The tragedy fell upon country fans on September 1, 2008, when they found out about the demise of the legend, Jerry Reed.
Jerry Reed was very talented. Alongside being a country singer, he was also an actor. Reed gave many hits such as; “Smokey and the Bandit”, “The New Scooby-Doo Movies”, “The Waterboy”, and a few more during his film career days.
He gave his everything until he couldn’t “anymore,” said his booking agent Carrie Moore-Reed; “He was still recording right up until he couldn’t anymore, he had been ill for some time.”
Remembering Jerry Reed
Jerry Reed Hubbard was born on March 20, 1937, in Atlanta. Although he was born into a family of cotton farmers, he loved to play guitar. He learned the instrument when was only in elementary school. Later he started to play for the nightclubs and bars in Atlanta as a teenager.
Rede dropped out of school and when he was only 16, he started to play with country legends; Ernest Tubb and Faron Young. Later when he was 18, Billy Lowery helped him to get a recording contract which he did with the Capitol Records.
Reed’s version of songs failed to make it to the top of the charts but with the help of singers like Gene Vincent and Brenda Lee recorded his songs. “Crazy Legs” was one of the recordings that was done by the country star, Gene Vincent.
In the late 1950s, Jerry Reed parted ways with the Capitol Records and served in the Army. After his two-year service, he relocated back to Nashville and started to follow his career as a songwriter in 1962. His pursue to gain success didn’t took long, Porter Wagoner’s “Misery Loves Company” made a No.1 hit which was written by Reed.
After some time, his guitar tunes were heard by Chet Atkins, the guitarist who worked as a talent scout and producer for RCA. Atkins quickly signed Reed in 1965. His extraordinary guitar-playing skills amazed Presley, Bobby Bare, and everyone else.
He started to work on his own after signing with Atkins. Reed’s “Guitar Man” was his first best result which came at No.53 on the country singles chart. Reed then suggested Presley to record his songs which became a Top 50 hit. Presley even recorded another Reed song, “U.S. Male.”
“Amos Moses” became his first hit in 1970. It reached the Top 10 pop hit. The song was a country funk tune. With this song, Reed was titled as Instrumentalist of the Year by the Country Music Association. The ‘Guitar Man’ also started to appear in primetime TV variety shows and eventually made it to the Hollywood Movies.
Jerry Reed started to get recognized after his outstanding performance in “W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings” in 1975. Reed started to give hits constantly. The next year he played in “Gator” and “Smokey and the Bandit” in 1977 which is still remembered by many of us. And how can we forget him as the rude coach in Adam Sandler’s movie, “The Waterboy.”
When it comes to playing guitar and music, Reed knew it all. He was also known as “The Guitar Man.” Before getting into the film industry, he was known as one of the most popular guitarists in Nashville. Reed also wrote songs for artists such as; Elvis Presley, Brenda Lee, Johnny Cash, and other renowned artists.
Jerry Reed took the country music chart in the 70s and 80s with Storm. His songs constantly started to top the charts including; “Amos Moses”, “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot”, and She Got The Goldmine (I Got the Shaft.)” His humorous persona was a key reason why they became a hit.
Jerry Reed’s “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot” stayed at the top of the Billboard Country chart for five weeks back in 1971. Alongside the guitarist and producer, Chet Atkins, he won a Grammy for the best country instrumental in 1971 for their album “Me and Jerry.” In 1993. the duo managed to win their second Grammy for their CD “Sneakin’ Around.”
Even Butch Baker, Reed’s friend and song publisher dedicated him as a “true innovator.” “He had this style called ‘the claw,’ I’m not sure if anybody knew what he was doing, I don’t even think he knew what he was doing, he would just do these emotional things that came out through his hands. He was a true innovator.”
Unfortunately, Jerry Reed died on Monday from complications of emphysema outside his Nashville home, Tenn. He was 71 at the time, the world will always remember Mr. Reed.
“Every move he made was to entertain and make the world more fun, because he was such a great, colorful personality with his acting and songs and entertaining, sometimes people didn’t even notice that he was just about the best guitarist you’ll ever hear.” Brad Paisley said after Reed’s death in 2008.