Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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REED, Jimmy

(b Mathis James Reed, 6 Sep. '25, Dunleith MS; d 29 Aug. '76, Oakland CA) Blues singer, songwriter; played guitar and harmonica. Signed with Vee-Jay in Chicago, had 13 infl. R&B hits '55--61 (twelve crossovers to pop Hot 100 '57--63) incl. 'Baby, What You Want Me To Do' (covered by Elvis Presley) and 'Honest I Do' (covered by Aretha Franklin, Rolling Stones), both top 40 pop; came back to R&B chart '66 on Exodus with 'Knocking At Your Door'. An influential stylist whose laid-back work avoided the menace and dread of some other bluesmen, he was one of the first to use a neck mount so that he could play harp and guitar at the same time. His wife Mary Lee 'Mama' Reed wrote many of his songs; he had suffered from epilepsy since '57 and died in his sleep. Albums incl. I'm Jimmy Reed '57, also Rockin' With Reed, Now Appearing, Best Of and Live At Carnegie Hall (last two combined on one Mobile Fidelity CD); The Vee-Jay Years on Charly UK was a six-CD set. The Classic Recordings was a three-CD compilation on Tomato with notes by Pete Welding; Live At Liberty Hall Houston TX 1972 with Johnny Winter issued on New Rose CD. Steve Miller LP Living In The 20th Century '86 was partly a tribute to Reed.