Gene Watson’s Peers within the country music industry believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east Texas, so much so that Gene is regarded by many of them as ‘the singer’s singer’ – and rightly so!
All of Gene Watson’s Peers, who were contacted during 2013, were most gracious with their time and words.
It is here, within this special part of The Gene Watson Fan Site, that you have an opportunity to read a quote from Leon Rhodes, which he submitted to this site on Saturday 26 October 2013.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Leon Rhodes who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Sean Brady would also like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Anita Stapleton, without whom this Gene Watson ‘Peer’s Quote’ from Leon Rhodes, would not have been possible.
Leon Rhodes
This quote was submitted on Saturday 26 October 2013.
‘God blessed Gene Watson.
He is a tremendous talent and his music is timeless.
His voice is unique and you don’t have to wonder who is singing when you hear him!
In addition to his awesome voice, he is one fine gentleman and I am proud to call him my friend.
It was my privilege to play on his recordings.
I love Gene’
Thank you, Leon Rhodes, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Leon Rhodes…
Leon Rhodes was one of the most beloved country music guitarists in history.
Leon Rhodes established himself as a clever and hard driving musician as part of Ernest Tubb’s Texas Troubadours.
Leon Rhodes’ lead guitar was an integral part of Ernest Tubb’s Texas Troubadours in the 1960s, and could be heard for decades as part of The Grand Ole Opry and ‘Hee Haw’ staff bands.
Leon Rhodes played with blinding speed and unbelievable accuracy and, for years on stage and in the recording studio, Ernest Tubb (Monday 9 February 1914 – Thursday 6 September 1984) would call out his dazzling solos with a drawled, ‘Aww, here’s Leon’.
Leon Rhodes was born on Thursday 10 March 1932 in Dallas, Texas and began learning to play his older brother’s guitar at a young age. Leon Rhodes’ family couldn’t afford to get Leon his own guitar, so his bed was sold in order to buy one. It paid off, as by the time he was sixteen years old, Leon Rhodes was a musician on ‘The Big D Jamboree’, a country music program, which was broadcast on Dallas, Texas radio station, KRLD.
During the 1950s, Leon Rhodes recorded with Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975) and Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013) in Texas before Ernest Tubb (Monday 9 February 1914 – Thursday 6 September 1984) hired him to be the lead guitarist in The Texas Troubadours in 1960.
Ernest Tubb’s tour schedule was grueling; Ernest was on the road up to 300 days a year. In addition to their work on stage, and in the recording studio with Ernest Tubb (Monday 9 February 1914 – Thursday 6 September 1984), The Texas Troubadours released their own albums as well.
(Monday 9 February 1914 – Thursday 6 September 1984)
Leon Rhodes’ guitar style helped make up the distinctive Ernest Tubb (Monday 9 February 1914 – Thursday 6 September 1984) sound on many recordings, including ‘Texas Troubadour Stomp’, ‘Cool It’, ‘Red Top’ and the classic instrumental ‘Honey Fingers’.
Leon Rhodes’ distinguished guitar style can be heard on a number of Ernest Tubb’s albums, including the following:
‘All Time Hits’ (Decca Records, 1960)
‘Ernest Tubb & The Texas Troubadours On Tour’ (Decca Records, 1962)
‘Just Call Me Lonesome’ (Decca Records, 1963)
‘The Family Bible’ (Decca Records, 1963)
‘Thanks A Lot’ (Decca Records, 1964)
‘My Pick of The Hits’ (Decca Records, 1965)
‘Hittin’ The Road’ (Decca Records, 1965)
Ernest Tubb & Loretta Lynn’s ‘Mr. & Mrs. Used To Be’ (Decca Records, 1965)
‘By Request’ (Decca Records, 1966)
‘Country Hits Old & New’ (Decca Records, 1966)
‘Another Story’ (Decca Records, 1967)
Leon Rhodes performed on The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, as well as becoming a much sought-after studio musician.
Leon Rhodes was regarded as one of the seven wonders of country music guitar playing, the Collosus of Rhodes. Guitar players seem to have established a holy trinity of country guitar in which the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost were Doc Watson (Saturday 3 March 1923 – Tuesday 29 May 2012), Leon Rhodes and Grady Martin (Thursday 17 January 1929 – Monday 3 December 2001).
As a member of what was considered the classic lineup of Ernest Tubb (Monday 9 February 1914 – Thursday 6 September 1984) & The Texas Troubadours, Leon Rhodes already had a secure place in the genre’s history, but factor in his countless recording sessions for other country music legends, along with nearly four decades of action in the Grand Ole Opry house band, and you had a guitarist whose presence and influence are simply massive.
After Leon Rhodes exited The Troubadours in late 1966, he became a member of The Opry staff band, and remained part of that band until 1999. After that, Leon Rhodes continued playing on the show with Porter Wagoner (Friday 12 August 1927 – Sunday 28 October 2007) and The Whites.
Leon Rhodes also worked as a session musician, appearing on recordings by, amongst others, Loretta Lynn (Thursday 14 April 1932 – Tuesday 4 October 2022), George Strait and Reba McEntire, and spent more than twenty years as part of the ‘Hee Haw’ band.
In 1999, Leon Rhodes was treated in a very special way after years and years as a fixture on The Grand Ole Opry stage; he was fired. It was part of a shift in musicians dictated from management, the need for young blood and all that.
Not everyone on the country music scene was thrilled with this move, which also involved kicking Buddy Harman (Sunday 23 December 1928 – Thursday 21 August 2008) and his drum set off-stage, displacing a drummer who had played on 10,000 recording sessions. ‘Leon Rhodes could play circles around anyone in Nashville’ was a typical comment reflecting the Opry’s management skills and respect for the music’s history.
Leon Rhodes first joined Ernest Tubb’s already hot band in 1960, putting a stop to a game of musical chairs which had been going on in the lead guitar spot.
Steel guitar whiz, Buddy Emmons (Wednesday 27 January 1937 – Wednesday 29 July 2015) was actually playing lead as a stopgap when Leon Rhodes was hired. In relief, Buddy Emmons (Wednesday 27 January 1937 – Wednesday 29 July 2015) sat back at his main axe and the two men instantly established a superb level of sympathetic interplay, breezily tossing honky tonk and bebop licks back and forth as if they were fragrances for the listener to sniff on a spring morning.
The great Buddy Emmons (Wednesday 27 January 1937 – Wednesday 29 July 2015) was just a warm-up for Buddy Charleton, who joined the band on steel guitar in 1962, consolidating a lineup, which also included drummer Jack Greene (Tuesday 7 January 1930 – Thursday 15 March 2013) and Cal Smith (Thursday 7 April 1932 – Thursday 10 October 2013), who would later enjoy their own solo country music careers. This was considered the ultimate version of The Texas Troubadours.
In his late twenties, when he climbed into Ernest Tubb’s band, Leon Rhodes already had a dozen years of professional experience behind him.
Leon Rhodes was considered a natural musician as a child and, at the age of sixteen, he was on the staff band on the ‘Big D Jamboree’ broadcast.
In the 1950s, Leon Rhodes’ picking style was an essential part of the sound of records by Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013), Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975), and many other country music greats.
Leon Rhodes is said to have worked constantly, not only as a guitarist, but also as a drummer and vocalist on the Dallas club scene.
Leon Rhodes also toured during this period with artists including Sonny James (Wednesday 1 May 1929 – Monday 22 February 2016) and Buddy Griffin. Although his schedule was as packed as this, music was actually still a sideline for Leon Rhodes; he actually preferred pitching professional fast-ball softball and played for a team that twice scored highly in world tournaments.
When Ernest Tubb (Monday 9 February 1914 – Thursday 6 September 1984) discovered him, Leon Rhodes was playing mostly drums in the band of Dewey Groom and balked when offered the lead guitar slot in The Troubadours, apparently telling Buddy Emmons (Wednesday 27 January 1937 – Wednesday 29 July 2015) ‘I ain’t no guitarist’.
This ‘ain’t no’ picker has played on dozens of great country music albums by a number of artists, including Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 – Wednesday 13 February 2002), Loretta Lynn (Thursday 14 April 1932 – Tuesday 4 October 2022), Reba McEntire, George Strait and Jean Shepard (Tuesday 21 November 1933 – Sunday 25 September 2016).
In other words, the existence of a country record collection without a Leon Rhodes guitar solo in there somewhere is an impossibility, pure and simple.
Such studio work and the Opry bandstand were where Leon Rhodes went when he left Ernest Tubb (Monday 9 February 1914 – Thursday 6 September 1984) in 1966, unfortunately not under the best of circumstances.
Ernest Tubb (Monday 9 February 1914 – Thursday 6 September 1984) apparently didn’t want The Grand Ole Opry to be who would get his departing guitar genius and tried to block the venue from hiring him, almost resulting in a lawsuit. When the dust settled, Leon Rhodes found he was much happier playing the Opry and recording in Nashville than touring with Ernest Tubb (Monday 9 February 1914 – Thursday 6 September 1984). For one thing, Leon Rhodes started making much more money.
When artists, including John Denver (Friday 31 December 1943 – Sunday 12 October 1997) or BJ Thomas (Friday 7 August 1942 – Saturday 29 May 2021), wanted a good country sound, they called Leon Rhodes.
The logic of this didn’t even escape The Chipmunks, who squeaked him a gig when creating their country-ish ‘Urban Chipmunk’ album. Thanks to the Grand Ole Opry, the great guitarist now had more time than ever to take on assignments such as this.
In December 1962, Ernest Tubb & The Texas Troubadours saw the release of ‘Ernest Tubb & The Texas Troubadours On Tour’ (Decca Records, 1962), which was produced by Owen Bradley (Thursday 21 October 1915 – Wednesday 7 January 1998), and featured the following musicians:
Leon Rhodes and Grady Martin (Thursday 17 January 1929 – Monday 3 December 2001) (lead guitar)
Johnny Johnson (rhythm guitar)
Buddy Charleton (steel guitar)
Jack Drake (bass)
Jan Kurtis (drums)
Floyd Cramer (Friday 27 October 1933 – Wednesday 31 December 1997) (piano)
Ernest Tubb & The Texas Troubadours’ ‘On Tour’ (Decca Records, 1962) was recorded between September 1961 and April 1962 at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Columbia Studio in Nashville, and included the following tracks:
‘Women Make A Fool Out of Me’, which was written by Jimmie Rodgers (8 September 1897 – Friday 26 May 1933)
‘Go On Home, which was written by Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 – Thursday 15 July 2010)
‘Steel Guitar Rag’ (instrumental), which was written by Merle Travis (Thursday 29 November 1917 – Thursday 20 October 1983), Cliffie Stone (Thursday 1 March 1917 – Saturday 17 January 1998) and Leon McAuliffe (Wednesday 3 January 1917 – Saturday 20 August 1988)
‘Old Love New Tears’ (written by Leon Rhodes and Clay Allen)
‘Try Me One More Time’, which was written by Ernest Tubb (Monday 9 February 1914 – Thursday 6 September 1984)
‘Lover’s Waltz’ (instrumental) (written by Leon Rhodes and Clay Allen)
‘Drivin’ Nails In My Coffin’ (written by Jerry Irby)
‘Out of My Mind’ (written by Leon Rhodes and Arvel Bourquin)
‘Red Skin Rag’ (instrumental), which was written by Bob Kiser and Leon McAuliffe (Wednesday 3 January 1917 – Saturday 20 August 1988)
‘Watching My Past Go By’, which was written by Ernest Tubb (Monday 9 February 1914 – Thursday 6 September 1984)
‘Bandera Waltz’ (written by Ollie Adams)
‘In & Out (of Every Heart In Town)’ (written by Hugh Ashley)
In August 1975, Gene Watson saw the release of his debut (major record label) album, ‘Love In The Hot Afternoon‘ (Capitol Records, 1975), which was produced by Russ Reeder and Bob Webster (1930 – Thursday 22 February 2007), and included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Bad Water’, which was written by Jackie DeShannon, Jimmy Holiday (Tuesday 24 July 1934 – Sunday 15 February 1987) and Randy Myers (No.87, 1975)
‘Love In The Hot Afternoon’, which was written by Kent Westberry and Vincent Wesley Matthews (1940 – Saturday 22 November 2003) (No.3, 1975) / this track also reached No.3 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1975
‘Where Love Begins’, which was written by Ray Griff (Monday 22 April 1940 – Wednesday 9 March 2016) (No.5, 1975) / this track also reached No.4 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1975
‘You Could Know As Much About A Stranger’ (written by Nadine Bryant) (No.10, 1976) / this track also reached No.42 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1976
Gene Watson‘s ‘Love In The Hot Afternoon‘ (Capitol Records, 1975) also included the following tracks:
‘Through The Eyes of Love’, which was written by ‘Cowboy’ Jack Clement (Sunday 5 April 1931 – Thursday 8 August 2013) and Milton ‘Mitt’ Addington (1924 – 1979)
‘Long Enough To Care’ (written by Bobby Sykes)
‘Harvest Time’ (written by Bill Emerson, Lewis Moore and Carrol Dunham)
‘This Just Ain’t No Good Day For Leaving’, which was written by Dallas Frazier (Friday 27 October 1939 – Friday 14 January 2022) and Sanger D. ‘Whitey’ Shafer (Wednesday 24 October 1934 – Saturday 12 January 2019)
‘For The First Time’ (written by Jessi Colter)
‘This Is My Year For Mexico’, which was written by Vincent Wesley Matthews (1940 – Saturday 22 November 2003)
Personnel involved in the recording of Gene Watson‘s ‘Love In The Hot Afternoon‘ (Capitol Records, 1975) included the following:
Tommy Allsup (Tuesday 24 November 1931 – Wednesday 11 January 2017), Leon Rhodes, (Thursday 10 March 1932 – Saturday 9 December 2017) and Charlie McCoy (rhythm guitar)
Jimmy Colvard (1943 – 1977), Pete Wade and Dale Sellers (lead guitar)
Lloyd Green (steel guitar, Dobro)
Charlie McCoy (harmonica)
Charlie McCoy and Kenny Malone (Thursday 4 August 1938 – Thursday 26 August 2021) (marimba)
Hargus ‘Pig’ Robbins (Tuesday 18 January 1938 – Sunday 30 January 2022) (piano)
Buddy Spicher (fiddle)
Joe Allen, Henry Strzelecki (Tuesday 8 August 1939 – Monday 29 December 2014) and Leon Rhodes (Thursday 10 March 1932 – Saturday 9 December 2017) (bass)
Kenny Malone (Thursday 4 August 1938 – Thursday 26 August 2021), Jimmy Isabel and Buddy Harman (Sunday 23 December 1928 – Thursday 21 August 2008) (drums)
Jerry Tuttle (horn)
The Nashville Edition (voices)
On Tuesday 3 December 2002, England’s Hux Records released Gene Watson‘s ‘Love In The Hot Afternoon‘ (Capitol Records, 1975), along with Gene Watson‘s ‘Paper Rosie‘ (Capitol Records, 1978), as a special 2-for-1 CD set.
