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Jerry Reed

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For the American baseball player, seeJerry Reed (baseball).

Jerry Reed
Reed in 1982
Reed in 1982
Background information
Birth nameJerry Reed Hubbard
Born(1937-03-20)March 20, 1937
Atlanta, Georgia,U.S.
DiedSeptember 1, 2008(2008-09-01)(aged 71)
Nashville, Tennessee,U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • guitarist
  • composer
  • songwriter
  • actor
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active1955–2008
Labels
Formerly ofOld Dogs

Jerry Reed Hubbard(March 20, 1937[1]– September 1, 2008),[2]known professionally asJerry Reed,was an Americancountrysinger, guitarist, composer, songwriter and actor who appeared in more than a dozen films. His signature songs included "Guitar Man","U.S. Male","A Thing Called Love","Alabama Wild Man","Amos Moses","When You're Hot, You're Hot"(which garnered aGrammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male), "Ko-Ko Joe","Lord, Mr. Ford","East Bound and Down"(the theme song for the 1977 filmSmokey and the Bandit,in which Reed co-starred), "The Bird",and"She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft)".

Reed was inducted into theMusicians Hall of Fame and Museum.He was announced as an inductee into theCountry Music Hall of Famein April 2017 and he was officially inducted byBobby Bareon October 24.[3]

Early life[edit]

Reed was born inAtlanta[1]and was the second child of Robert and Cynthia Hubbard. Reed's grandparents lived inRockmartand he would visit them from time to time. As a small child running around strumming his guitar he is quoted as saying "I am gonna be a star. I'm gonna go toNashvilleand be a star. "Reed's parents separated four months after his birth; he and his sister spent seven years infoster homesororphanagesgrowing up. Reed was reunited with his mother and stepfather in 1944.

Reed graduated from O'Keefe High School, an Atlanta city school. The O'Keefe building still exists today; it was sold toGeorgia Techand is now part of the university's campus. By high school, Reed was already writing and singing music, having learned to play the guitar as a child. At age 18, he was signed by publisher and record producerBill Loweryto cut his first record, "If the Good Lord's Willing and the Creek Don't Rise".

AtCapitol RecordsReed was promoted as a new "teen-age sensation" after recording his ownrockabillycomposition "When I Found You" in 1956. He recorded both country and rockabilly singles and found success as a songwriter when label mateGene Vincentcovered his song "Crazy Legs" in 1958.[1]

By 1958,Bill Lowerysigned Reed to his company,National Recording Corporation.He recorded for NRC as both an artist and as a member of the staff band which includedJoe SouthandRay Stevens,other NRC artists.

Reed marriedPriscilla "Prissy" Mitchellin 1959. They had two daughters, Seidina Ann Hubbard, born April 2, 1960, and Charlotte Elaine (Lottie) Zavala, born October 19, 1970. Mitchell was a member of folk group The Appalachians ( "Bony Moronie", 1963), and withRoy Druskywas co-credited on the 1965 country No. 1 "Yes, Mr. Peters".

Career[edit]

In 1959, Reed hit the Billboard "Bubbling Under the Top 100", also known as the Roar and Cashbox Country chart with the single "Soldier's Joy". After serving two years in theU.S. Army,Reed moved toNashvillein 1961 to continue his songwriting career, which had continued to gather steam while he was in the Army, thanks toBrenda Lee's 1960 cover of his song "That's All You Got to Do".[1]He also became a popular session and tour guitarist.[1]In 1962, he scored some success with two singles "Goodnight Irene"(as by Jerry Reed & the Hully Girlies, featuring a female vocal group) and" Hully Gully Guitar ",[1]which found their way toChet AtkinsatRCA Victor,who produced Reed's 1965 "If I Don't Live Up to It".

"Guitar Man"[edit]

In July 1967, Reed had his best showing on the country chart (No. 53) with his self-penned "Guitar Man",whichElvis Presleysoon covered.[1]Reed's next single was "Tupelo Mississippi Flash", a comic tribute to Presley. Recorded on September 1, the song became his firstTop 20hit, going to No. 15 on the chart. Coincidentally Presley came to Nashville to record nine days later on September 10, 1967, and one of the songs he became especially excited about was "Guitar Man".

