These Miami brothers took their musical act to national TV. Remember them?
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- The Fabulous Rhodes Brothers rose from Miami lounges to national TV exposure.
- Their signature mix of harmony and comedy earned praise from Johnny Carson.
- A 1968 Miami show led to a booking on the Mike Douglas Show by Roger Ailes.
Before Gloria Estefan and before KC and the Sunshine band, a family band put Miami music on the map.
The Rhodes Brothers recorded albums and appeared on nationally TV variety shows. But back in Miami, they were best known for their local performances at lounges around town, their own club near the Miami airport, their restaurant at the Miami Springs Country Club and their appearances on the Jerry Lewis telethon.
They came to Miami in the early 1960s, but also were known across the country. In 1969, they appeared on the “Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.”
“They have something special, something different,” Carson said as he introduced The Fabulous Rhodes Brothers. “They have an electricity about them that literally turns the audience on.”
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The brothers — Ruey, Johnny, Tommy and Eddie — were known for their smooth three-part harmony and slapstick comedy.
The Fabulous Rhodes Brothers spent the early 1960s playing hotels and casinos across the country. Their big break came in 1968 at the Crossway Inn in Miami.
“One audience member really liked watching four guys sing and dance while holding banjos,” Johnny Rhodes once said. “His name was Roger Ailes and he signed us up for the Mike Douglas Show.”
Here’s a look at the Rhodes Brothers through the years:
This story was originally published June 21, 2025 at 2:19 PM.