Jerry Reed was another of those child Prodigies who came to Nashville at a very early age, and has spent his entire life in music. I think Jerry was 18 when he moved to Nashville in 1955. Many Great Studio Guitarists were child prodigies. I think that to earn a good living playing Guitar, all your life, takes someone with the talent that a Child Prodigy has.
Born Jerry Reed Hubbard in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1937, he got his first guitar as a present from his mother, who also taught him a few chords. "She bought me this guitar for seven dollars from a guy across the street, and I didn't have any picks so I used nickels," remembers Jerry. "I really never took lessons. I learned how to play by hanging out at clubs, watching other players, stealing their licks and practicing 16 hours a day."
In 1954, Reed was discovered by Atlanta music legend Bill Lowery, who would eventually publish many of Jerry's early songs. During a two-year Army hitch (1959-61), two songs he had already written became hits. The first of these was "That's All You Gotta Do," which hit number five on the pop charts for Brenda Lee as the flip of the number one hit, "I'm Sorry." The second was "Misery Loves Company," which stayed at number one on the country charts for 39 weeks as recorded by Porter Wagoner.
Some 28 years since he first blazed a trail across the American consciousness with the hit single, "Amos Moses," guitarist/singer Jerry Reed has released his first true music album in more than ten years with "Pickin" the appropriately titled Southern Tracks Records release which showcases his remarkable multi-instrumental talents. Added to all this musicality is a healthy dose of Reed's trademark good ol' boy humor, which makes "Pickin" a delight on several levels.
In 1966, Reed's efforts bore fruit again with "Guitar Man," which reached number 55 on the country charts. Later came "Amos Moses," which charted high on both the pop and country charts. Soon, Elvis was asking him to play guitar on the sessions for Presley's cover of "Guitar Man" and another Reed-penned song, "U.S. Male."
Reed was voted Musician of the Year by the Country Music Association in 1970 and 1971. In 1970, he won a Grammy for "Me and Jerry," his first duet album with Chet Atkins. Musicians from all over the world would try to copy his incredible country finger-style of guitar playing, which often includes playing rhythm and lead simultaneously!
During a career that has spanned over 40 years, which has seen him receive accolades as a musician, songwriter, performer and actor, Jerry Reed has maintained that good ol' boy demeanor which has allowed him to be as at home in the studio, on the stage or on the set, as he is fishing for bass in his favorite lake. "When You're Hot, You're Hot" has never looked so cool!
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