- Press Release
Renowned Bassist Michael Rhodes Named Next Nashville Cat
Program Set for March 7 at Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum
2:00 p.m. interview, held in the museum's Ford Theater, is included with museum admission and free to museum members. The program will be streamed live at countrymusichalloffame.org/streaming.
Hosted by Bill Lloyd, the program will include an in-depth, one-on-one interview illustrated with vintage recordings, photos and film clips from the museum’s Frist Library and Archive. Seating for the program is limited, and program passes are required for admittance. Immediately following, Rhodes will sign limited edition, commemorative Hatch Show Print posters in the Museum Store. (Visit the museum’s website for complete admission and signing details.)
A successful studio and touring musician, Michael Rhodes has performed live and played on sessions for many country and pop chart-toppers, including Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, Steve Winwood, Dolly Parton, Randy Travis, Faith Hill, Wynonna Judd, the Dixie Chicks, Reba McEntire, Tanya Tucker, Neal McCoy, Chely Wright, Doug Stone, and many more.
Rhodes was born September 16, 1953, in West Monroe, Louisiana. He taught himself to play guitar at age 11 and spent his teens playing professionally in Louisiana, Austin, Texas, and Memphis, Tennessee. Surrounded by Cajun and blues music growing up, Rhodes became known for a huge and funky melodic sound. While in Memphis during the mid-1970s, Rhodes worked with and was heavily influenced by Allan Rich, son of Charlie Rich.
In 1977 Rhodes took his funk sensibility to Nashville, where he joined local band the Nerve. He began his session career as a demo musician for Tree Publishing Company playing for some of Nashville's most celebrated hit writers in the late 1970s. Bassist Tommy Cogbill and keyboardist Barry Beckett were important mentors for Rhodes during this time.
Rhodes signature works include Rosanne Cash’s King’s Record Shop (1987) and Rodney Crowell’s Diamonds and Dirt (1988). Rhodes also played on both LeAnn Rimes and Trisha Yearwood’s versions of the hit song “How Do I Live” (1997). The same year, Rhodes joined Crowell, Steuart Smith, and Vince Santoro in the Cicadas.
During the 2000s, Rhodes has contributed to hits by Brooks & Dunn, Gretchen Wilson, Kenny Chesney, and Toby Keith, to name a few. He joined the Notorious Cherry Bombs, which included Crowell, Vince Gill, Tony Brown, Eddie Bayers and more. In 2007 he was bassist for the landmark album Last of the Breed, which featured Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Ray Price.
Rhodes has won many awards for his musicianship—including multiple Academy of Country Music instrumental awards. A member of The World Famous Headliners, he lives in Nashville and continues to play and record.
Museum programs are made possible, in part, by the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission and under agreements with the State of Tennessee and National Endowment for the Arts.
Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is operated by the Country Music Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization chartered by the state of Tennessee in 1964. The museum’s mission is the preservation of the history of country and related vernacular music rooted in southern culture. With the same educational mission, the foundation also operates CMF Records, the museum’s Frist Library and Archive, CMF Press, Historic RCA Studio B and Hatch Show Print®.
More information about the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is available at countrymusichalloffame.org or by calling (615) 416-2001.
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