Episode 208: Red Rhodes, AN Audiobiography

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It started out to be a Trick's Countdown (5...4...3...2...1) and ended up being "A Cosmic Partnership, The Red Rhodes AudioBiograpy!" a 90 minute tribute to the number one pedal steel sideman in popular music.
Orville Jay, Red, Rhodes was one of the most versatile steel guitarists in country music. Born in East Alston, Illinois, in 1930, his mother taught him to play the dobro when he was only five years old. At 15, Orville switched to the pedal steel guitar, using a homemade stand. He played his first professional gig with his stepfather and in 1960 he moved to Los Angeles to do session work. By the late 19 60's he was one of the most in-demand session men on the West Coast.
One of his most unusual projects was The Ventures in Space where he used the pedal steel to produce the other worldly effects for the group. Rhodes played pedal steel on many country rock, pop, and rock albums of artists such as Spanky and Our Gang, James Taylor, The Beach Boys, Seals and Crofts, The Byrds, The Carpenters, and many others, as part of the Wrecking Crew studio musicians in the 1960s and 70s.
As part of his studio work, Red played on several of the Monkee's songs. During this time he developed a close relationship with Michael Nesmith and when Mike went solo, Red Roads went along with him and became an integral part of Nesmith's solo records. Red Rhodes also issued a series of albums under his own name and his own band. He also appeared on several other artists albums due to his reputation as the steel guitar wizard he was.
In the late 1970s, Rhodes shifted his focus from performing to guitar electronics at his Royal Amplifier Service shop in Hollywood, California. There, Rhodes modified amplifiers and created his custom Velvet Hammer guitar pickups for James Burton, Clarence White, and other guitarists.
Rheumatoid arthritis restricted Rhodes' public performances and recordings in the 1980s and 1990s, with the notable exception of his appearance on Michael Nesmith's Tropical Campfires album and tour in 1992. Rhodes fell ill soon after this tour, and died on August 20, 1995, from interstitial lung fibrosis.
The Play List the Red of Rhodes AudioBiography:
Red Rhodes and The Roadrunners - Blue Blue Day 1966,
Spanky and Our Gang - I'd Like To Know You 1968,
Michael Bloomfield For Anyone You Meet 1969,
Byrds - Wasn't Born To Follow 1969,
The Ventures - Fourth Dimension 1964,
Carole King - Goodbye Don't Mean I'm Gone 1972,
John Phillips - Mississippi 1970,
James Taylor - Sweet Baby James 1970,
Linda Ronstadt - Silver Threads and Golden Needles 1976,
B.W. Stevenson - Don't Go To Mexico 1972,
Lovin' Spoonful - Never Going Back 1968,
Harry Nilsson - Joy 1972,
Willis Alan Ramsey - Ballad of Spider John 1972,
Joan Baez - Fountain Of Sorrow 1975,
The Monkees - Nine Times Blue 1968,
!st National Band (Michael Nesmith) - I Fall To Pieces 1970,
1st National Band (Michael Nesmith) - Calico Girlfriend 1970,
2nd National Band - She Thinks I Still Care 1972,
Bone Dry - Red Rhodes 1968,
Red Rhodes and The Detours - Conspiracy 0f Home Jones 1969
Red Rhodes - Something (Beatles Cover) 1970,
Red Rhodes - Poinciana 1973,
Red Rhodes - Jay's Tune 1973,
David Bromberg - Mr. Blue 1975,
Steve Marriott - Late Night Lady 1975
1st National Band (Michael Nesmith) - Texas Morning/Tumbling Tumble Weeds.