Emitt Rhodes was a beloved power pop pioneer with a strong cult following whose song styling was compared to Paul McCartney.
- Died: Sunday July 19, 2020. (Who else died on July 19?)
- Details of Death: Died at the age of 70.
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Critically acclaimed musician who was under the radar
Rhodes was in the Los Angeles pop rock band The Merry-Go-Round as a teenager. He was the singer-songwriter for the band who had a Billboard Top 100 hit with the song “Live.” That song was covered by Los Angeles band the Bangles on their 1984 debut album. Rhodes moved on to a critically acclaimed solo career releasing four albums between 1970 and 1973. He recorded his first solo album “Emitt Rhodes” in his home studio, singing and playing every instrument. The song “Lullaby” from that album was featured in the movie “The Royal Tenenbaums.” After releasing an album in 1973, his next release did not happen until 2016 and featured contributions from LA musicians including Susanna Hoffs and Aimee Mann. He was the subject of the 2009 documentary film “The One Man Beatles.”
Rhodes on comparisons to Paul McCartney
“Well, that’s a real compliment. What can you say? He’s a great singer, don’t you think? That’s what I thought, too.” – 2009 interview with Steve Marinucci.
What they said about him
Full Obituary: Variety
