Jerry Reed (1937-2008)
Singer/guitarist/songwriter/actor Jerry Reed passed away on Monday due to complications from emphysema at the age of 71.
Reed got his start in music when he dropped out of high school to tour with Ernest Tubb and Faron Young and, in 1955 at the age of 18, was signed by publisher and producer Bill Lowery. His first record, "If the Good Lord's Willing and the Creeks Don't Rise," was released that same year and was followed by a series of country and rockabilly recordings.
Reed's first real success came when Gene Vincent covered his song "Crazy Legs" in 1958 and, while he was in the military, his name continued to grow when Brenda Lee recorded "That's All You Gotta Do."
Once out of the service, Reed moved to Nashville where he became known not only for his songwriting, but also for his guitar playing. He worked as a session man through the middle of the decade while trying to jump start a recording career, which finally happened in 1967 when his "Tupelo Mississippi Flash" made it to number 15 on the country charts.
Reed had six more records that peaked in the top 20 over the next three years, including "Amos Moses," which hit number 16, but went all the way to number eight on the pop charts. It was the next single that would finally solidify his recording career when "When You're Hot, You're Hot" went all the way to number one on the country charts for five weeks in mid-1971, along with peaking at number nine on the pop charts. Throughout the balance of the 70's to the mid-80's, Reed would have a total of 28 more top 40 country hits, including the number ones "Lord, Mr. Ford" and "She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft)."
As a guitarist, Reed was known as a fine session man and was a regular on The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour. In addition, he did a number of recordings with another guitar great, Chet Atkins.
Reed was also known for acting in a number of films, starting with "W.W. & the Dixie Dance Kings" with pal Burt Reynolds and followed by "Gator," all three "Smokey and the Bandit" films and, most recently, "The Waterboy" with Adam Sandler.
Major singles:
Amos Moses (1970/#8 pop/#16 country)
When You're Hot, You're Hot (1971/#9 pop/#1 country)
Lord, Mr. Ford (1973/#1 country)
East Bound and Down (1977/#2 country)
(I Love You) What Can I Say (1978/#10 country)
She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft) (1982/#1 country)
The Bird (1982/#2 country)
Major albums:
Ko-Ko Joe (1971/#7 country)
When You're Hot, You're Hot (1971/#2 country)
The Best of Jerry Reed (1972/#4 country)
Hot A' Mighty! (1973/#9 country)
Lord, Mr. Ford (1973/#4 country)
East Bound and Down (1977/#10 country)
Grammy Awards:
Me & Jerry (with Chet Atkins) (1970/Best Country Instrumental Performance)
Sneakin' Around (with Chet Atkins) (1992/Best Country Instrumental Performance)
Major songs recorded by other artists:
A Thing Called Love (Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley)
Baby, What You Want Me to Do (Stray Cats)
Crazy Legs (Gene Vincent)
Georgia Sunshine (Dean Martin)
Girl of Mine (Elvis Presley)
Guitar Man (Elvis Presley)
If the Good Lord's Willing (Johnny Cash)
Misery Loves Company (Porter Wagoner)
Talk About the Good Times (Elvis Presley)
That's All You Gotta Do (Brenda Lee)
U.S. Male (Elvis Presley)
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