Nod to The Legend · The instruments · 1910–2000
Harold Rhodes
Inventor of the Rhodes electric piano
During World War II, Rhodes taught wounded airmen to play on small pianos he built from aircraft parts. That idea became the Fender Rhodes in 1965, with metal tines struck by hammers, and its bell-like tone is all over soul and jazz.
Still heard: The Rhodes is the sound of neo-soul, lo-fi and smooth R&B keys.
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- J Dilla: Detroit producer
- Don Leslie: Inventor of the rotating speaker
- Roger Linn: Drum machine and MPC designer
- Tom Dowd: Atlantic Records engineer