Jerry Reed

Biography

Jerry Reed Hubbard (March 20, 1937 – September 1, 2008), known professionally as Jerry Reed, was an American country music singer, guitarist, songwriter, and actor born in Atlanta, Georgia. Reed's early life was marked by family hardship—his parents separated shortly after his birth, and he spent several years in foster care before reuniting with his mother. He began playing guitar at age seven, learning basic chords from his mother and developing his skills by listening to country guitarists like Merle Travis and Chet Atkins. By his teens, Reed was performing alongside country stars such as Ernest Tubb and Faron Young, and he signed his first record contract with Capitol Records at age seventeen.

Reed's career blossomed in Nashville, where he became known for his virtuosic, syncopated fingerstyle guitar technique and his witty, story-driven songwriting. He wrote hits for artists including Elvis Presley and Chet Atkins, while also recording his own chart-topping songs such as 'Guitar Man,' 'Amos Moses,' 'When You're Hot, You're Hot,' and 'East Bound and Down'—the latter serving as the theme for the film 'Smokey and the Bandit,' in which Reed co-starred. His musical style blended classic country, rockabilly, blues, and funk, earning him three Grammy Awards and a reputation as a genre innovator.

Beyond music, Reed enjoyed a successful acting career, appearing in more than a dozen films, most notably alongside Burt Reynolds in the 'Smokey and the Bandit' series. He was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame, leaving a legacy as a pioneering guitarist, a beloved entertainer, and a key figure in the evolution of country music.

Fun Facts

• Jerry Reed coined the nickname 'The Guitar Man,' which became the title of one of his signature songs and was later covered by Elvis Presley.
• He developed a unique, syncopated fingerstyle guitar technique that influenced generations of country and session guitarists.
• Reed was not only a musician but also a prolific actor, appearing in over a dozen films, often portraying good-natured Southern characters.
• He won three Grammy Awards and was inducted into both the Musicians Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Chet Atkins - Champion and collaborator; Atkins incorporated Reed's guitar innovations into his own style and recorded Reed's songs. (Collaborations on albums and singles; Atkins recorded Reed's compositions such as 'Guitar Man.') [1960s–1970s]
• Merle Travis - Stylistic influence; Reed learned fingerstyle techniques by listening to Travis's recordings. (Influence evident in Reed's guitar work.) [1940s–1950s (influence period)]

Key Collaborators

• Elvis Presley - Recorded Reed's songs and featured Reed as a session guitarist. ('Guitar Man,' 'U.S. Male' (songs written by Reed and recorded by Presley); Reed played guitar on Presley's recordings.) [1967–1968]
• Waylon Jennings - Session musician and collaborator. (Played guitar on Jennings' recordings.) [1960s–1970s]
• Willie Nelson - Session musician and collaborator. (Played guitar on Nelson's recordings.) [1960s–1970s]
• Burt Reynolds - Co-starred in films, most notably the 'Smokey and the Bandit' series. ('Smokey and the Bandit' (1977), 'Gator' (1976), 'W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings' (1975)) [1970s–1980s]

Artists Influenced

• Brad Paisley - Cited Reed as a major influence on his guitar playing and songwriting. (Paisley's guitar style and compositions reflect Reed's syncopated fingerstyle technique.) [1990s–present]
• Steve Wariner - Adopted Reed's guitar techniques and cited him as a key influence. (Wariner's fingerstyle guitar work.) [1980s–present]
• Brent Mason - Studio guitarist influenced by Reed's innovative playing. (Session work in Nashville.) [1990s–present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. East Bound and Down (East Bound and Down)
2. Amos Moses (Georgia Sunshine)
3. The Bandit (East Bound and Down)
4. East Bound and Down (The Essential Jerry Reed)
5. West Bound And Down
6. The Legend
7. She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft) (The Man with the Golden Thumb)
8. East Bound And Down
9. Amos Moses (The Essential Jerry Reed)
10. She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft) (The Essential Jerry Reed)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #country, #singer-songwriter