Jerry Reed Hubbard was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on 20 March, 1937. He
was the second child born to Robert Spencer Hubbard and Cynthia
Hubbard. Jerry's birth strained an already troubled marriage, and four
months later the couple separated. For the next seven years Jerry and
his sister Patricia where shuttled between Georgia orphanages and
foster homes. They finally returned home in 1944 when their mother
married Hubert Howard, another mill worker.


Music provided a welcome diversion for the family. He was exposed to
gospel music via his religious background, and a natural aptitude for
singing gave him a yearning to become a musician at a very early age.
Encouraged by her son's continuing passion for music, Cyntia Howard
saved seven dollars to buy a no-name second-hand guitar from a
neighbor. Using a nickel as a flat pick, she taught the nine-year-old
his first chords.


By the time he entered Atlanta's O'Keefe High School, Reed was already
writing and singing novelty songs. After completing his second year,
Reed left school to work in an Atlanta cotton mill. He spent his free
time honing his performing skills in local honky tonks. Jerry also
developed skills as an entertainer, often stopping a show with his
imitations of popular country artists.


In 1954 an Atlanta policeman introduced the youth to Bill Lowery, who
helmed a popular live country music show Saturday mornings over WGST
radio. Reed joined Lowery at WGST, working part-time as a disc jockey.
At night he performed with a band Lowery managed, Kenny Lee and the
Western Playboys.


On November 16, 1954, Reed performed at a gala country show in Atlanta
honoring Faron Young, who had just been discharged from the Army.
Capitol Records' country music chief Ken Nelson was there to celebrate
the occasion, and Lowery encouraged him consider signing the young
singer. Reed's first Capitol session was held in Nashville's Castle
Studios on October 17, 1955, and Nelson recruited his front-line
Nashville musicians to back him. Reed wrapped up his Capitol contract
in May 1958. If Nelson had any intention of keeping him on Capitol,
Reed ended any future association by joining the United States Army.


In 1961 Jerry Reed moved to Nashville and landed a Columbia contract,
but his success proved only marginally better there than at Capitol.
While Jerry didn't exactly sell a lot of his own records, he did
develop as a writer. Johnny Cash did well with his "A thing called
love" and Porter Wagoner took Reed's "Misery loves company" to #1 in
1962. Jerry also spent a lot of time as a studio musician and backing
picker with various touring country artists. He now began sending
demos of his guitar instrumentals to Chet Atkins at RCA Victor. Chet
Atkins signed him to RCA Victor and started producing his albums.


In 1967, Reed notched his first chart hit with "Guitar Man," which
Elvis Presley soon covered. After releasing the 1970 crossover hit
"Amos Moses," Reed teamed with Atkins for the duet LP "Me & Jerry".
During the 1970 television season, he was a regular on the Glen
Campbell Goodtime Hour, and in 1971 he issued his biggest hit, the
chart-topper "When You're Hot, You're Hot".


In the mid-1970s, Reed's recording career began to take a back seat to
his acting aspirations. In 1974, he co-starred with his close friend
Burt Reynolds in the film "W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings". While he
continued to record throughout the decade, his greatest visibility was
as a motion picture star, almost always in tandem with headliner
Reynolds; after 1976's "Gator," Reed appeared in 1978's "High Ballin"
and 1979's "Hot Stuff". He also co-starred in all three of the Smokey
and the Bandit films; the first, which premiered in 1977, landed Reed
a Number 2 hit with the soundtrack's "East Bound and Down."


In 1982, Reed's career as a singles artist was revitalized by the
chart-topping hit "She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft)," followed
by "The Bird," which peaked at Number 2. His last chart hit, "I'm a
Slave," appeared in 1983. After the 1986 LP "Lookin' at You" Reed
focused on touring until 1992, when he and Atkins reunited for the
album "Sneakin' Around" before he again returned to the road.


In 1998 he formed the group "Old Dogs" together with country
superstars Waylon Jennings, Mel Tillis, and Bobby Bare. They recorded
one album entitled "Old Dogs". In early 2008 he recorded his last
album, "The Gallant Few," which was produced to raise funds for
wounded veterans.


Jerry Reed passed away August 31, 2008.

RIP Jerry, I bet he had more fun making those movies then we did watching them.

Rest in Peace Jerry. I always did like him.

Fooey.

That sucks. R.I.P. Jerry.

"Hang onto your ass, Fred!"

Jerry Reed

Unless I missed it, it wasn't mentioned....

Jerry Reed, a singer who appeared in the "Smokey and the Bandit" movies, has died of complications from emphysema at age 71, his longtime booking agent said Tuesday.

RIP Jerry.

emphysema is a real bitch, that's how my mom died.

RIP, I loved watching those movies as a kid

the Alabama Wildman is no more.

Farewell Snowman.

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Rip

Jerry Reed ( as The Snowman ) ( as The Bandit )

I grew up with Jerry's music, thanks to my mom playing his records around the house. Thanks for the memories, and rest in peace.

Thanks for the memories Jerry! RIP.