Con Maffie

Con Maffie (September 9, 1903 – July 22, 1977) was an American organist who was most successful on radio.

Early life Cornelius Michael Maffie was born on September 9, 1903, in St. Louis, Missouri. His mother and her family were highly musical; she was a harpist, and six of his uncles played in symphony orchestras. In 1937 he spent several months as the organist at the Loews Theater in Rochester, New York. After his mother died, he moved to Palm Springs, California, and he was soon asked to be organist for his church there. He then added services for Catholic and Scientist congregations and began an active role in teaching. A friend who owned a music store then asked him to create a radio program with his store as sponsor, so in 1958 he began a radio show over station KCMJ in Palm Springs, which was broadcast from his house on a Hammond organ.

He moved with his family to Phoenix in 1969, stayed for three years, then moved to La Jolla, California. In the 1970s he would spend several months a year in Honolulu giving organ concerts. He suffered his first heart attack in 1974 while at a church conference at the Asilomar Conference Grounds. He died of a heart attack on July 22, 1977.

Performance style Jesse Crawford considered him "one of the greatest ballad organists". Maffie also composed music, including the theme for House Party.

Family His first wife was his high school sweetheart, Eleanor. They had one son, Con Jr. He had two sons, Michael and James, with his second wife Elaine.