Michael Rhodes, renowned bassist and Nashville session musician, died at the age of 69.
Michael Rhodes (Bassist) Obituary
Rhodes, who was raised in Monroe, Louisiana, taught himself how to play the bass and the guitar by the time he was 13 years old. Rhodes relocated to Austin, Texas, in the early 1970s and joined local bands there. Rhodes relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, four years later, where he collaborated with Charlie Rich’s son Alan on stage.
Throughout the span of over 50 years, Michael Rhodes, a bassist in high demand, contributed to numerous albums and tours. Due to his high demand, only a select handful were fortunate enough to work with him. Despite coming from a country background, his presence improved music as a whole.
If Michael Rhodes is foreign to you, he was a member of the ensemble The Notorious Cherry Bombs, which played country music, along with Vince Gill and Rodney Crowell. Rhodes was a part of The Cicadas and The Highwaymen, two support bands, along with Eddie Bayers.
In addition to these supergroups, Rhodes worked with a variety of well-known musicians in a number of ensembles. Because of his talent and sense of humor, he was highly regarded by musicians. His passing on March 4th stunned a lot of people, and tributes from his musical contemporaries have poured in.
Michael Rhodes worked with Joe Bonamassa up to at least January 6, 2020, according to an exclusive video interview with FBPO’s Jon Liebman. It is unknown exactly when Rhodes stopped playing with Bonamassa because there is no documentation of this.