The "doctor of guitars," as he called himself, played with Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, Red Simpson, Tex Ritter and many others. He also wrote surf-rock instrumentals for The Ventures. He was the quality control man for Bakersfield-based Mosrite, which manufactured guitars for several country music stars of the late 1960s, and over the last 30 years he operated a guitar repair shop that traded on his nickname. "He was the most highly thought-of musician in Bakersfield," said Sandy Holly, a Bakersfield singer who fronted bands that often featured Moles. "People loved him."
Denver Eugene Moles Sr., the sixth of seven children, was born in June 1928 in Wetumka, Okla., 16 miles from Henryetta. His family moved to Selma, just south of Fresno, in 1936. He got his first guitar seven years later at age 15.
Moles got his first nightclub job in 1946 at Paris Gardens in Selma, where he made $3 a night working for a matronly boss he knew only as Texas Mom. He moved to Bakersfield in September 1949 to play in Tex Butler's band at the Blackboard, alongside pianist George French, for $10 a night.
"The Jimmy Thomason Show" made him a regional TV celebrity in 1953, and also earned him a solid reputation as a musician. In 1959 that reputation got him into Capitol Records' Hollywood studios, where he helped Owens cut "Sweet Thing" and other tracks.
In 1961 he met Nokie Edwards of The Ventures, and the two co-wrote three songs eventually recorded by the surf-sound legends: "Sunny River," "Night Run" and "Scratch." He and Edwards, performing as the Marksmen, cranked out "Scratch" one Saturday on "American Bandstand."
The Ventures were one of several prominent acts using Mosrites, which were built in a small plant near where Centennial Garden stands today. Moles worked the assembly line as chief inspector, plucking the first notes on guitars that ended up in the hands of people like Barbara Mandrell, Little Jimmy Dickens and Joe Maphis. After Mosrite went out of business in 1969, Moles opened a guitar-repair shop known as Gene Moles/Doctor of Guitars. The store settled on Niles Street in 1991.
Moles is survived by his wife of 46 years, Joan Moles, and four children: daughters Cathy Sheer and Marisa Blomberg, and sons Eugene Jr. and Jody. Both sons are guitarists: Eugene, who has played at the Grand Ole Opry and on "Hee Haw," lives in Nashville.
Aloha and thank you for including us in your circle of friends. Please accept our respects and a heartfelt "mahalo" to you. ~ Namaste Sweet Soul. Wishing you well, Annette, Bia & Dee LaBorte
Thanks for adding me. I have a lot of respect for Gene Moles, and am a huge fan of Eugene Moles, Jr. He has got to be the best guitar picker in Nashville. Much love and respect, Daryl Dasher
Thanks for the add. I love Eugene, he is so awesome on the quitar. I've heard so much about his daddy and the Bakersfield musicans. I wish I could have been there then. People just aren't the same. love ya,
Hey Sweetie, my daughter and grandkids will be here(Fresno) the last part of May also(coming down from Alaska). Maybe we can arrange to see you in Bakersfield? My granddaughter and grandkids;Netta is learning the guitar and I also would like to take them to the museum to see Uncle Gene's guitar. Love you, Sweetie. Cousin Renny
Hi Gene: just a note to send my blessings, let you know this '70's "tobaccoburst" GMCustom is my most very favorite best friend, thank you for 30+ years of "classic" resto/repair on my axes and also, my Mom thanks you for "Snuff~Dippin' Baby".
Hi, Eugene. I hope things are well with you. It's been in the nineties in Redding when it is usually well over one hundred so we are looking forward to camping and walks. I love when the fall season comes, it's beautiful here. TTYL, Terry
