Clarence Smith (born Clarence Edward Mauldin; November 3, 1940 – December 14, 2021), known as Sonny Rhodes, was an American blues singer and lap steel guitar player.[1] He recorded over two hundred songs. "I'm what you call a self-proclaimed Disciple of the Blues!" said Rhodes about his years playing and singing for fans of blues around the world.[2] He was nominated 15 times for Blues Music Awards and won in the category 'Instrumentalist – Other' in 2011.[3]
Rhodes was born in Smithville, Texas on November 3, 1940,[4] as the son of Emma Mauldin. He was orphaned as a baby and was adopted by sharecroppers Leroy and Julia Smith.[4] He received his first guitar at the age of eight as a Christmas present and became serious about playing the blues at age 12. He credited his uncle as his source of inspiration. Rhodes began performing around Smithville and nearby Austin in the late 1950s, while still in his teens. He listened a lot to T-Bone Walker when he was young. He acknowledged as influences the guitarists L. C. Robinson, Pee Wee Crayton and B. B. King and the singer Percy Mayfield.[5][non-primary source needed] With his first band, Clarence Smith and the Daylighters, he played blues clubs in the Austin area until he joined the Navy after high school graduation.[1]
In the Navy, he was stationed in California, where he worked for a while as a radio man and closed-circuit Navy ship disc jockey, telling off-color jokes in between the country and blues records he would spin for the entertainment of the sailors. Rhodes recorded a single, "I'll Never Let You Go When Something Is Wrong", for Domino Records in Austin in 1958. He also learned to play the bass guitar. He played bass accompanying the guitarists Freddie King and Albert Collins. After his stint in the Navy, in his mid-20s, Rhodes returned to California and lived in Fresno for a few years before signing a recording contract with Galaxy Records in Oakland. He recorded a single, "I Don't Love You No More", in 1966 and another single for Galaxy in 1967, changing his stage name from Clarence Smith to Sonny Rhodes at that time.[4] Frustrated with the San Francisco Bay area record companies, he recorded "Cigarette Blues" on his own label, Rhodes-Way Records, in 1978.[1]
Rhodes toured Europe in 1976 and released numerous recordings on European labels, including I Don't Want My Blues Colored Bright and the live album In Europe. In 1985, he released Just Blues on Rhodes-Way. In the late 1980s, he recorded Disciple of the Blues, released by Ichiban Records in 1991, and Living Too Close to the Edge, released in 1992.[6] He later moved to Kingsnake Records, releasing several albums including The Blues Is My Best Friend (1994) and Out of Control (1995),[1] and touring widely in the US, Canada and Europe. In 2008, he released I'm Back Again.[7] His current release, The Essential Sonny Rhodes – Songs & Stories,[8] on Need To Know Music is a retrospective of his career to date, featuring Rich Kirch, Barry Goldberg, Frank Howard Swart and Dawn Richardson. The record was produced by Brian Brinkerhoff and Swart.[9]
He died on December 14, 2021, at the age of 81.[10]
Other workedit
Televisionedit
Rhodes recorded "The Ballad of Serenity", the theme music for the television series Firefly, which was written by Joss Whedon, the creator of the series.[11]
Festivalsedit
Rhodes played at the San Francisco Blues Festival six times. In 1993, Sonny was the best man in the onstage wedding of Mike and Laura Harrelson at the Sacramento Blues Festival. He also played at the Musicamdo Jazz and Blues Festival in Italy in 2005 and the Fresno Blues Festival in 2007.
