Greg Reeves facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Greg Reeves
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Reeves in 1968
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| Background information | |
| Born | 1949/1950 (age 74–75) |
| Origin | Warren, Ohio, U.S. |
| Genres |
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| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Bass guitar |
| Years active | 1968–present |
Gregory Allen Reeves (born December 27, 1950) is an American bass guitarist. He is famous for playing bass on the album Déjà Vu by the supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in 1970.
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Early Life and Musical Start
Greg Reeves grew up in Warren, Ohio. He finished high school in 1968. There were rumors that he was very young, possibly even 15, when he joined the famous band CSNY. However, a magazine called Rolling Stone reported that he was 19 years old in December 1969.
Greg started his musical journey very early. When he was just 12, big record companies like Motown Records and Chess Records noticed his talent. Even though his mother didn't want him to play professionally at that age, he later became a session bassist for Motown in 1968.
Playing at Motown Records
At Motown, Greg worked with many talented musicians. He played bass during the recording of "Cloud Nine" by The Temptations. He also got help and advice from other Motown artists, including Rick James and James Jamerson.
Greg said that one of his most important performances at Motown was playing bass on "No Matter What Sign You Are." This was the last song recorded by Diana Ross with The Supremes.
Working with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Greg Reeves joined Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (often called CSNY) in August 1969. He played and toured with them until January 1970. His name is even on the cover of their famous 1970 album, Déjà Vu. You can also see him with the group in the concert film Celebration at Big Sur and on TV shows like This Is Tom Jones.
Why Greg Left CSNY
Greg left CSNY in April 1970. The band members, especially Stephen Stills, felt that Greg's bass playing was sometimes unpredictable. They also mentioned his strong interest in Native American shamanism, which they found confusing.
Greg himself said that he was very interested in Native American traditions. He believed that Stephen Stills might have had personal reasons for letting him go. Even though he left CSNY, Greg remained good friends with Neil Young, another member of the band. Neil Young even continued to work with Greg on other projects.
After CSNY
After leaving CSNY, Greg Reeves continued to be a busy musician. He played on several important projects. He contributed to most of Neil Young's album After the Gold Rush. He also played on the album by Crosby & Nash in 1972.
Greg also worked with Dave Mason on his 1973 album It's Like You Never Left. Later, he recorded with George Clinton in the early 1980s.
Other musicians, like Nils Lofgren, have praised Greg's unique bass playing style. They noted how he could easily switch between simple and complex bass lines, showing his great skill and creativity.