Reed recalled how he was tracked down to play on the Presley session: "I was out on theCumberland Riverfishing, and I got a call fromFelton Jarvis(then Presley's producer atRCA Victor) He said, 'Elvis is down here. We've been trying to cut "Guitar Man" all day long. He wants it to sound like it sounded on your album.' I finally told him, 'Well, if you want it to sound like that, you're going have to get me in there to play guitar, because these guys [you're using in the studio] arestraight pickers.Ipick with my fingersand tune that guitar up all weird kind of ways.' "[4]

Jarvis hired Reed to play on the session. "I hit that intro, and [Elvis's] face lit up and here we went. Then after he got through that, he cut [my]"U.S. Male"at the same session. I was toppin' cotton, son." Reed also played the guitar for Elvis Presley's"Big Boss Man"(1967), recorded in the same session.[5]

On January 15 and 16, 1968, Reed worked on a second Presley session, during which he played guitar on a cover ofChuck Berry's "Too Much Monkey Business","Stay Away ", and" Goin' Home "(two songs revolving around Presley's filmStay Away, Joe), as well as another Reed composition, "U.S. Male" (Reed's quoted recollection of "U.S. Male" being recorded at the same session as "Guitar Man" being incorrect).[6]

Presley also recorded two other Reed compositions: "A Thing Called Love"in May 1971 for hisHe Touched Mealbum, and "Talk About The Good Times" in December 1973, for a total of four.

Johnny Cashalso released "A Thing Called Love"as a single in 1971.[1]It reached No. 2 on theBillboardCountry Singles Chart for North America and was also successful in Europe. It became the title track for a studioalbumthat he released the following spring.

1970s[edit]

After releasing the 1970 crossover hit "Amos Moses",a hybrid of rock, country, funk, and Cajun styles which reached No. 8 on the U.S. pop chart,[1]Reed teamed with Atkins for the duet LPMe & Jerry,which earned the pair theGrammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance.During the 1970 television season, he was a regular onThe Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour,and in 1971 he released his biggest hit, the chart-topper "When You're Hot, You're Hot",[1]KO buddy of the singer, who nevertheless sends him up the river for gambling. Aside from being a major crossover hit, "When You're Hot, You're Hot" earned Reed theGrammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male.

"When You're Hot, You're Hot" was the title track of Reed's first solo album, reaching No. 9 Pop and No. 6 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart. The singles from the album, "Amos Moses" and "When You're Hot, You're Hot" sold over one million copies, and were awardedgold discsby theRIAA[7]The album features songs such as Reed's version of "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town"andJohn D. Loudermilk's free-wheeling song "Big Daddy (Alabama Bound)".

"Reed sustains three identities: redneck crazy, fancy picker, and soap idol. He's a great crazy, greater even on 'Amos Moses' and 'Tupelo Mississippi Flash' than on 'When You're Hot, You're Hot.' "

–Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies(1981)[8]

A second collaboration with Atkins,Me & Chet,followed in 1972 as did a series of Top 40 singles which alternated between frenetic, straightforward country offerings and more pop-flavored,countrypolitanmaterial. A year later he scored his second number one single with "Lord, Mr. Ford" (written byDeena Kaye Rose), from the album of the same name.[1]

Atkins, who frequently produced Reed's music, remarked that he had to encourage Reed to put instrumental numbers on his own albums, as Reed always considered himself more of a songwriter than a player. Atkins, however, thought Reed was a betterfingerstyleplayer than he was himself; Reed, according to Atkins, helped him work out the fingerpicking for one of Atkins's biggest hits, "Yakety Sax".

Reed was featured in animated form in a December 9, 1972, episode ofHanna–Barbera'sThe New Scooby-Doo Movies,"The Phantom of the Country Music Hall" (prod. No. 61-10). He sang and played the song "Pretty Mary Sunlight". The song is played throughout the episode as Scooby and the gang search for Reed's missing guitar.

In the mid-1970s, Reed's recording career began to take a back seat to his acting aspirations.[1]In 1974, he co-starred with his close friendBurt Reynoldsin the filmW.W. and the Dixie Dancekings.[1]While he continued to record throughout the decade, his greatest visibility was as a motion picture star and almost always in tandem with headliner Reynolds; after 1976'sGator,[1]Reed appeared in 1978'sHigh-Ballin'and 1979'sHot Stuff.He also co-starred in all three of theSmokey and the Banditfilms; thefirst,which premiered in 1977, landed Reed a No. 2 hit with the soundtrack's "East Bound and Down".[9]

In 1977, Reed joined entrepreneurLarry Schmittouand other country music stars includingConway Twitty,Cal Smith,Larry Gatlin,andRichard Sterban,as investors in theNashville Sounds,aminor league baseballteam of theDouble-ASouthern Leaguethat began play in 1978.[10]

He made two guest appearances on the sitcomAlice,in 1978 and 1981.

