Clarence Smith aka Sonny Rhodes, Born November 3, 1940 in Smithville, Texas, he was the 6th and last child of Leroy and Julia Smith, who were sharecroppers. He began playing seriously when he was 12, although he got his first guitar when he was 8 as a Christmas present. Rhodes began performing around downtown Smithville and Austin in the late '50s, while still in his teens.

Sonny heard a lot of T-Bone Walker when he was young, and it shows in his playing today. Other guitarists he credits as being influences include LC Robinson, Pee Wee Crayton, Percy Mayfield and BB King. Sonny's first band, Clarence Smith and the Daylighters, played the Austin Texas area Blues clubs before Sonny decided to join the Navy.

Sonny credits his legally blind uncle as his greatest influence and learning source. As a boy, he would watch his uncle in downtown Smithville buskin' for change at a place called Wino's Corner. The young Rhodes paid special attention to both his uncle's Blues licks and the sound of coins being tossed into his uncle's hat.