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Jimmy ReedSinger, guitarist, harmonica player, composer.
Date of Birth: 05.09.1925
Country:  USA |
Content:
Jimmy Reed: A Biography
Jimmy Reed, a singer, guitarist, harmonica player, and composer, was known for his instantly recognizable musical style, which showcased his melodic talent and innate sense of the blues. Reed was a musical minimalist in every sense of the word. Most of his original compositions were characterized by a seemingly casual vocal style, extremely concise guitar passages, and an economical accompaniment on the harmonica. His distinctive performance style, combined with his melodic talent and innate sense of the blues, allowed Reed to become one of the most prominent and prolific hit-makers of the 1950s and 1960s, with his songs often covered by leading rock bands, including The Rolling Stones and The Who.
Early Life and Influences
Jimmy Reed grew up in a large family, all of whom worked on a cotton plantation in the Mississippi Delta, a region famous for its blues traditions. In his childhood, Reed befriended Eddie Taylor, who taught him the basics of guitar and harmonica playing and had a significant influence on Reed's development as a blues master. They sang together in a local church choir, but while Taylor's guitar skills flourished, Reed made little progress and only reached a mediocre level of guitar proficiency.
In 1939, Reed dropped out of school and started earning a living through seasonal agricultural work on nearby farms. In the early 1940s, he ventured to Chicago in search of employment, but ended up being drafted in 1944. After serving a year in the Navy, Reed was discharged in the summer of 1945. He returned to Leland briefly but soon moved back to Chicago, where he found work at a steel mill. In his free time, Reed and his new friend Willie John Duncan performed short blues programs in bars and small clubs.
During this period, Reed managed to locate Eddie Taylor, who had also migrated to the North in search of success. Gradually, Jimmy Reed gained recognition among blues enthusiasts. In 1953, after a series of concerts with John Brim, Eddie Taylor, and Albert King (when Reed tried his hand at drumming), he was offered a contract by Vee Jay Records. The founders of this independent record label, disc jockey Vivian Carter and record store owner Jimmy Bracken, produced Reed's early recordings. These records are now considered collector's items, particularly the single "You Don't Have To Go," which can fetch prices of nearly a thousand dollars.
The success of "You Don't Have To Go" was truly phenomenal, as the song became a hit in various music categories, including rhythm and blues, blues, country and western, and country.
