Sonny Rhodes
Sonny Rhodes
Oakley, CA
Blues
| Status | Sonny Rhodes is now a proud endorser/endorsee of Eastwood guitars. |
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About
Clarence Edward Smith was nicknamed Sonny Rhodes as a child and it stuck, bringing him recognition on his journey from Smithfield, Texas to the world stage as one of the most acclaimed Texas bluesmen and legendary status for his proficiency on lap steel guitar. Nominated numerous times for a W. C. Handy Award, Rhodes was honored for his cultural contribution to the arts by the Smithsonian Institute in 1976. Rhodes cut his teeth in the blues alongside Johnny Clyde Copeland and Albert Collins in Texas clubs as a teenager.Sonny was born Clarence Smith in Smithfield, Texas in 1940. His early musical influences include T-Bone Walker, Mance Lipscomb, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. In the late fifties and early sixties Sonny played bass behind Freddie King and Albert Collins, and became based in California around this time. He went to Europe for the first time in 1976 and has been back each year since then. Sonny enjoys touring in Europe saying that the BLUES are revered over there, and the financial rewards are good too. Sonny has recorded several albums over the years. Sonny also recorded the theme song for the Fox TV series “Firefly”, a Sci-Fi -Western set 300 years in the future, which is probably a good omen for the long-term prospects of the BLUES! Sonny is based in California, where he lives with his wife Annie, who is also his manager.
Rhodes travels the world on a non-stop schedule of one-nighters and it is always a great pleasure for his many fans when he makes it to their town.
(All Photo's Courtesy of:
Sonny Rhodes)
