Biography
Michael Rhodes, born in 1953 in Monroe, Louisiana, grew up amid the everyday presence of country, Cajun, and blues sounds. He developed impressive guitar technique on his own well before turning thirteen, then landed his debut professional engagement a couple of years afterward. In the early 1970s he relocated to Austin, Texas, where performances with several bands helped him accumulate experience and contacts. Roughly four years later he moved again, this time to Memphis, Tennessee, to collaborate with Alan Rich, son of Charlie Rich.
Time spent in Nashville soon brought him work first as a demo musician and later as a session player. Across subsequent decades his bass lines appeared on recordings by many artists, among them the ’90s chart successes Neal McCoy, Chely Wright, Doug Stone, Wynonna Judd, the Dixie Chicks, Reba McEntire, Tanya Tucker, Dolly Parton, Randy Travis, Faith Hill, and numerous other country figures. He also belonged to the Notorious Cherry Bombs, the Nashville supergroup fronted by Rodney Crowell and Vince Gill. Michael Rhodes died of pancreatic cancer in Nashville on March 4, 2023, at age 69.
Time spent in Nashville soon brought him work first as a demo musician and later as a session player. Across subsequent decades his bass lines appeared on recordings by many artists, among them the ’90s chart successes Neal McCoy, Chely Wright, Doug Stone, Wynonna Judd, the Dixie Chicks, Reba McEntire, Tanya Tucker, Dolly Parton, Randy Travis, Faith Hill, and numerous other country figures. He also belonged to the Notorious Cherry Bombs, the Nashville supergroup fronted by Rodney Crowell and Vince Gill. Michael Rhodes died of pancreatic cancer in Nashville on March 4, 2023, at age 69.
Albums
Singles
