Walter Rhodes

Walter Rhodes was an American blues musician, who recorded briefly in the late 1920s and was unusual in being a blues accordionist and singer from Mississippi. Little is known of his life outside of his recordings.

Biography Walter Rhodes was reportedly born in Cleveland, Mississippi, United States. On his recordings however, Rhodes was accompanied by a guitar duo.

The recording session took place on December 10, 1927, in Memphis, Tennessee. The musicians present were listed as Walter Rhodes (vocals, accordion, vocal effects); plus 'Pet' and 'Can' (Maylon and Richard "Hacksaw" Harney), (guitars, speech). The songs were "The Crowing Rooster", "Leaving Home Blues", "She's A Girl of Mine" and "Left My Baby Blues". The first two tracks were released by Columbia Records on a 10-inch shellac phonograph record, on February 4, 1928. The label billed them as Walter Rhodes with "Pet and "Can". The few assessments that were made of Rhodes' accordion playing, were generally in comparison between Rhodes simplistic approach, compared to the sophistication of the accompanying guitar work.

Patton recorded a song called "Banty Rooster Blues" in June 1929. Lyrically the track contained many similarities to Rhodes' "The Crowing Rooster". More than one source suggests that Patton may well have known Rhodes, as they resided in the same part of Mississippi, and Patton could have learned the song directly from Rhodes.

"Rollin' and Tumblin'" (or "Roll and Tumble Blues"), as recorded by Hambone Willie Newbern in March 1929, is a track whose stylistic origins appear to derive from "The Crowing Rooster" and "Banty Rooster Blues". One historian noted that Newbern "may have taken a commonly used melody from Mississippi/West Tennessee practice".

Rhodes is said to have died in his forties, after being struck by lightning.

Legacy The six disc boxed set of recordings that comprise Screamin' and Hollerin' the Blues: The Worlds of Charley Patton, included Rhodes' "The Crowing Rooster".

Discography Singles Year Title (A-side / B-side) Record label 1928 "The Crowing Rooster" / "Leaving Home Blues" Columbia(Columbia 14289-D) 1928 "She's A Girl of Mine" / "Left My Baby Blues" Columbiaunissued 2001 Screamin' and Hollerin' the Blues: The Worlds of Charley Patton Revenant "The Crowing Rooster" 2007 When the Levee Breaks: Mississippi Blues, Rare Cuts 1926-41 JSP "The Crowing Rooster" / "Leaving Home Blues"