Leon Rhodes
Musician · 1932–2017 · Dallas, Texas
Leon Rhodes was a fast, jazz-inflected country lead guitarist best known for his work in Ernest Tubb's Texas Troubadours and, for decades afterward, the Grand Ole Opry staff band. Admired by peers for his speed and fluency, he became one of Nashville's most respected sidemen.
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- Born March 10, 1932, in Dallas, Texas; died December 9, 2017, in Nashville.
- Lead guitarist in Ernest Tubb and His Texas Troubadours from 1960 to 1966.
- His self-penned showcase “Honey Fingers” gave him his nickname.
- Joined the Grand Ole Opry staff band in 1967 and stayed for decades.
- Played in the Hee Haw house band and did session work for Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and George Strait.
- Honored in the Country Music Hall of Fame's “Nashville Cats” series in 2014.