Charlie Daniels remembers guitarist Leon Rhodes

Country music icon Charlie Daniels has paid tribute to former Texas Troubadours guitarist Leon Rhodes following his death on Saturday (09Dec17).
The musician, a key member of Ernest Tubb’s band in the 1960s, passed away at his home in Nashville, Tennessee, aged 85.
Rhodes had risen to prominence recording with artists like singer/songwriter Lefty Frizzell and Ray Price in his native Texas in the 1950s, before joining Tubb’s group as lead guitarist.
Known for his speed and accuracy, he later became a regular at iconic Nashville music venue, the Grand Ole Opry, after becoming a member of the house band, while he also worked as a session musician for stars including George Strait, Reba McEntire, and Loretta Lynn, and played in the Hee Haw variety show band.
Daniels has saluted Rhodes’ memory in a post on Twitter, writing: “A legendary Nashville guitar picker has passed away… Leon Rhodes rest in peace. Your picking will be remembered and respected by those of us who admired you.”
Fellow country singer Elizabeth Cook added: “Ever hear an Ernest Tubb record where he say ‘awwww, pick it out Leon’? – that was Leon Rhodes. He’s gone on 2 join that gr8 (great) country band in the sky. #RIP (sic)”.