Jack Rhodes, born Andrew Jackson Rhodes on January 12, 1907, in Gedden, Texas, was a significant figure in the mid-20th century American music scene. Leaving school early to support his family, Rhodes worked in the Houston shipyards during World War II, where a back injury in 1944 led him to focus on music. He became a renowned songwriter, co-writing the 1950s hits "A Satisfied Mind" with Joe "Red" Hayes and "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" with Dick Reynolds, both of which became standards in country and pop music.

Rhodes was the stepbrother of Leon Payne, a fellow Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, and served as Payne's bandleader from 1947 to 1948. Their professional split resulted in a lifelong estrangement. Rhodes was also an entrepreneur, owning various businesses including a record company, music publishing companies, a dog kennel, a café, and a motel with a studio where he mentored young musicians and contributed to the rockabilly movement.

He placed his song "Gypsy Heart" with Jim Reeves in 1953 and was signed to Central Songs, which facilitated his work with artists like Jean Shepard, Ferlin Husky, and Gene Vincent. Rhodes passed away from a heart attack on October 9, 1968, in Mineola, Texas. He was posthumously inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 2009, and his memorabilia is displayed at the Mineola Historical Museum.