Music
The Saxophone Serenade on Table Rock Lake
2024-11-22
In Ridgedale, Missouri, an extraordinary musical journey unfolds. At the age of 85, Charlie Chalmers continues to make his mark. Hailing from Memphis, he was on tour with Jerry Lee Lewis by 19 and went on to earn Grammy Awards for his work on Aretha Franklin's "Respect" and "Chain of Fools", as well as Wilson Pickett's "Mustang Sally". His home studio by Table Rock Lake is where his musical magic begins.
The Rhythms of Cousins
The Rhodes sisters, Sandy and Donna, known as the Lonesome Rhodes, had a country album under their belt. Their father, Dusty Rhodes, grew up between West Plains and Mammoth Spring and launched a country music TV show in Memphis. They had already done background work before singing on Al Green's "Let's Stay Together", which was also a hit in Memphis. "Country music and rhythm and blues are cousins," Sandy said, emphasizing the seamless blend.Harmony Unleashed
When Charlie joined the mix on "Let's Stay Together", it started a new chapter. The singing group became Rhodes Chalmers Rhodes and went on to perform with Paul Anka in Vegas and record with Frank Sinatra. In the late '70s, they sang backup for the BeeGees and produced their own album "Scandal". In 1982, they achieved another genre success by writing Conway Twitty's "The Clown" which topped the country music charts.From Vegas to Ridgedale
Charlie then found himself in Ridgedale, while Sandy was just down the road in Hardy, Arkansas. In September, Rhodes Chalmers Rhodes was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame, a moment of great honor. Despite Charlie still recording, Sandy and Donna continue to perform together and write music. Donna also tours the world paying tribute to Elvis Presley, having been on his hits "In the Ghetto," "Kentucky Rain," and "Suspicious Minds".