Rhodes Keyboard used by Sly Stone: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A Rhodes keyboard used by Sly Stone. The keyboard is 73 Key, Mark II Stage Piano. "Sly Stone" is written by hand, in ink three times on the white keys. The keyboard has the serial number: 783450. The exterior of the keyboard forms a carrying case when closed. The case is black with a Rhodes logo on the back and two handles along the front. There are several white stickers with orange text that read: [FRAGILE / Handle With Care] on the exterior of the case.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1981
• Manufactured by: CBS Broadcasting, Inc., American, founded 1927
• Designed by: Harold Rhodes, American, 1910 - 2000
• Used by: Sly Stone, American, 1943 - 2025
• Type: keyboards (sound device components)
• Medium: plastic, metal, rubber, felt and wire
• Dimensions: H x W x D (Closed): 9 1/2 × 46 1/2 × 23 1/4 in., 120 lb. (24.1 × 118.1 × 59.1 cm, 54.4 kg)
• Dimensions: H x W x D (Open): 30 1/2 × 46 1/2 × 23 1/4 in., 120 lb. (77.5 × 118.1 × 59.1 cm, 54.4 kg)
• Dimensions: H x W x D (Interior Component): 5 7/8 × 43 3/8 × 14 in. (14.9 × 110.2 × 35.6 cm)
• Place made: Fullerton, Orange County, California, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Funk (Music)
• Topic: Rock and roll (Music)
• Topic: Soul (Music)
• Object number: 2013.218.1
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: No Known Copyright Restrictions Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.