Jerry Reed
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Jerry Reed | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Jerry Reed Hubbard |
Born | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | March 20, 1937
Died | September 1, 2008 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. | (aged 71)
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
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Instrument(s) |
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Years active | 1955–2008 |
Labels | |
Formerly of | Old Dogs |
Jerry Reed Hubbard (March 20, 1937
Reed was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum.
Reed was announced as an inductee into the
Early life
Reed was born in
Reed graduated from O'Keefe High School, an Atlanta city school. The O'Keefe building still exists today; it was sold to Georgia Tech and 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 producer Bill Lowery to cut his first record, "If the Good Lord's Willing and the Creek Don't Rise".
At Capitol Records Reed was promoted as a new "teen-age sensation" after recording his own rockabilly composition "When I Found You" in 1956. He recorded both country and rockabilly singles and found success as a songwriter when label mate Gene Vincent covered his song "Crazy Legs" in 1958.[1]
By 1958, Bill Lowery signed Reed to his company, National Recording Corporation. He recorded for NRC as both an artist and as a member of the staff band which included Joe South and Ray Stevens, other NRC artists.
Reed married Priscilla "Prissy" Mitchell in 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 with Roy Drusky was co-credited on the 1965 country No. 1 "Yes, Mr. Peters".
Career
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 the
"Guitar Man"
In July 1967, Reed had his best showing on the country chart (No. 53) with his self-penned "
Reed recalled how he was tracked down to play on the Presley session: "I was out on the
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 of Chuck Berry's "Too Much Monkey Business", "Stay Away", and "Goin' Home" (two songs revolving around Presley's film Stay 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: "
Johnny Cash also released "A Thing Called Love" as a single in 1971.[1] It reached No. 2 on the Billboard Country Singles Chart for North America and was also successful in Europe. It became the title track for a studio album that he released the following spring.
1970s
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 LP Me & Jerry, which earned the pair the Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance. During the 1970 television season, he was a regular on The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, and in 1971 he released his biggest hit, the chart-topper "When You're Hot, You're Hot",[1] which is a story song with most of the lyrics being spoken rather than sung. The song concerns the singer's near success at shooting dice, a police raid, and a judge who is supposedly a fishing 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 the Grammy 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 awarded
"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,
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 better
Reed was featured in animated form in a December 9, 1972, episode of
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 friend Burt Reynolds in the film W.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's Gator,[1] Reed appeared in 1978's High-Ballin' and 1979's Hot Stuff. He also co-starred in all three of the Smokey and the Bandit films; the first, which premiered in 1977, landed Reed a No. 2 hit with the soundtrack's "East Bound and Down".[9]
In 1977, Reed joined entrepreneur
He made two guest appearances on the sitcom Alice, in 1978 and 1981.
Reed also took a stab at hosting a TV variety show, filming two episodes of The Jerry Reed Show in 1976.
Scottish rockers The Sensational Alex Harvey Band released 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 by Jerry Reed Sings
1980s and 1990s
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 "
He accepted an invitation to open for the British group
After an unsuccessful 1986 LP, Lookin' at You, Reed focused on touring until 1992 when he and Atkins reunited for the album Sneakin' Around before he again returned to the road. In the meantime, Reed appeared in several interviews and commercial spots for Mid-South Wrestling.
Reed had a role as a commander/Huey pilot for Danny Glover's character in the 1988 movie Bat*21 starring Gene Hackman. He also acted as executive producer and screenwriter on this film.[12]
Reed starred in the 1998 Adam Sandler film The Waterboy as Red Beaulieu, the movie's chief antagonist and the head coach for the University of Louisiana Cougars football team.
He teamed up with country superstars
In 1998, the American rock band
2000s
In October 2004, "Amos Moses" was featured on the
In June 2005, American guitarist
Reed appeared as a guest on the fishing television series
"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.
"
"Talk About the Good Times" was used as the opening theme for the 2022 streaming TV series Sprung in all but the first episode. The entire song closed the final episode.
