Johnny Maddox was a ragtime piano player who was among the first to record with the new Dot Record Company. He made a couple of records with J.O. Templeton playing rhythm bones. The first was Dot 1005, St. Louis Tickle/Crazy Bone Rag, recorded May 19, 1950, and the second was Dot 1023, Memphis Blues/Alabama Jubilee.
In a letter, here is how Johnny remembers him. “J. O. (Jacques O’Donnell ) Templeton was a drummer on my early Dot records. Jerry and I started working together in 1939. I was twelve years old. Temp had played with an earlier orchestra, The Blue Grass Serenaders, 1924—1930. He played ivory bones and also ebony bones. He was so good at doing this. He has been dead so many years ago. Francis Craig, of Near You fame, also was a bones player. In fact he wanted to do a record with me. Never came to pass. These are the only two that I can think of at the moment.” Yours Truly, John Maddox
In the 1920s, Templeton toured with a big name band, but did not like the road returning to Gallatin. He formed a band for the WSM radio program, The Blue Grass Serenade, and called the band, The Blue Grass Serenaders, one of the first bands that performed on the WSM station.
His son, Joe, does not know where his father learned to play the bones, but he was interested in rhythm his whole life. In 1946, he organized a minstrel show for the local Lion’s Club, and played a rhythm bones number in the show.
JO that is Jacques O’Donnell Templeton. His band that recorded was the Rhythmasters.