The Bowling Green music community lost one of its most influential members with the passing of Joe Marshall on November 3, 2010.  Marshall was known best as the leader of Joe Marshall and his Rovin Ramblers and the owner of The Quonset, a club that featured some of the world’s best known artists and played a significant role in the integration of the community in the 40’s and 50’s.

Marshall formed the Rovin Ramblers in 1940 and the group continued until his death.  They were featured regulars on Bowling Green’s first radio station as well as the first television station.  In 2001 they celebrated their 60th anniversary performing at Concerts in the Park.

Joe Marshall opened The Quonset with his brother Kenny and bandmate Floyd Dunn in 1946 as a venue for the Rovin Ramblers to perform and hold dances.  He soon began booking other country acts from Bill Monroe to the Oakridge Quartet (later the Oakridge Boys).  He also rented the facility to other groups.  It became a worship center for local Mormons on Sunday.  Soon, a promoter named Upton Roundtree began bringing in acts from the “Chitlin Circuit” which included artists like Fats Domino, Ike & Tina Turner, James Brown, Chuck Berry and many more.

The groups played the venue between bigger gigs at a reduced rate, thereby giving local artists such as saxophonist Robert Phillips a chance to serve as band members for legends like Ray Charles and break into the national music scene.

While whites and blacks had separate entrances and seating sections it wasn’t long before the high quality entertainment had them dancing in front of the bands together and The Rovin Ramblers began to play with the House Rockers, forming the first integrated band in the region.

Marshall also became a wrestling promoter, holding regular bouts refereed by guests like Jack Dempsey and Sunset Carson.

Joe Marshall and his Rovin Ramblers took to the road with their mascot Jerry The Bear and western film star Sunset Carson to perform music and sharp shooting at theaters national wide.

With his wife Virginia and her brother, Marshall began publishing a local interest magazine called The Vine in the 70’s which ran for nine years.  In 2000 he released a book, Just Ramblin Back Home, which contained entries from his column Ramblin with Joe Marshall.

Marshall played an active role in his community to the end.  He was a member of the Salvation Army Board of Directors for more than two decades and organized an annual Old Time Fiddling Contest as a fundraiser for them for several years.

He also served as MC/host for the Bowling Green International Festival from 2004 – 2010, performing and telling his humorous depression era tales between acts. 

For more information about Joe Marshall visit the links in his Amplifier Artist Directory listing.