Melvin Rhyne (October 12, 1936 – March 5, 2013),[1] was a jazz organist best known for his work with Wes Montgomery.
At 19 years old, Rhyne started playing piano with then-unknown tenor saxophonist Rahsaan Roland Kirk but quickly switched over to the instrument that would make him famous: the Hammond B3 organ.
Rhyne's piano skills translated to the organ fluently and before long he was backing famous blues players like B.B.
[3] In 1959 he was asked to join fellow Indianapolis musician Wes Montgomery's newly formed trio.
He continued to be prolific in the years to come, releasing eight more solo albums on the Criss Cross Jazz label.