Jimmy Reed

Jimmy Reed
Jimmy Reed
Background information
Birth name	Mathis James Reed
Born	September 6, 1925; Dunleith, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	August 29, 1976 (aged 50); Oakland, California, U.S.
Genres	Blues
Occupations	Musician; songwriter;
Instruments	Guitar; vocals; harmonica;
Years active	1940s–1976
Labels	Vee-Jay

Mathis James Reed (September 6, 1925 – August 29, 1976)^[1] was an American blues musician and songwriter. His particular style of electric blues^[2] was popular with a wide variety of audiences. Reed's songs such as "Honest I Do" (1957), "Baby What You Want Me to Do" (1960), "Big Boss Man" (1961), and "Bright Lights, Big City" (1961) appeared on both Billboard magazine's R&B and Hot 100 singles charts.^[3]

Reed influenced many other musicians, including Elvis Presley, Hank Williams Jr., Neil Young, and the Rolling Stones, who recorded his songs.^[4] Music critic Cub Koda describes him as "perhaps the most influential bluesman of all," due to his easily accessible style.^[4]

^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 2062/3. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
^ Cite error: The named reference russell was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Whitburn, Joel (1988). Top R&B Singles 1942–1988. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research. pp. 345–346. ISBN 0-89820-068-7.
^ ^a ^b Cite error: The named reference Koda was invoked but never defined (see the help page).