E-mail: walterdrhodes@geocities.com

Music Room

 

A. PHOTO GALLERY (Coming Soon!!!)

B. BIOGRAPHY

C. DEMO SONGS

D. INFLUENCES

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BIOGRAPHY


 


Walter Dean Rhodes


Singer - Songwriter


 


Walter is a college graduate, and owner of a successful consulting firm. Largely employed in the Information Industry (Data Processing), he still finds quality time for his music.


Walter has been writing and composing songs since 7 years old. The jingle in the closing credits of the Demo Video Cassette, "A Walk in the Park" was written at 10 years old on the home piano. One of his fondest childhood memories was the day he saw "Tom Petty" playing "The Byrds" cover songs with Mudcrutch.


Music, necessarily had to give way to conventional education, yet while obtaining honors in Engineering Technology and Computer Science, the urge to write and perform remained. The "music bug" was reactivated in the early 90's when his first guitar was purchased. The first song written for guitar was "Rodney the Raccoon", about a Raccoon that climbed a light pole on the 401 and got stuck there, causing a media frenzy in Toronto.


His major influences for improvisational lead guitar are Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana and Eric Clapton.
 Influences include such legendary groups as "The Beatles", "Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers", "The Byrds", "The Rolling Stones", "CSN & Y", "The Who", "Moist" and "Oasis".
 Other music influences, too many to list, include hundreds of the most popular musicians spanning the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's.


Additionally, Walter has received credits and critical acclaim for his theatrical performances with the Scarborough Theatre Guild, most recently performing as "Dave Ogden" of "Who Killed Santa Claus".


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THE DEMO SONGS


Demo Audio Cassette, Video Cassette


 



Single name:    A walk in the Park


Album name:    I'm so lonely


 


Song 1:   I'm so lonely, and I can't stand it     Classic Rock


Song 2:   Unemployment Blues                         Classic Rock


Song 3:   We'd like to win for a change           Classic Rock


Song 4:   Rodney the Raccoon                            Country/ Folk


 


All songs written & composed by Walter Dean Rhodes


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TOP 24 INFLUENCES




A list of 24 Favorite Groups/Artists, who have been influential to many with a condensed list of example albums, represented songs, and a brief note.


This section is only a tiny fraction of influential Artists who have made outstanding contributions to music.




 






Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers



The Byrds



Bob Dylan



Eric Clapton






Jimi Hendrix


 



Rush



Everly Brothers



John Denver






Neil Young



Crosby, Stills & Nash



Creedence Clearwater Rev.



Moist






Simon & Garfunkel



The Who



The Rolling Stones



The Animals






The Beatles



The Monkees



Paul Revere & The Raiders



David Cassidy






The Hollies



Buddy Holly



The Guess Who


 



Oasis







 


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Tom Petty & Mudcrutch


Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers


 




 






Albums:



Tom Petty & the Heartbreaker's Greatest Hits






Damn The Torpedoes






Hard Promises







 






Example


Songs:


 



The Waiting






Here Comes my Girl






The Wild One







 




Singer/Songwriter, Tom Petty, is one of the most influential musicians of the 1970's. Having being strongly influenced by the Byrds with a memorable 12 stringed Rickenbacker sound, and adding to that his powerful lyrics, energetic vocals, and highly charged stage presence, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, are among the most successful, and sought after acts in the world.


The biggest concert experience of my life was seeing Tom Petty & Mudcrutch doing "Byrds" cover songs at a free outdoor concert.


 




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The Byrds


 


 


 






Album:



The Byrds' Greatest Hits 







 






Example Songs:


 



Mr. Tambourine Man






Turn! Turn! Turn!






Mr. Spaceman







    




The Byrd's "Mr. Tambourine man" (Bob Dylan), and "Turn! Turn! Turn" songs are among the biggest attention grabber songs in human history. 




See also: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.


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 Bob Dylan


 


 


 






Album:



Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits 







 






Example Songs:


 



Like a Rolling Stone






Mr. Tambourine Man






It ain't me babe







   




Bob Dylan is one of the most frequently covered artists in the world. The Byrd's "Mr. Tambourine Man", The Turtles "It ain't me Babe", and The Rolling Stones "Like a Rolling Stone" are just a few examples.




