Today I got to hang out with Joanie Marshall, the “Cheektowaga Cowgirl,” and interview her for my upcoming podcast/YouTube channel. Joanie is pretty famous in vintage guitar circles. She bought a custom Gibson doubleneck in 1960 with a guitar neck and a five-string banjo neck (with quite possibly the only two five-pole PAF humbuckers Gibson ever made).
However, Joanie’s history goes much deeper. She was married to Ramblin’ Lou Schriver, a country singing legend in his own right (and a member of the Disc Jockey Hall of Fame). Together they had a family band that promoted shows and backed up just about everybody who toured in the area. Stories abounded—Joanie met just about every famous country guitarist who ever lived, and once performed in front of her hero, Chet Atkins. She was a trained musician who read music, so she performed with Eddy Arnold and the Buffalo Symphony Orchestra on multiple occasions. There were hundreds of stories, more than I can print here.
The family band extended through the years to include kids and grandkids, and we also met Joanie’s son and daughter, Lou and Linda, who have been playing drums and bass, respectively, in the family band since they were little kids.
Ramblin’ Lou purchased a polka AM radio station in 1970, and the family still runs it today, WXRL radio, playing a classic country format on AM/FM and streaming simulcast. We went by the station and saw even more great old photos and radio station equipment and guitars. Of course, I was in hog heaven!
Look for the interview with Joanie when I get it edited, she was a great interview with lots of amazing stories about country music and guitar history!
Thanks to Johnny Cola for hooking me up with Joanie and Lou; I’m so happy I was able to stay over an extra day and meet these great people!
See many more photos at Deke’s original Facebook post!