Reed also took a stab at hosting a TV variety show, filming two episodes ofThe Jerry Reed Showin 1976.

Scottish rockersThe Sensational Alex Harvey Bandreleased a version of "Amos Moses" in 1976.

In 1979, he released a record comprising both vocal and instrumental selections titled, appropriately enough,Half & Half.It was followed one year later byJerry Reed SingsJim Croce,a tribute to the late singer/songwriter. He also starred in a TV movie in that year entitledConcrete Cowboys.

1980s and 1990s[edit]

In January 1980, Reed began work on the "Guitar Man" re-recording being produced by Presley's producer Felton Jarvis. With a new "hopped up" guitar line and Presley on lead vocals, the song reached number one on the country chart.

In 1982, Reed's career as a singles artist was revitalized by the chart-topping hit "She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft)",[1]followed by "The Bird",which peaked at No. 2. Also in 1982, Reed headlined a syndicated TV special,Jerry Reed and Friends.[11]The special, a "music filled celebrity picnic", was filmed at theHermitage LandingTN. It included guest stars Burt Reynolds,Louise Mandrel,Brenda Lee,Jimmy Dean,Glen Campbell,Vicki Lawrence,Faron Youngandthe Statler Brothers.[12]Reed and Campbell performed the hitSouthern Nights,with Campbell relating how the song's guitar lick had been shown to him by Reed some years before.[13]

His last chart hit, "I'm a Slave", appeared in 1983. In the same year he co-starred withRobin WilliamsandWalter Matthauin theMichael RitchiecomedyThe Survivors.Reed guest-starred in the October 13, 1983, episode ofMama's Family,"The Return of Leonard Oates" (Episode 13, Season 2), as Naomi Harper's ex-husband.

He accepted an invitation to open for the British groupDexys Midnight Runnersin the US in 1984, yet left the tour early to appear on the country music comedy TV showHee-Haw.[14]

After an unsuccessful 1986 LP,Lookin' at You,Reed focused on touring until 1992 when he and Atkins reunited for the albumSneakin' Aroundbefore he again returned to the road. In the meantime, Reed appeared in several interviews and commercial spots forMid-South Wrestling.

Reed had a role as a commander/Huey pilot forDanny Glover's character in the 1988 movieBat*21starringGene Hackman.He also acted as executive producer and screenwriter on this film.[15]

Reed starred in the 1998Adam SandlerfilmThe Waterboyas Red Beaulieu, the movie's chief antagonist and the head coach for the University of Louisiana Cougars football team. ActorHenry Winklerrecounts that Reed taught him how to bass fish while on location for this movie.[16]

He teamed up with country superstarsWaylon Jennings,Mel Tillis,andBobby Barein the groupOld Dogs.They recorded one album in 1998, entitledOld Dogs,with songs written byShel Silverstein.Reed sang lead on "Young Man's Job" and "Elvis Has Left The Building", the latter possibly in deference to Elvis helping launch his career.

In 1998, the American rock bandPrimuscovered the Reed song "Amos Moses" on the EP titledRhinoplasty.

2000s[edit]

In October 2004, "Amos Moses" was featured on theGrand Theft Auto: San Andreassoundtrack which played on the fictional radio stationK-Rose.In 2007, the British bandAlabama 3(known as A3 in the U.S.) covered his hit "Amos Moses" on their album,M.O.R.

In June 2005, American guitaristEric Johnsonreleased his albumBloomwhich contained a track titled "Tribute to Jerry Reed" in commemoration of his works.

Reed appeared as a guest on the fishing television seriesBill Dance Outdoors.In one memorable appearance, Reed caught a particularly biglargemouth bassand planned to have it preserved and mounted by ataxidermist.HostBill Danceobjected to this plan and freed the fish when Reed was not looking. Reed became enraged when he discovered what had happened and chased Dance off the boat and to shore. This incident was mentioned in one ofJeff Foxworthy's stand-up comedy routines.