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Eric Clapton


 


 


 






Album:



Eric Clapton at his Best 







 






Example Songs:


 



Layla






I shot the sheriff






Just one Night







  




Eric Clapton's "Layla" song no doubt has inspired many to taking up lead guitar playing.


 




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Jimi Hendrix


 


 


 






Album:



Jimi Hendrix: Are you Experienced? 







 






Example Songs:


 



Bold as love






All along the Watchtower






The wind cries Mary







    




Jimi Hendrix's electrifying performance in the "Woodstock" movie, probably has inspired many to taking up the electric guitar. Listening to his music is also good drill for changing left hand lead guitar positions.




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Rush


 


 


 






Album:



Rush Chronicles 







 






Example Songs:


 



Closer to the Heart






Fly by Night






Time Stands Still







 




Getty Lee is one of the most influential bass/rhythm guitar players.




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The Everly Brothers


 


 


 






Album:



Everly Brothers' Greatest Hits







 






Example Songs:


 



Wake up little Suzi






Bye, Bye, Love






Devoted to you 







  




The first 7" vinyl 45 I ever had, and really enjoyed, was an Everly Brothers record on a Cadence label. I used to also like to play it backwards and at different speeds.




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John Denver


 




 






Albums:



John Denver's Greatest Hits, Vol. I






John Denver's Greatest Hits, Vol. II






John Denver: Back home Again







 






Example


Songs:


 



Country Roads






Sunshine on my Shoulders






Leaving on a Jet Plane







 




John Denver is one of the biggest folk artists in history. He is also famous for his environmental causes especially with the Starlight Foundation. He was reported to be once under consideration, by the Russians, for a chance to man the Mir Orbiting Experimental Space Station. John Denver film acting career debuted in the movie, "Oh! God" beside the legendary "George Burns".


John Denver died in November 1997 in an experimental plane crash. Millions of worldwide fans mourned the death of this highly regarded person.




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Neil Young


 


 


 






Album:



Decade







 






Example Songs:


 



Ohio






Old Man






Cinnamon Girl







 




Neil Young plays with outstanding enthusiasm. Also, we're both into antique electric train sets.




See also: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.


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Crosby, Stills & Nash


 




 






Albums:



Crosby, Stills & Nash






Deja Vu






Graham Nash/David Crosby







 






Example


Songs:


 



Woodstock






Teach your Children Well






Wooden Ships







 




Many of these songs are great "jam along" songs.




See also: The Byrds, The Hollies, Neil Young, Buffalo Springfield.


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Creedence Clearwater Revival


 


 


 






Album:



Creedence Clearwater Revival's Greatest Hits







 






Example Songs:


 



Bad Moon Rising






Proud Mary






Down on the corner







 




No music collection is complete without it.




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Moist


 


 


 






Album:



Moist: Creature







 






Example Songs:


 



Resurrection






Hate






Gasoline (on the single)







 




This album is REALLY GOOD!!! You've got to try it. Excellent lead guitar practice.




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Simon & Garfunkel


 


 


 






Album:



Simon & Garfunkel's Greatest Hits







 






Example Songs:


 



Feeling Groovy (The 59th Street Bridge Song)






Sound of Silence






The Boxer







 




The Cassette "Simon & Garfunkel's Greatest Hits" rekindled my renewed interest in popular music in the early 90's.




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The Who


 




 






Albums:



Tommy, movie soundtrack, 1973






Who's Next?






The Who's Greatest Hits







 






Example


Songs:


 



Baba O'Reilly






Who are you?






The Kids are Alright







 




Pete Townshend powerful Rock Guitar, Keith Moon's wild drum playing, John Entwistle's rocking bass, and Roger Daltrey's fiery vocals makes for a totally fun experience, whether you are spectator, or covering them on stage.


The two immensely rock operas, "Tommy" and "Quadraphenia" not only succeeded as movies, but also moved on to be successful Broadway productions.


They were the first popular group to be known for the unnecessary destruction of equipment during a performance. This behavior is not likely to be imitated in this day and age where most new musicians no matter how good, or determined, find themselves being most frequently frustrated in their efforts to get ahead by a chronic shortage of finances and quality equipment.




