Roger Miller was the most unlikely of country music superstars. Although he led the sort of extreme wild-man existence that no grandmother could ever comprehend, he somehow was able to charm the pants off the entire nation with his immense wit and original song style.

One thing can’t be denied: the guitar is the vital heartbeat of the music. The music known as rockabilly would never have its spark without the youthful energy of the teenage singer; but it wouldn’t have its foundation or power without the lead guitar man behind him.

They were loved by Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Elvis Presley; it would be hard to come up with a musical group more influential than the Maddox Brothers and Rose in the bawdy birthing of rock and roll music in the 1950s.