The Hodges Brothers

The Hodges Brothers are a musical group composed of Memphis, TN, natives Charles Hodges (organ), Leroy Hodges (bass), and Mabon "Teenie" Hodges (guitar). The brothers were recruited by producer Willie Mitchell as his house band supporting Hi Records acts Ann Peebles, O.V. Wright, Syl Johnson, and most famously Al Green. They, along with drummer Howard Grimes (or Stax Records legend Al Jackson, Jr. on most singles until his death in 1975), created an extremely unique and distinctive sound.

The group became one of the most important house bands in the business. Their telepathic interplay was rivaled only by Jackson's Booker T. & the MGs. Besides Al Jackson, Mitchell also used The Memphis Horns of Stax fame (usually with brother James Mitchell arranging).

The brothers, with Grimes, recorded the 1976 LP "On the Loose" as Hi Rhythm, and 1994 saw the release of "Perfect Gentlemen", featuring a fourth Hodges with the addition of Fred on keyboards, issued on Velvet Recordings of America as The Hodges Brothers. Both albums featured vocalists. The boys still played together, sometimes with Jackson's cousin Steve Potts on percussion, providing their unique backdrops for old mates Syl Johnson on the Delmark Records CD "Back in the Game"(1994) and the Mitchell produced Al Green comeback "I Can't Stop" and its follow-up for the Blue Note label in 2003 and '05.

The Royal Recording studios in Memphis now belongs on the same tour with the landmark studios of Stax and Sun thanks largely to Willie Mitchell, Green, Jackson, and The Hodges Brothers.