Teenie Hodges, a soul vet known for his connections to Al Green, Cat Power and Drake, has passed away after a battle with emphysema. He was 68.
He died in Dallas, TX's Baylor University Medical Center. He was taken there following this year's SXSW festival after falling ill with pneumonia.
The Memphis musician born Mabon Lewis Hodges achieved success as a close collaborator with Al Green, having co-written and played on classic songs like "Love and Happiness," "Take Me to the River," "Here I Am (Come and Take Me)" and "Full of Fire."
He was also the guitarist for Hi Records' popular soul house band the Hi Rhythm Section, who were the backbone of many '60s and '70s soul recordings. Later in his career, he contributed significantly to Cat Power's 2006 album The Greatest.
He is also known as Drake's uncle and was the subject of the 2013 documentary Mabon "Teenie" Hodges: A Portrait of A Memphis Soul Original.
Family friend Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell confirmed the news with Memphis paper the Commercial Appeal, saying, "It's a huge blow to Memphis music. Teenie was an icon — as a songwriter and a guitarist. Guitarists all around the world loved and imitated his playing. But Teenie... man, he was one of a kind."
He died in Dallas, TX's Baylor University Medical Center. He was taken there following this year's SXSW festival after falling ill with pneumonia.
The Memphis musician born Mabon Lewis Hodges achieved success as a close collaborator with Al Green, having co-written and played on classic songs like "Love and Happiness," "Take Me to the River," "Here I Am (Come and Take Me)" and "Full of Fire."
He was also the guitarist for Hi Records' popular soul house band the Hi Rhythm Section, who were the backbone of many '60s and '70s soul recordings. Later in his career, he contributed significantly to Cat Power's 2006 album The Greatest.
He is also known as Drake's uncle and was the subject of the 2013 documentary Mabon "Teenie" Hodges: A Portrait of A Memphis Soul Original.
Family friend Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell confirmed the news with Memphis paper the Commercial Appeal, saying, "It's a huge blow to Memphis music. Teenie was an icon — as a songwriter and a guitarist. Guitarists all around the world loved and imitated his playing. But Teenie... man, he was one of a kind."