Personal life and death
Reed married country singer Priscilla Mitchell on 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][13]
Reed died in Nashville on September 1, 2008, of complications from emphysema at the age of 71.[2] A week later during their debut at the Grand Ole Opry, Canadian country rock group The Road Hammers performed "East Bound and Down" as a tribute.[14] In a tribute in Vintage 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.[13]
Reed was a heavy smoker for many years. Thom Bresh, son of Merle Travis and 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.[15]
Style and influences
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CMT called Jerry Reed "a genuine original who helped take country music and the country lifestyle to a larger mainstream audience."[16] Reed's "influence on American guitar playing is held by some to be comparable to that of Django Reinhardt, and several of his songs have become country rock standards", according to The Guardian.[17] Rock Guitar For Dummies described Reed as one of the great rockabilly musicians.[18] Reed's syncopated guitar playing style was influenced by Merle Travis and Earl Scruggs; this style was nicknamed the "claw", due to the appearance of Reed's hand as he played.[19] Reed's guitar playing also showed the influence of the blues.[20] Reed was also influenced by comedians, saying that he admired them as much as musicians.[21] Reed's vocal performances on some of his singles were also described as a prototype to rap vocals.[22] Rapper Cowboy Troy said that Charlie Daniels and 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".[23] Brad Paisley said 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.”[21]
Accolades
- 1971 Best Country Instrumental Performance - with Chet Atkins for Me & Jerry
- 1972 Best Country Vocal Performance, Male - When You're Hot, You're Hot
- 1993 Best Country Instrumental Performance - with Chet Atkins for Sneakin' Around
Discography
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1972 | The New Scooby-Doo Movies | Himself (voice) | Episode: "The Phantom of the Country Music Hall" |
1973 | White Lightening | ||
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 ("the Snowman") | 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 ("the Snowman") | 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 ("the Snowman") / "the Bandit" | 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
- ^ ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
- ^ a b c Friskics-Warren, Bill (September 2, 2008). "Jerry Reed, Country Singer and Actor, Dies at 71". The New York Times. p. A23.
- ^ Watts, Cindy. "Alan Jackson, Jerry Reed, Don Schlitz tapped for Country Music Hall of Fame". The Tennessean.
- ^ "'Bandit' star Reed dies at 71". The Tennessean. September 2, 2008.
- ^ Ernst Jorgensen, Elvis Presley: A Life in Music (St. Martin's Press, 1998), pp. 234–236
- ^ Jorgensen, pp. 241–242
- ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 10, 2019 – via Robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Tassler, Mark (August 25, 2016). "Story Behind the Song: 'Eastbound and Down' by Jerry Reed". KXRB 1140 AM/100.1 FM. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
- ISBN 1886371334
- ^ Cartwright, Garth (September 3, 2008). "Jerry Reed". The Guardian.
- ^ "The Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions". Answers. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
- ^ a b Oermann, Robert K. (September 29, 2014). "LifeNotes: Singer Priscilla Mitchell Passes". MusicRow. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
- ^ "'Bandit' star Reed dies at 71". CNN. September 2, 2008. Archived from the original on September 5, 2008.
- YouTube
- ^ Gilbert, Calvin (September 2, 2008). "Jerry Reed Brought Country Music to a Wider Audience". CMT.com. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
- ^ "Obituary: Jerry Reed". The Guardian. September 4, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
- ISBN 9781118069608.
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.
- ^ Wadey, Paul (September 4, 2008). "Jerry Reed: Actor and country singer". The Independent. Archived from the original on June 8, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b Lewis, Randy (September 3, 2008). "'Smokey and the Bandit' actor, country singer". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ISBN 9780816069804.
- ISBN 9780807899755.
Further reading
- Goldsmith, Thomas (1998). "Jerry Reed". In Kingsbury, Paul (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Country Music. New York: ISBN 978-0195116717.
External links
- Jerry Reed at AllMusic
- Jerry Reed at IMDb
- Jerry Reed Archived January 10, 2017, at the Wayback Machine at the Rockabilly Hall of Fame
- Jerry Reed retrospective in Awaiting the Flood
- Interview with Jerry Reed in International Songwriters Association's "Songwriter Magazine"