Ethmer Cletus "Slim" Rhodes (April 27, 1912 – March 10, 1966) was an American country music and rockabilly guitarist and vocalist popular during the 1940s and 50s with his band, Slim Rhodes and His Mountaineers.
Ethmer Cletus "Slim" Rhodes, the son of James K. Polk Rhodes and Amanda Elizabeth Patterson Montgomery, was born in Poughkeepsie, Arkansas. In 1928, he formed a band with brothers Gilbert Ray ("Speck"), Perry Hilburn ("Dusty") and sister Helen Beatrice ("Bea"). The group was later dubbed the Log Cabin Mountaineers by a Missouri state senator who invited them to play for the state legislature. Slim was M.C. and played guitar; Dusty played fiddle; Bea played fiddle, mandolin and accordion; Speck played the bass fiddle, banjo, and did comedy (and in 1960 joined Porter Wagoner's band). The Rhodes family toured from Missouri to California and back, playing in theaters. From 1938–41, the group was heard on KWOC-AM in Poplar Bluff, Missouri[1] and often performed at the Mid-South Fair. Other members at the time were Buddy Simmons and Tiny Little.[2]
Starting in 1939, "Slim Rhodes & The Mother's Best Mountaineers" were heard daily on WMC-AM in Memphis, Tennessee at 11:30 a.m. on the South Central Quality Network, sponsored by Mother's Best Flour. The group also had a weekly Saturday show over WMC-TV in Memphis from 12–12:30 p.m. By 1953, they also had a 30-minute live show on KATV-TV in Pine Bluff, Arkansas every Tuesday.[3] Other members included Brad "Pee Wee" Suggs (electric guitar), who recorded on Meteor Records and later for Phillips International on his own; and Danny Holloway (steel guitar).[4]
In 1950, Rhodes was signed by Gilt-Edge. Sun Records in Memphis signed the group from 1955–58, recording a mix of country and rockabilly. Rhodes acquired an Elvis Presley sound-alike vocalist, Sandy Brooks; releasing the rockabilly "Do What I Do" and "Take and Give".[5] Between 1955–57, Rhodes was a frequent part of Sun tours through the southern U.S. In 1966, he released the album, The Rhodes Show on the Road on the Cotton Town Jubilee label.[6]
Rhodes' radio and television and programs ended the mid-1960s. Slim died in 1966 from a fall in his Memphis home.
Marsh, Dave, For the Record: Sun Records, An Oral History
January 01, 1970
slim, rhodes, ethmer, cletus, slim, rhodes, april, 1912, march, 1966, american, country, music, rockabilly, guitarist, vocalist, popular, during, 1940s, with, band, mountaineers, contents, biography, discography, notes, referencesbiography, editethmer, cletus,. Ethmer Cletus Slim Rhodes April 27 1912 March 10 1966 was an American country music and rockabilly guitarist and vocalist popular during the 1940s and 50s with his band Slim Rhodes and His Mountaineers Contents 1 Biography 2 Discography 3 Notes 4 ReferencesBiography editEthmer Cletus Slim Rhodes the son of James K Polk Rhodes and Amanda Elizabeth Patterson Montgomery was born in Poughkeepsie Arkansas In 1928 he formed a band with brothers Gilbert Ray Speck Perry Hilburn Dusty and sister Helen Beatrice Bea The group was later dubbed the Log Cabin Mountaineers by a Missouri state senator who invited them to play for the state legislature Slim was M C and played guitar Dusty played fiddle Bea played fiddle mandolin and accordion Speck played the bass fiddle banjo and did comedy and in 1960 joined Porter Wagoner s band The Rhodes family toured from Missouri to California and back playing in theaters From 1938 41 the group was heard on KWOC AM in Poplar Bluff Missouri 1 and often performed at the Mid South Fair Other members at the time were Buddy Simmons and Tiny Little 2 Starting in 1939 Slim Rhodes amp The Mother s Best Mountaineers were heard daily on WMC AM in Memphis Tennessee at 11 30 a m on the South Central Quality Network sponsored by Mother s Best Flour The group also had a weekly Saturday show over WMC TV in Memphis from 12 12 30 p m By 1953 they also had a 30 minute live show on KATV TV in Pine Bluff Arkansas every Tuesday 3 Other members included Brad Pee Wee Suggs electric guitar who recorded on Meteor Records and later for Phillips International on his own and Danny Holloway steel guitar 4 In 1950 Rhodes was signed by Gilt Edge Sun Records in Memphis signed the group from 1955 58 recording a mix of country and rockabilly Rhodes acquired an Elvis Presley sound alike vocalist Sandy Brooks releasing the rockabilly Do What I Do and Take and Give 5 Between 1955 57 Rhodes was a frequent part of Sun tours through the southern U S In 1966 he released the album The Rhodes Show on the Road on the Cotton Town Jubilee label 6 Rhodes radio and television and programs ended the mid 1960s Slim died in 1966 from a fall in his Memphis home Discography editYear Title Label 1951 Save A Little Love For Me Skunk Hollow Boogie Gilt Edge 5015 1951 Sixty Days Memphis Bounce Gilt Edge 5026 1951 Time Marches On Hot Foot Rag Gilt Edge 5034 1951 Red White and Blue Ozark Boogie Gilt Edge 5044 1955 Uncertain Love Don t Believe Sun 216 1955 Are You Ashamed Of Me The House Of Sin Sun 225 1956 Gonna Romp And Stomp Bad Girl Sun 238 1957 Do What I Do Take And Give Sun 256 Unpublished titles 1956 Do What I Do alt version Take and Give alt version SunNotes edit Bluegrass Unlimited Vol 39 Dye Robert The Mid South Fair Celebrating 150 Years 2006 Arcadia Publishing p 34 Sachs Bill April 18 1955 Folk Talent and Tunes The Billboard p 18 Sippel Johnny June 18 1949 Folk Talent and Tunes The Billboard p 36 Escott Colin and Hawkins Martin Good Rockin Tonight Sun Records and the Birth of Rock n Roll 2011 Open Road Media e book The Billboard December 7 1963 p 14References editMarsh Dave For the Record Sun Records An Oral History Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Slim Rhodes amp oldid 1221920835, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
