Posted on 09/04/2008 3:04:25 AM PDT by Hillarys Gate Cult
Jerry Reed, the country and western star who was also world famous for his role in the 'Smokey and the Bandit' films, has died. He was 71.
Reuters reports that Reed passed away on Monday from complications arising from emphysema.
Known as 'The Guitar Man', Grammy winner Reed made his first record aged 18 and went on to release over 40 albums.
Reed wrote for Johnny Cash and Brenda Lee and two of his early songs, 'US Male' and 'Guitar Man', were recorded by Elvis Presley with Reed playing on the studio versions.
(Excerpt) Read more at rte.ie ...
:(
Thanks for posting this.
Jerry played the hell outta a guitar, too.
Heaven done called another blues singer back home. (sorta) Gonna miss ya Jerry.
R.I.P.
Thanks for the years of songs and movies, Jerry. May you find rest in the Lord.
RIP Snowman.
I think it was posted before. Still, sad to see him go.
But, I always sigh at bad timing. After all, if it were a quiet season, with nothing much going on, Jerry’s death and life might have gotten more attention. But, here we are in the midst of war, a political conventions, a hurricane... Jerry just got sort of short shrifted as he passed.
Damn the luck.
I had one of his records on a 45 RPM in Jr. High called “Amos Moses”- a song about a cajun alligator hunter with his “...left arm gone, clean up to the elbow...” Great guitar, vocals and lyrics. More than MOST pop “artists” can say about their songs today. RIP.
Reed was an excellent finger-style (no flat-pick) guitarist. And he didn't just play chords that way, he could play intricate melodies.
Those excellent off-beat riffs- unmistakably Jerry Reed on guitar. One of the best songs he ever did, and one of my favorites.
RIP Jerry Reed.
Going to miss him. “Put your foot down on that pedal, don’t you touch that brake, come on, we got a run to make. They’re thirsty in Atlanta and there’s beer in Texarkana”
That’s all he got left cuz the aligator bit him!
You remember the OTHER side of the 45? The “Preacher and the Bear”???? Hysterical!
RIP Jerry.
Named him after a man of the cloth.
Called him Amos Moses.
On a related note, “who’s gonna collect my welfare check...pay for my Cadillac?”
I usually hate when singers talk during songs...except for Jerry Reed.
About 45 minutes southeast of Thibodeaux LA,
Lived a man called Doc Millsap and his pretty wife Anna,
Where they raised up a son that could eat up his weight in groceries.....
He could trap the biggest, meanest alligators,
And just use one hand.
D@mn I love that song!
My uncle turned me on to Chet Atkins when I was a young lad into The Beatles and The Ventures . Uncle Doug was a big Chet Fan , but never put down the bands I listened to . Instead , he just offered up Chet , and later on Jerry Reed , Chet’s protoge so to speak , for ear consumption . Always dug them both . To coin a perhaps , worn out phrase - they don’t em like that any more . R.I.P. Jerry .
Condolences to Jerry Reed’s family and friends.
Well just d@amn. I’m so jazzed about Sarahcudah. But this is a heart breaker. He was way too young to go. Sir, you will be missed.
Thanks. FR search turned up no results on his name.
R.I.P. Jerry. You made us laugh, you made us think. You will be missed.
Jerry Reed also did a big favor for Elvis by producing the LP, "Guitar Man." Jerry took some Elvis tracks that had been overproduced with strings and choirs, wiped away everything but Elvis' vocal track, and set them to a rocking five-piece band with himself on lead guitar. It yielded the hit single "Guitar Man," and proved that Elvis was still great. His greatness had just been buried under the mediocrity of his producers and handlers.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.