Randy Rhoads before he was famous

Before Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads taught guitar at his mother's music school.

The nobody years

1970s Guitar teacher at sixteen
At sixteen, he taught guitar by day and played gigs at night.
At sixteen he taught guitar at his mother's school by day and played gigs at night. Source
1970s Finished school early
He finished high school early so he could teach and play full-time.
He graduated early from Burbank High so he could teach and play full-time. Source
1970s Released only in Japan
Quiet Riot signed a deal, but its two albums came out only in Japan.
Quiet Riot signed with CBS/Sony, but its two albums came out only in Japan. Source
1979 An audition at last
He agreed to audition for Ozzy mainly to stop the phone calls.
He agreed to audition for Ozzy Osbourne mainly to stop the phone calls. Source
1956
Was born in Santa Monica, California, the youngest of three children. Source
1958
When he was seventeen months old, his father left the family. Source
1960s
His mother, a UCLA music graduate, ran a music school called Musonia in North Hollywood. Source
1960s
He started folk and classical guitar lessons there at about seven. Source
1960s
His rock guitar teacher told his mother the boy now knew more than he did. Source
1960s
At middle school he taught his friend Kelly Garni to play bass. Source
1971
After an Alice Cooper concert in 1971 he said, I can do this. Source