by Dorothy L. Hill





























Clarence Edward Smith was nicknamed Sonny Rhodes as a child and it stuck, bringing him recognition on his journey from Smithfield, Texas to the world stage as one of the most acclaimed Texas bluesmen and legendary status for his proficiency on lap steel guitar.  Nominated numerous times for a W. C. Handy Award, Rhodes was honored for his cultural contribution to the arts by the Smithsonian Institute in 1976.  Rhodes cut his teeth in the blues alongside Johnny Clyde Copeland and Albert Collins in Texas clubs as a teenager.
 


Rhodes travels the world on a non-stop schedule of one-nighters and it is always a great pleasure for his many fans when he makes a stop in San Francisco.  On this occasion, he was supported by Big Bob Deance on rhythm guitar, Norm DeCarlo on drums and Ray Figueroa on bass. The band polished off several instrumental warm-up tunes for an inattentive full house and then it was star time.

Rhodes strode onto the stage in his red suit and black cowboy hat to wild applause and smoothly charmed the audience with a soulful rendition of “Why You So Mean To Me” done with melancholy wisdom in a gravelly vocal delivery.  A chorus of “why” from the audience contributed to the gaiety.  After an incisively expressive delivery of “Tin Pan Alley,” Rhodes commented that at 67 years old with a bad hip he needed to sit down and play lap steel which he displayed for those who might not be familiar with the instrument. This pleased those of us who are aware that he is one of the lap steel masters in the world and I personally count only two.

Rhodes commented that the next song was one he learned when picking cotton in Texas adding with a sly smile, “I don’t do that no more.” 
His version of “Please Love Me (I Was In Love With You Before I Learned To Call Your Name)” resonated with lush bursts of melody on lap steel.  One of the highlights of the evening was on his composition “Meet Me At The 10th Street Inn” which evoked the downhome juke joint atmosphere.  His sensitive vocal take on “Since I Met You Baby” was superb and dedicated, as always, to his wife and manager Anne.  His repertoire this evening was focused on tried and true blues tunes given a distinctive feel with the Rhodes touch.

Rhodes is a consummate showman and he interspersed tunes with a little gab about his large family, as he said, “be fruitful and multiply.”  Rhodes possesses a wonderfully earthy voice that expressed a sense of command in phrasing while coaxing ornate swoops and wails from the lap steel. 
His lap steel guitar technique emanates from the depth of his soul with a sweetness of sound that is unique. This show was so from the heart, so down to earth, so the epitome of blues - from the Disciple of the Blues, Mr. Sonny Rhodes.

----- Dorothy L. Hill
Dorothy L. Hill
519A Pennsylvania Avenue
San Francisco, CA. 94107
jazzpix@pacbell.net
  
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