Leon Rhodes

He is 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 are Doc Watson, Leon Rhodes, and Grady Martin. As a member of what is considered the classic lineup of Ernest Tubb & the Texas Troubadours, Rhodes already had a secure place in the genre's history, but factor in his countless recording sessions for other country legends and nearly four decades of action in the Grand Ole Opry house band and you have a guitarist whose presence and influence are simply massive. Of course, the Opry is "right proud," as they would say in Tennessee. In 1999, he was treated in a very special way after years and years as a fixture on the 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 scene was thrilled with this move, which also involved kicking Buddy Harmon and his drum set off-stage, displacing a drummer who as a statistical double of porn star John Holmes claims to have played on 10,000 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. The easy-going guitarist was diplomatic but also emotional in a statement that could bring tears to one's eyes, particularly if accompanied by the right sort of pedal steel solo: "I understand that the boss man wants to make a change, and there's really nothing that I can do about it except accept it," Rhodes said. "I just don't want to leave the staff band. I want to wear the coat, I want to be in the picture. I think that's what's broke my heart." Rhodes first joined Tubb's...