Jo Mapes Biography & Awards

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Artist Info

Biography

A vivacious folksinger who was part of the 1950s folk revival, Jo Mapes lived in Los Angeles for part of her early life and career. While still in junior high school, Mapes' fluid alto influenced a young, classically trained classmate named Odetta Holmes, now better known as Odetta. Following high-school graduation, both women began singing folk songs exclusively. Mapes' repertory included "The Cuckoo," "When I Was a Young Girl," "Candy Man," "Tell Ol' Bill," and "My Children Are Laughing Behind My Back." Mapes got to record sides for Kapp Records as part of that company's approach to the folk song boom, and was an influence on Mary Travers. She appeared on one of Dennis James' televised talent shows and she later appeared at the Gate of Horn in Chicago on the same bill with Theodore Bikel and Odetta. She performed her farewell concert at Carnegie Hall. Mapes may have retired from performing, but she remained active as a single mother, copywriter, producer, and jingle writer, and entertainment critic, celebrity interviewer, columnist, and features writer for the Chicago Sun-Times. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide