Sonny Rhodes
(b. 1940, Smithville, Texas, d. 2021)
Born Clarence Smith, Sonny Rhodes is known in blues circles around the world as the Disciple of the Blues for his signature turban and his custom-made Maplewood lap steel guitar, both always present when he plays on stage. Sonny’s lap steel guitar playing was initially inspired by L.C. Good Rockin Robinson although his greatest inspiration was the Poet Laureate of the blues, Percy Mayfield. He has won numerous awards from the Blues Foundation in Memphis and Living Blues Magazine.
During his illustrious career, Sonny has based himself in all parts of North America from Texas and Florida, to New Jersey, Los Angeles and Oakland, California. Truly, the ever-moving blues man. He is however, mostly known for his association with the very vibrant blues scene that occurred in the west-coast city of Oakland in the 1970s and 1980s, with most of that activity centered around Eli’s Mile High Club.
In his early days, Sonny was the bass player for Freddy King and Albert Collins. As a solo artist, he recorded a number of songs on the Galaxy Records label. Sonny’s big breakout record was Cigarette Blues that was self-produced. After a period of time touring and recording in Europe, Sonny returned to Oakland and started up his own label titled Rhodesway. Throughout the last three decades he has recorded on many additional labels such as Ichiban, King Snake and Edmonton’s Stony Plain Records which is owned and operated by 2014 Edmonton Blues Hall of Fame inductee Holger Peterson.
Sonny has a rich history with both Edmonton and Calgary, and he has resided in Calgary for short periods of time over the years giving him a strong connection to our blues scene. Sonny has performed continuously almost every year for the last thirty years to appreciative audiences here in Edmonton and is almost always accompanied by his long-time friend Theo Brown from Saskatoon on the drum kit. Sonny Rhodes has entertained us over the last number of years at such places as the City Media Club, the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, the Edmonton Blues Festival and the blues bars including the Blues on Whyte. The Edmonton Blues Hall of Fame is delighted to induct for 2015, the Disciple of the Blues, Mr. Sonny Rhodes.