Bio
Fletcher Rhoden Biography
Born in Los Angeles in 1966, Rhoden took up guitar and began song writing at age 11. He did little else until his second year at Berklee College of Music in 1985. The writer of nearly 500 songs, Rhoden also began scoring, culminating in the soundtrack for the American Heritage Award-winning videos THE BUFFALO SOLDIERS 1 and 2. Rhoden began publishing his own comic books in 1990 and started writing fiction in 1992. Signed to Preferred Artists, Rhoden has written dozens of scripts and novels and has professional credits with Dave Thomas of SCTV. In 1997/98 Rhoden produced and starred in WRITER’S BLOCK and THE MIGHTY THREE, two radio feature programs which reached 1.5 million people each, twice weekly . Also in 1998, Rhoden worked as a story board artist for Warner Brothers’ preshow production for DUCK DODGERS IN THE 24TH 1/2 CENTURY IN 3D. In 1999 he wrote and illustrated the fact-based novella, THE TRIAL OF DAVY CROCKETT (Trafford), called, “A must read...thoughtful yet riveting from the first page to the last,” by Midwest Book Review. The book was widely praised elsewhere and is featured on many Alamo “recommended reading” lists. Also in 1999 Rhoden wrote and directed the one-act play SOUL CANCER, which played to SRO crowds in Los Angeles. The subsequent video was featured in the New York International Film and Video Festival, among others, and the play was performed live in excerpt at Madison Square Garden. The hour-long video was broadcast in TV markets throughout the United States and is now available on dvd. In 2000 Rhoden wrote and directed the dv short subject THE CHRISTOPHER WALKEN ECSTATIC DANCE ACADEMY, which followed SOUL CANCER to the NYIFVF and was also presented at Cannes and MIFED, picking up several honorable mentions at other festivals. NEW TIMES LOS ANGELES called it, “Hilarious...rivals the best of SNL...” One of many projects to feature Rhoden’s music, THE CHRISTOPHER WALKEN ECSTATIC DANCE ACADEMY included the single CAN’T STOP TALKIN’ LIKE CHRISTOPHER WALKEN, called “Immensely hummable,” by New Times’ Gregory Weinkauf. The short has become an internet staple, making a recent debut on Youtube, along with a live video performance of the tune by Rhoden. This short, with extra material, is also available on dvd from Rhoden’s home site and in rental shops across the LA area. Rhoden has also worked as a writer for interactive projects from leading toy companies and film studios, most recently Mattel, Inc. Rhoden began producing animation in 2005, scoring a cult hit with THE RABBIT IN THE MOON, currently his most-watched ‘toon on the internet. He produced 6-8 animated projects per year in 2005 and 2006, including celebrity impersonations of Christopher Walken, Paul McCartney and others. 2006 also saw the release of STUMP THE BAND, (Boathouse Studios). Rhoden earned ‘story by’ credit on this slasher about an all-girl rock band terrorized by ax murderers with an unfortunate foot fetish. The film, produced and scored by BRADY BUNCH/TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES actor Robbie Rist, has screened in Chicago, Las Vegas and Los Angeles, picking up seven awards, including 2 for best feature. Rhoden has several children’s books now available to publishers, including THAT’S RUDE, JUDE, available to preview at www.fletcherrhoden.com in both readable and animatic presentations. That same year Rhoden introduced BALLOONZEE, an animated children’s program (books also available), for which he also penned and recorded several new tunes, released to rent or own on DVD and a “chick lit” novel SISTERELLA. In February 2008, Rhoden directed the world-premiere run of his two-act stage play LAST TANGO WITH MARLON, about the lives and friendship of Marlon Brando and Wally Cox. The play was called, "Funny and touching... fast-moving... fascinating..." and its actors, "Intensely comedic ... deliciously funny," by the Tolucan Times and other published reviewers. Trafford will publish the novella in March, 2008.