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Clarence Smith born Clarence Edward Mauldin November 3 1940 December 14 2021 known as Sonny Rhodes was an American blues singer and lap steel guitar player 1 He recorded over two hundred songs I m what you call a self proclaimed Disciple of the Blues said Rhodes about his years playing and singing for fans of blues around the world 2 He was nominated 15 times for Blues Music Awards and won in the category Instrumentalist Other in 2011 3 Sonny RhodesRhodes performing in 2000Background informationBirth nameClarence Edward MauldinAlso known asClarence SmithBorn 1940 11 03 November 3 1940Smithville Texas U S DiedDecember 14 2021 2021 12 14 aged 81 GenresBluesOccupation s Singer guitarist songwriterInstrument s Lap steel guitar electric guitarYears active1958 2021LabelsEvidence Galaxy Ichiban Kingsnake Rhodes Way Stony Plain Greater Planet Entertainment Need To Know Music Contents 1 Life and career 2 Other work 2 1 Television 2 2 Festivals 3 Selected discography 4 References 5 External linksLife and career editRhodes was born in Smithville Texas on November 3 1940 4 as the son of Emma Mauldin He was orphaned as a baby and was adopted by sharecroppers Leroy and Julia Smith 4 He received his first guitar at the age of eight as a Christmas present and became serious about playing the blues at age 12 He credited his uncle as his source of inspiration Rhodes began performing around Smithville and nearby Austin in the late 1950s while still in his teens He listened a lot to T Bone Walker when he was young He acknowledged as influences the guitarists L C Robinson Pee Wee Crayton and B B King and the singer Percy Mayfield 5 non primary source needed With his first band Clarence Smith and the Daylighters he played blues clubs in the Austin area until he joined the Navy after high school graduation 1 In the Navy he was stationed in California where he worked for a while as a radio man and closed circuit Navy ship disc jockey telling off color jokes in between the country and blues records he would spin for the entertainment of the sailors Rhodes recorded a single I ll Never Let You Go When Something Is Wrong for Domino Records in Austin in 1958 He also learned to play the bass guitar He played bass accompanying the guitarists Freddie King and Albert Collins After his stint in the Navy in his mid 20s Rhodes returned to California and lived in Fresno for a few years before signing a recording contract with Galaxy Records in Oakland He recorded a single I Don t Love You No More in 1966 and another single for Galaxy in 1967 changing his stage name from Clarence Smith to Sonny Rhodes at that time 4 Frustrated with the San Francisco Bay area record companies he recorded Cigarette Blues on his own label Rhodes Way Records in 1978 1 Rhodes toured Europe in 1976 and released numerous recordings on European labels including I Don t Want My Blues Colored Bright and the live album In Europe In 1985 he released Just Blues on Rhodes Way In the late 1980s he recorded Disciple of the Blues released by Ichiban Records in 1991 and Living Too Close to the Edge released in 1992 6 He later moved to Kingsnake Records releasing several albums including The Blues Is My Best Friend 1994 and Out of Control 1995 1 and touring widely in the US Canada and Europe In 2008 he released I m Back Again 7 His current release The Essential Sonny Rhodes Songs amp Stories 8 on Need To Know Music is a retrospective of his career to date featuring Rich Kirch Barry Goldberg Frank Howard Swart and Dawn Richardson The record was produced by Brian Brinkerhoff and Swart 9 He died on December 14 2021 at the age of 81 10 Other work editTelevision edit Rhodes recorded The Ballad of Serenity the theme music for the television series Firefly which was written by Joss Whedon the creator of the series 11 Festivals edit Rhodes played at the San Francisco Blues Festival six times In 1993 Sonny was the best man in the onstage wedding of Mike and Laura Harrelson at the Sacramento Blues Festival He also played at the Musicamdo Jazz and Blues Festival in Italy in 2005 and the Fresno Blues Festival in 2007 Selected discography edit1977 I Don t Want My Blues Colored Bright Texas blues Blossom Studios1991 Disciple Of The Blues Texas blues Ichiban Records1992 Won t Rain in California Contemporary blues EPM Musique1992 Livin Too Close To The Edge Texas blues Ichiban Records1995 Just Blues Contemporary blues Evidence1994 The Blues Is My Best Friend Texas blues Kingsnake1996 Out of Control Delta blues Kingsnake1997 Born to Be Blue Delta blues Kingsnake1999 Blue Diamond Blues Stony Plain Music2001 A Good Day to Play the Blues Traditional blues Stony Plain Music2003 Texas Fender Bender Live Texas blues Great Planet Entertainment2008 I m Back Again Delta blues EPM Musique2016 Then amp Now Texas blues Blues Express Records2017 The Essential Sonny Rhodes Songs amp Stories Traditional blues Need To Know Music 7 References edit a b c d Skelly Richard Sonny Rhodes AllMusic Retrieved May 27 2009 Entertainment Columns amp Blogs FresnoBee com amp Fresno Bee Fresno Famous Retrieved October 6 2015 Awards Search gt Sonny Rhodes Blues org Retrieved October 6 2015 a b c Eagle Bob LeBlanc Eric S 2013 Blues A Regional Experience Santa Barbara Praeger Publishers p 296 ISBN 978 0313344237 Rhodes Sonny 2009 Sonny Rhodes MySpace MySpace website Retrieved June 20 2009 Colin Larkin ed 1995 The Guinness Who s Who of Blues Second ed Guinness Publishing p 303 ISBN 0 85112 673 1 a b Sonny Rhodes Album Discography AllMusic Retrieved March 10 2021 The Essential Sonny Rhodes Songs and Stories CD Needtoknowmusic com Retrieved October 18 2017 The Essential Sonny Rhodes Songs amp Stories Sonny Rhodes Credits AllMusic AllMusic Retrieved March 10 2021 Sonny Rhodes 1940 2021 SoulBag website Retrieved December 22 2021 Sonny Rhodes at IMDbExternal links editSonny Rhodes MySpace Sonny Rhodes Reverbnation article Sonny Rhodes discography at Discogs Sonny Rhodes at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sonny Rhodes amp oldid 1216692666, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
