George Rhodes

George Arthur Rhodes (October 10, 1918 – December 25, 1985) was an American arranger, conductor, music director, pianist, and composer. He is most known for being Sammy Davis Jr.'s long-time music director, arranger, and conductor. Rhodes made history as a black music director by being the first to work for a major network (at NBC in 1966 for The Sammy Davis Jr. Show) and to work for a Las Vegas showroom (at the Tropicana Hotel in 1973). After being hired as a temporary pianist for Davis in 1955, Rhodes eventually became his principal arranger and conductor, working on his variety act, The Sammy Davis Jr. Show, three of Davis' television specials, two musicals starring Davis, and three albums.

Birth and Death Data: Born (Indiana (state of the United States of America)), Died December 25, 1985 (Los Angeles (seat of Los Angeles County, and largest city in California, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1950 - 1960

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Atlantic 1259 10-in. 4/19/1954 Horse laff Arnett Cobb instrumentalist, piano  
Atlantic 1261 10-in. 4/19/1954 Mr. Pogo Arnett Cobb instrumentalist, piano  
Mercury 3719 10-in. 1950 Rock around the clock Hal Singer Orchestra ; Sam Theard instrumentalist, piano  
Mercury 3720 10-in. 1950 Fine as wine Hal Singer Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 108523 1/4/1960 I gotta right to sing the blues Sammy Davis, Jr. instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 108524 1/4/1960 The lady is a tramp Sammy Davis, Jr. instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 108525 1/4/1960 I got a woman Sammy Davis, Jr. instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 108526 1/4/1960 Do nothin' till you hear from me Sammy Davis, Jr. instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 108527 1/6/1960 Till then Sammy Davis, Jr. instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 108528 1/6/1960 Get on the right track, baby Sammy Davis, Jr. instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 108529 1/6/1960 Face to face Sammy Davis, Jr. instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 108554 1/7/1960 There is no greater love Sammy Davis, Jr. instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 108555 1/7/1960 This little girl of mine Sammy Davis, Jr. instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 108556 1/7/1960 Gee baby, ain't I good to you? Sammy Davis, Jr. instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 108557 1/7/1960 Mess around Sammy Davis, Jr. instrumentalist, piano  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Rhodes, George," accessed January 4, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/339924.

Rhodes, George. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 4, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/339924.

"Rhodes, George." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 4 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/339924

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