According to news that broke last week, "Founded by Harold Rhodes in 1946, Rhodes became one of the most influential keyboard instruments of the 20th century, shaping the sound of jazz, rock, soul, and pop music. As the company marks its 80th anniversary, Rhodes looks back on a history spanning from the original Fullerton factory in California to its modern revival in Leeds, UK, where a new generation of builders and engineers continues the legacy of the iconic electromechanical piano."
"Few people witnessed the rise of the Rhodes piano as closely as Roger Garvin," a statement continues. "Joining CBS Musical Instruments in 1970, Roger spent the next decade inside the Fullerton, California factory during one of the busiest and most influential periods in Rhodes history, first overseeing the Rhodes production line before later serving as Rhodes Marketing Director during the CBS/Fender era."
"Long before the instrument became associated with jazz fusion, soul, and rock music, Roger recalled that Harold's motivation came from his experience as a piano teacher. At the end of a lesson, one student would leave the room and pay for their session, while nearby guitar teachers would walk away having taught entire groups of students at once. 'That bothered him,' Roger said."
“Part of the genesis of the Rhodes piano was that Harold wanted to be able to teach multiple students at the same time,” Roger explained. “He wanted to give the teacher the ability to punch in, or punch out and listen to each student one at a time.”
"While we did a good job manufacturing Rhodes pianos in the seventies, what impressed me about the MK8/80AE was the level of attention to detail, quality components, and innovation," Garvin told MC. "What I saw goes beyond anything we were able to achieve in Fullerton at the time."
"By the early 1970s, the Rhodes piano had evolved far beyond its educational origins," the statement continues. "As the instrument found its way into studios, touring rigs, and concert stages around the world, Rhodes became closely associated with artists including Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, Chick Corea, Joe Zawinul, and Ray Manzarek, helping define the sound of an era."
“It was an amazing time for the Rhodes piano as jazz and rock musicians discovered a sound that perfectly complemented the waveforms of string, woodwind and brass instruments,” Roger said. “The Rhodes piano paved the way for the explosion of electronic keyboard instruments that followed.”
To learn more about the history of Rhodes and its upcoming 80th anniversary celebrations, visit RhodesMusic.com.
Historical images courtesy of Roger Garvin.