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The Rolling Stones


 




 






Albums:



Hot Rocks, Vol. I






Hot Rocks, Vol. II






Sticky Fingers







 






Example


Songs:


 



Honky Tonk Woman






The Last Time






Child of the Moon







 




The Rolling Stones are one of the finest examples of a group that has immensely succeeded, and done it in style. They have achieved such a level of superstardom, that they've become an institution. Practically everyone who has ever picked up a guitar and learned to play, probably have once had the dreams of making it as big as they have, and/or being in the venerable group.


Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ron Wood, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts, as well as many other Stones Alumni, have made a place in history for themselves, as the most recognized and respected group of the Rock Era.


The group has been rocking for more than 35 years, no doubt credited to their legendary and uncompromising style, their fantastic stage presence and Mick Jagger's sharp business sense.




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The Animals


 


 


 






Album:



The Best of the Animals







 






Example Songs:


 



House of the Rising Sun






We've got to get out of this Place






Sky Pilot







  




The Animals record albums are a definite must listen for any music enthusiast.




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The Beatles


 




 






Albums:



Sgt. Pepper






The Beatles: 1967-1970 (The Blue Album)






Revolver







 






Example


Songs:


 



Revolution






My Guitar Gently Weeps






Here comes the Sun







 




The Beatles influenced a whole generation of musicians. They are a very good place to start if you've just learned how to play open chord rhythm guitar.




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The Monkees


 




 






Albums:



The Monkees Greatest Hits






Headquarters






Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, and Jones Ltd.







 






Example


Songs:


 



Last Train to Clarkesville






Pleasant Valley Sunday






Vallerie







 




The Monkees scored huge success in the later 60's with their fantastic music, and the immensely popular TV series. The group was created by the Screen Gems company in an attempt to develop a pilot for a sitcom based on a Beatles like group in the fashion of the movie, "A Hard Day's Night". Stephen Stills, and Danny Hutton were among the 437 hopefuls who auditioned.


I had a rare chance to meet Davy Jones in person at the Broadway production of "Grease!"




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Paul Revere and the Raiders


 


 


 






Album:



Paul Revere and the Raiders' Greatest Hits







 






Example Songs:


 



Kicks






Hungry






Good Thing







  




The pre-arranged lead guitar style, like in the song "Kicks" is very addictive.




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David Cassidy


 


 


 






Album:



David Cassidy's Greatest Hits







 






Example Songs:


 



Cherish






Into Something Good






Point me in the Direction of Alburquirky







  




Nominated for Best Actor in a Television Drama for his Guest appearance in the Police Story episode, "A chance to live".


I saw him at the Broadway production, "Blood Brothers". The production is strongly moving.


David Cassidy stared in the immensely popular, Partridge Family TV series.




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The Hollies


 


 


 






Album:



The Hollie's Epic Anthology: From the original master tapes







 






Example Songs:


 



Out on the Road (From "The Hollies", Epic, 1973 Album, a must hear)






Air that I Breath






Carry Anne







  




The Hollie's Epic Anthology, mentioned above, is a must listen.




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Buddy Holly


 


 


 






Album:



Buddy Holly's Greatest Hits







 






Example Songs:


 



Well, All Right?






Peggy Sue






That will be the Day







  




The song "Well, All Right", is among the best finger-picking classical guitar songs. Another two favorites for finger-picking are "Listen... People..." by the Herman's Hermits, and "Lady Jane" by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. 




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The Guess Who


 


 


 






Album:



The Guess Who's Greatest Hits, Vol. I







 






Example Songs:


 



No Sugar Tonight in my coffee






These Eyes






Laughing







  




The Album, "The Guess Who's Greatest Hits, Vol. I" is a must listen.




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Oasis


 


 


 






Album:



Definitely Maybe







 






Example Songs:


 



 Champaign Supernova






 Go with it






 The Walrus (Beatles' Cover Song)







  




TV Interviews with the popular 90's group, Oasis, reveal a very good secret for up-and-coming songwriters. Great efficiency in writing and planning songs can be achieved by starting with the acoustic rhythm guitar/rhythm tracks and later adding additional tracks one by one, such as the lead guitar and eventually the vocals.




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