Berthy Woodruff

Berthy Amburgey (Berthy Woodruff Garcia aka. Minnie) was the eldest of six children born near Neon, Kentucky and reared during the darkest days of the depression era. Nonetheless, Berthy would become one of the best fiddlers of her day appearing on radio, television, barn dances and hayrides across the country; even, on some of the earliest televised editions of the Grand Ole Opry.

Yet, if you ask Berthy today what accomplishment she would want to be remembered for, she will tell you, "I wanted to be the best wife and mother that I could possible be, and by God's help, I have lived that dream." Love of life and family is never far from Berthy's presence or conversation.

Berthy's earliest memories in life were of her grandfather, Richard; father, Robert; and two uncles singing together in a quartet. Before long Berthy wanted to "pick" and sing like the rest of her family.

The fiddle was Berthy's favorite instrument, but she could play the Bass, Guitar, and Mandolin equally as impressive. Her first fiddle was bought with 8 chickens from a pawn shop in Neon. Berthy, as her sisters, learned to play by ear with no training. "It was just natural," says Berthy. Ironically, one month to the day from getting her first fiddle, she would win a championship fiddling contest playing "Cackling Hens!"

Beginning in 1936, Berthy would play and do harmony with her sisters in The Sunshine Sister band. The very first all-sister female band in the country. For the next several years, the trio would have daily radio shows on WLAP in Lexington, KY; WHIS in Bluefield, WV; appear on the Renfro Valley Barn Dance; become members of the Coon Creek Girls; start as original cast members of the WSB Barn Dance in Atlanta, GA.

In 1940, John Lair would change the Sunshine Sisters name to, "Minnie, Mattie, and Marthy," as they began work in Atlanta. To this day, Berthy will answer and use the name "Minnie." Her sister Irene would keep the name, "Martha", and Jean would use, "Mattie" while singing at the Grand Ole Opry during the 50's. Concerning John Lair, Berthy would say, "He was one of the greatest men that ever lived."

In 1941 while in Atlanta, Berthy would marry Charles Woodruff and move to Cincinnati, Ohio where she worked as a fiddler on the Saturday night barn dance and the Midwestern Hayride broadcast over WKRC Radio and T.V.

Berthy would reunite with her sisters in 1951 to do a recording session for sister, Martha Carson. This recording session would be a musical milestone in history as "Satisfied" was cut. Berthy would play with sister Jean, Bill Carlisle, and Chet Atkins.

Also during that time, the three would record for the King label under the name, The Sunshine Sisters and record one of Berthy's songs: "You can't live with 'em and you can't live without 'em....what are us poor girls gonna do......" One of this authors favorite songs.

Listen to "You Can't Live With 'Em"

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Bill Carlisle would ask Minnie to sing of some of his biggest hits, "Too Old To Cut The Mustard", "No Help Wanted" and "Is Zat You Myrtle?" "Bill promised to buy me a new dress if his record was a success," says Minnie, "His record was a big success, but I still haven't got my dress."

Fred Rose, Acuff and Rose publishing , was so impressed with Minnie's voice that he asked, even begged, Minnie to do just one record, but Minnie refused. "I did not want to be in the center of the stage," says Minnie. "I just wanted to be an ordinary person, a good wife and a good mother."

Minnie would appear many times on the Grand Ole Opry with Bill Carlisle, her sister Martha, and many other artists of the day. She still has her fiddle and with a little coaxing can still play and sing the best country music you will ever hear."

Minnie resides in Nashville along with her brothers and sister, Martha.

Berthy (aka Minnie), Lloyd (aka Don), Irene (aka Martha)
The Amburgey's