Gene Watson‘s ‘Love In The Hot Afternoon‘ (Capitol Records, 1975) reached No.5 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1975.
In May 1976, Gene Watson saw the release of ‘Because You Believed In Me‘ (Capitol Records, 1976), which was produced by Russ Reeder and Bob Webster (1930 – Thursday 22 February 2007), and included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Because You Believed In Me’, which was written by Arthur Leo ‘Doodle’ Owens (Friday 28 November 1930 – Monday 4 October 1999), Shorty Hall (Walter Harrison Hall) (Tuesday 5 April 1927 – Thursday 21 March 2002) and Gene Vowell (No.20, 1976)
‘Her Body Couldn’t Keep You (Off My Mind)’, which was written by Ray Griff (Monday 22 April 1940 – Wednesday 9 March 2016) (No.52, 1976)
Gene Watson‘s ‘Because You Believed In Me‘ (Capitol Records, 1976) also included the following tracks:
‘If I’m A Fool For Leaving’, which was written by Skip Graves and Little Jimmy Dickens (Sunday 19 December 1920 – Friday 2 January 2015)
‘Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall’ (written by Larry Gatlin)
‘When My World Left Town’ (written by Tom Ghent and R. Paul)
‘Sorry Willie’, which was written by Roger Miller (Thursday 2 January 1936 – Sunday 25 October 1992)
‘How Good A Bad Woman Feels’, which was written by Ray Griff (Monday 22 April 1940 – Wednesday 9 March 2016)
‘I Fell Apart’, which was written by Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 – Thursday 15 July 2010)
‘Hey, Louella’, which was written by Ray Griff (Monday 22 April 1940 – Wednesday 9 March 2016)
‘And Then You Came Along’, which was written by Ray Griff (Monday 22 April 1940 – Wednesday 9 March 2016)
Personnel involved in the recording of Gene Watson‘s ‘Because You Believed In Me‘ (Capitol Records, 1976) included the following:
Tommy Allsup (Tuesday 24 November 1931 – Wednesday 11 January 2017) (rhythm guitar, bass guitar)
Leon Rhodes (Thursday 10 March 1932 – Saturday 9 December 2017) (rhythm guitar, lead guitar)
Lloyd Green (steel guitar)
Buddy Spicher (fiddle)
Joe Allen (bass)
Hargus ‘Pig’ Robbins (Tuesday 18 January 1938 – Sunday 30 January 2022) (piano)
Jimmy Colvard (1943 – 1977) and Pete Wade (lead guitar)
Jimmy Isbell, Buddy Harman (Sunday 23 December 1928 – Thursday 21 August 2008) and Kenny Malone (Thursday 4 August 1938 – Thursday 26 August 2021) (drums)
On Monday 26 September 2005, England’s Hux Records released Gene Watson‘s ‘Because You Believed In Me‘ (Capitol Records, 1976), along with Gene Watson‘s ‘Beautiful Country‘ (Capitol Records, 1977), as a special 2-for-1 CD set.
Gene Watson‘s ‘Because You Believed In Me‘ (Capitol Records, 1976) reached No.24 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1976.
In 2014, Leon Rhodes retired, and was also honoured, in 2014, as part of The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum’s Nashville Cats series, which showcased musicians who had played important roles in country music history.
On the morning of Saturday 9 December 2017, Leon Rhodes passed away at his home in Donelson, Tennessee; Leon Rhodes was 85 years old.
Leon Rhodes was survived by his wife Judi (the couple would have celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary in January 2018), children Diane Williams (Terry), Leon (Sherry), Tonja Polk, Todd (Tonda), Tag (Judy), Tara Story (Arthur), Tammy Scragg (Scott) and Tandy Raynes (Jason), 25 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
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