Red Rhodes

Red Rhodes was one of the most versatile steel guitarists in country music. Born Orville J. Rhodes in East Alston, IL, his mother taught him to play the dobro when he was only five; at 15, he switched to the lap steel guitar, using a homemade stand. He played his first professional gig alongside his stepfather before moving to L.A. in 1960 to do session work. Eight years later, he was one of the most in-demand sessionmen on the West Coast and played with artists like the Byrds. Rhodes and his band played at the Palomino in L.A. during the late '60s and worked on various Michae...