Emitt Rhodes

The Profile

Emitt Rhodes (1950–2020) was an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He started as a drummer with The Palace Guard, co-founded The Merry-Go-Round, then recorded his 1970 self-titled solo debut at home, playing and producing everything himself—earning the nickname “the One Man Beatles.” He followed with Mirror (1971) and Farewell to Paradise (1973), and returned with Rainbow Ends (2016).

Member of The Merry-Go-Round; recorded the 1970 self-titled debut alone on a four-track at home; widely compared to Paul McCartney; American artist born in Decatur, Illinois and raised in Hawthorne, California; notable albums include Emitt Rhodes, Mirror, Farewell to Paradise, and Rainbow Ends.

One review spotlights Emitt Rhodes’s 1970 self-titled debut, recorded solo on a four-track in his parents’ garage and often compared to McCartney. The piece notes the ‘One Man Beatles’ tag, highlights tracks like With My Face on the Floor, Fresh as a Daisy, and Find Yourself Running, and comments on the lo-fi mastering. Overall tone: appreciative yet measured.