"She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft)" was used in the 2010 film,The Bounty Hunter.It plays during the scene where Milo (Gerard Butler) searches Nicole's (Jennifer Aniston) apartment.

"You Took All the Ramblin' Out of Me"was used in the 2013 video gameGrand Theft Auto V,on the radio stationRebel Radio.

"Talk About the Good Times" was used as the opening theme for the 2022 streaming TV seriesSprungin all but the first episode. The entire song closed the final episode.

Personal life and death[edit]

Reed married country singerPriscilla Mitchellon July 9, 1959; they had two daughters (Seidina Ann Hubbard, born April 2, 1960, and Charlotte Elaine (Lottie) Zavala, born October 19, 1970) who also became country singers.[2][17]

Reed died inNashvilleon September 1, 2008, of complications fromemphysemaat the age of 71.[2]A week later during their debut at theGrand Ole Opry,Canadian country rock groupThe Road Hammersperformed "East Bound and Down" as a tribute.[18]In a tribute inVintage Guitar Magazine,Rich Kienzle wrote that "Reed set a standard that inspires fingerstyle players the way Merle and Chet inspired him." He was survived by Mitchell and their two daughters. Mitchell died following a short illness on September 24, 2014, at the age of 73.[17]

Reed was a heavy smoker for many years.Thom Bresh,son ofMerle Travisand a close friend of Reed's, produced a 1990s video with Reed acting out his desire to quit smoking the addictive cigarettes ( "Jerry Reed -Another Puff",which was his first 1972 released single) that serves as a public service video from Reed on the dangers of smoking cigarettes.[19]

Style and influences[edit]

CMTcalled Jerry Reed "a genuine original who helped takecountry musicand the country lifestyle to a larger mainstream audience. "[20]Reed's "influence on American guitar playing is held by some to be comparable to that ofDjango Reinhardt,and several of his songs have becomecountry rockstandards ", according toThe Guardian.[21]Rock Guitar For Dummiesdescribed Reed as one of the greatrockabillymusicians.[22]Reed's syncopated guitar playing style was influenced byMerle TravisandEarl Scruggs;this style was nicknamed the "claw", due to the appearance of Reed's hand as he played.[23]Reed's guitar playing also showed the influence of theblues.[24]Reed was also influenced by comedians, saying that he admired them as much as musicians.[25]Reed's vocal performances on some of his singles were also described as a prototype torapvocals.[26]RapperCowboy Troysaid thatCharlie Danielsand Jerry Reed's vocal delivery "was called recitations at that time, but if you listened to it now, you'd probably call it a rap".[27]Brad Paisleysaid that he was influenced by Reed's "overall artistry and persona", as well as "his total musicianship [...] anyone who picks a country guitar knows of his mastery of the instrument [...] [Reed was] one of the most inspirational stylists in the history of country music.”[25]

Accolades[edit]

Country Music Association

Grammy Awards

Discography[edit]

Main article:Jerry Reed discography

Filmography[edit]

Film and television
Year Title Role Notes
1972 The New Scooby-Doo Movies Himself (voice) Episode: "The Phantom of the Country Music Hall"
1973 White Lightning
1975 W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings Wayne Feature film
1976 Gator "Bama" McCall Feature film
1977 Nashville 99 Det. Trace Mayne Main cast (4 episodes)
Smokey and the Bandit Cledus Snow ( "Snowman", CB handle) Feature film
1978 High-Ballin' Iron Duke Boykin Feature film
Alice Himself (guest star) Episode: "The Star in the Storeroom"
1979 Hot Stuff Doug von Horne Feature film
Concrete Cowboys J.D. Reed Television film
1980 Smokey and the Bandit II Cledus Snow ( "Snowman", CB handle) Feature film
1981 Alice Himself (guest star) Episode: "The Jerry Reed Fish Story"
Concrete Cowboys J.D. Reed Main cast (7 episodes)
1982 Madame's Place Himself Episode: "Chopper the Shocker"
1983 The Survivors Jack Locke Feature film
Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 Cledus Snow ( "Snowman, CB handle) Feature film
Mama's Family Leonard Oates Episode: "The Return of Leonard Oates"
Stroker Ace Himself (end credit outtakes) Uncredited
1985 What Comes Around Joe Hawkins Feature film (also director)
1987 Dolly Willie Jeffcoat Episode #1.8
1988 Bat*21 Col. George Walker Feature film (also executive producer)
1990 B.L. Stryker Bill Episode: "Plates"
1994 Evening Shade Calvin Episode: "Educating Calvin"
1998 The Waterboy Coach Red Beaulieu Feature film (final film role)

