Re: RIP Mr. Rhodes

From: Steve Catanzaro (stevencatanzaro@sprintmail.com)
Date: Wed Jan 03 2001 - 18:23:51 CET

  • Next message: Joni .: "Re: RIP Mr. Rhodes"

    >
    >
    > Confirm this or not, the Fender Rhodes was a genuine Southern California
    product?
    > The airplane parts that comprised the Rhodes prototype were from Southern
    > CA-area aerospace plants, were they not? And the main Rhodes pianos were
    all
    > produced in a factory in Fullerton, correct?

    Elson;

    It is true that the main factory was in Fullerton. That factory, as far as I
    know, is still dormant and the machinery necessary to remake the keyboards
    is still there, although probably in ill-repair. Fender was based in So Cal
    as well, back then. Steve Woodyard, who was Harold's technical partner back
    in the heyday, is still in So Cal and I believe he has a company offering
    replacement parts.

    I think the general Rhodes info link is www.fenderrhodes.org

    As for the prototype; that is probably true as well, although off the top of
    my head, I can't remember. But I do know that many, many of those units were
    produced, using old B-17 bomber parts, primarily.

    Some essential records with the "Rhodes Sound:"

    * Miles Davis (Check out "In A Silent Way") Miles forced reluctant
    keyboardists like
           Herbie and Keith Jarrett to get hip to the Rhodes.
    * Joe Zawinul (With Cannonball Adderely and Weather Report)
    * Herbie Hancock (Starting with "The Prisoner" check especially
          "Fat Albert Rotunda" "Headhunters" "Thrust")
    * The Beatles (Billy Preston lays it out for you on "Get Back" and other
    trax)
    * The Roots. (Do You Want More, The Roots Come Alive, among others)

    There's nothing like hitting a few sus9 chords on a nice Rhodes in a darkly
    lit room. Instant goatee....



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