Real name: Joseph Emmett Mainer

Effective period / Period of releases: 1961 - 1971

North Carolina fiddler and bluegrass bandleader. Born 20 July 1898, near Weaverville, NC; died 12 June 1971
Father of Carolyn Mainer Wilson, J.E. Mainer Jr. and Glenn Mainer and older brother of Wade Mainer.
The Mainers came from a North Carolina mountain family that resided several miles from Asheville before moving near Weaverville, NC.

Besides being a fiddler, J. E. was a singer, and played Clawhammer Banjo & Jew’s Harp

The two Mainers, Daddy John Love and Zeke Morris constituted the Mountaineers at the time of their first Bluebird session at Atlanta 6 August 1935.
These recordings resulted in 14 fine numbers, but by far the hit of the day was the Mainer rendition of "Maple on the Hill", a Victorian sentimental song to which they put a new tune.
J.E. fiddled prominently on that particular piece while Wade and Zeke sang a duet.

He stayed active in music until his death in 1971, as he prepared to leave home for a festival appearance in Culpepper, Virginia.