References[edit]

  1. ^abcdefghijklmnoColin Larkin,ed. (1992).The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music(First ed.).Guinness Publishing.pp. 2061/2.ISBN0-85112-939-0.
  2. ^abcFriskics-Warren, Bill (September 2, 2008)."Jerry Reed, Country Singer and Actor, Dies at 71".The New York Times.p. A23.
  3. ^Watts, Cindy."Alan Jackson, Jerry Reed, Don Schlitz tapped for Country Music Hall of Fame".The Tennessean.
  4. ^"'Bandit' star Reed dies at 71 ".The Tennessean.September 2, 2008.
  5. ^Ernst Jorgensen,Elvis Presley: A Life in Music(St. Martin's Press, 1998), pp. 234–236
  6. ^Jorgensen, pp. 241–242
  7. ^Murrells, Joseph (1978).The Book of Golden Discs(2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. pp.285 & 301.ISBN0-214-20512-6.
  8. ^Christgau, Robert(1981)."Consumer Guide '70s: R".Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies.Ticknor & Fields.ISBN089919026X.RetrievedMarch 10,2019– via Robertchristgau.
  9. ^Tassler, Mark (August 25, 2016)."Story Behind the Song: 'Eastbound and Down' by Jerry Reed".KXRB 1140 AM/100.1 FM.RetrievedOctober 14,2023.
  10. ^Woody, Larry (1996),Schmittou: A Grand Slam in Baseball, Business, And Life,Nashville: Eggmann Publishing Company, pp. 64–65,ISBN1886371334
  11. ^Collie, Biff (August 6, 1982)."Inside Nashville"(PDF).Radio & Records.p. 32.
  12. ^Terrace, Vincent (1985).Encyclopedia of Television Series, Pilots and Specials.VNR AG.ISBN978-0-918432-61-2.
  13. ^"Jerry Reed & Glen Campbell – Southern Nights"(video).YouTube.June 10, 2011.
  14. ^Cartwright, Garth (September 3, 2008)."Jerry Reed".The Guardian.
  15. ^"The Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions".Answers.RetrievedAugust 25,2015.
  16. ^https://x /hwinkler4real/status/1774928469346169097
  17. ^abOermann, Robert K. (September 29, 2014)."LifeNotes: Singer Priscilla Mitchell Passes".MusicRow.RetrievedDecember 12,2014.
  18. ^"'Bandit' star Reed dies at 71 ".CNN.September 2, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon September 5, 2008.
  19. ^"Jerry Reed - Another Puff"onYouTube
  20. ^Gilbert, Calvin (September 2, 2008)."Jerry Reed Brought Country Music to a Wider Audience".CMT. Archived fromthe originalon October 31, 2015.RetrievedJuly 21,2019.
  21. ^"Obituary: Jerry Reed".The Guardian.September 4, 2008.RetrievedJuly 21,2019.
  22. ^Chappell, Jon (April 18, 2011).Rock Guitar For Dummies.Wiley.ISBN9781118069608.This was the driving rockabilly rhythm that was spread through the era by such rockabilly greats as James Burton (who also played with Elvis), Jerry Reed, Carl Perkins, and even Chet Atkins.
  23. ^Wadey, Paul (September 4, 2008)."Jerry Reed: Actor and country singer".The Independent.Archivedfrom the original on June 8, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 21,2020.
  24. ^"Country blues".Tab Licks Country.Alfred Publishing. p. 21.Many predominantly country guitarists such as Jerry Reed, Albert Lee and the legendary Roy Clark have blues-based roots that they incorporate into their unique styles.
  25. ^abLewis, Randy (September 3, 2008)."'Smokey and the Bandit' actor, country singer ".The Los Angeles Times.RetrievedDecember 28,2022.
  26. ^Hoffmann, Frank W. (2005).Rhythm and Blues, Rap, and Hip-hop.Facts On File, Incorporated. p. 217.ISBN9780816069804.
  27. ^"Cowboy Troy's Hick-Hop".Southern Cultures.University of North Carolina Press: 47, 49. November 10, 2010.ISBN9780807899755.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

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