Larry Reinhardt

Guitar player Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt, a Bradenton native who founded rock 'n' roll supergroup Captain Beyond, died from a respiratory infection Monday at Manatee Memorial Hospital. He was 63.

"He was one of the true American classic rock guitar players, like Michael Monarch of Steppenwolf and Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad," said publicist Billy James from Asheville, N.C. "There aren't many of them around anymore."

In the late 1960s, Reinhardt played with Dickey Betts and Berry Oakley before they joined The Allman Brothers band. He signed on with Iron Butterfly in 1969, shortly after their song "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vidda" defined psychedelic rock.

Following the group's breakup in 1971, Reinhardt collaborated with Butterfly bassist Lee Dorman, ex-Deep Purple vocalist Rod Evans and Johnny Winter band drummer Bobby Caldwell in Captain Beyond, which enjoyed a five-year run.

Reinhardt continued to perform in multiple Butterfly and Captain Beyond reunions.

In 2008, he released his first solo album, "Rhino's Last Stand." Two years later, he began working with members of Dickey Betts' band, Great Southern, to produce what would be his final CD, "Back in the Day." They called themselves "Rhino and The Posse."

"I knew Rhino had had some health problems over the past year, but he had been playing around and he wanted to tour this year," said James. "This is sad because he was a really nice guy and never let his ego get in the way. He was rockin' to the end."

Richard Hombre Price began jamming with Reinhardt in 1968. The two moved to Jacksonville shortly thereafter and played with musicians who would become The Allman Brothers Band. "That's when Southern rock started to happen," Price recalled.

Price's career would take him to Nashville, but the two reunited after 32 years, and played in the Sarasota area under the name Blue Swamp. Price says he hopes to release a CD of their work together early this year.

"Rhino was in a league with Clapton and Hendrix and Duane (Allman)," Price says. "He was one of the greatest psychedelic southern blues rockers of all time."

A celebration of life will be held at a date to be announced later