On the recordJune 24, 2014
Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of an outstanding guitarist, songwriter, singer, and legendary Memphis musician, Mabon Hodges, better known as ``Teenie'' Hodges, who passed away in Dallas just yesterday. Teenie started playing the guitar at age 12, and he and his brothers were part of the Hi Rhythm Section, which was part of Royal Studios and Hi Records music that produced Al Green and Otis Clay and others, a great part of the Memphis sound in the seventies under Willie Mitchell, a great producer and great musician himself. Willie Mitchell kind of adopted Teenie and taught him something about playing guitar and helped him in his career. Willie's grandson, Boo Mitchell, now runs that studio. Teenie has been a part of it in the heart of the Hi Rhythm Section, which is well known throughout the world. He cowrote, with Al Green, ``Love and Happiness'' and ``Take Me to the River'' and other great tunes. He continued playing through the spring. He fell ill with emphysema, which he had for years, but the emphysema got so strong that he had to be taken to the hospital in Dallas this spring, and then he passed away from emphysema. Services will be held in Memphis next week. I was a friend of Teenie's. He was a great Memphian, a wonderful spirit, and a great talent. All of Memphis will miss him, and all of us in the country appreciate his great music and contribution to our culture. ____________________





