rhythm Records | RRJEM-249 | 1972 |
| "The Fiddle Music of the Legendary J.E. Mainer - Volume 20" | Rural Rhythm Records | RRJEM-250 | 1972 |
| "Precious Memories (with E.P. Williams)" | Blue Jay Records | LPA-102 | 1982 |
| "J.E. Mainer at home with Family & Friends" | Old Homestead Records | OHCS-146 | 1983 |
