Jerry Reed facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jerry Reed
Reed in 1982
Background information
Birth name	Jerry Reed Hubbard
Born	(1937-03-20)March 20, 1937 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Died	September 1, 2008(2008-09-01) (aged 71) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres	Country rockabilly
Occupation(s)	Musician singer songwriter actor
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	1955–2008
Labels	Capitol NRC RCA Victor

Jerry Reed Hubbard (born March 20, 1937 – died September 1, 2008) was a talented American musician and actor. He was known for his amazing guitar playing, singing, and songwriting. Jerry Reed also appeared in many movies.

Some of his most famous songs include "Guitar Man", "Amos Moses", and "When You're Hot, You're Hot". He even won a Grammy Award for "When You're Hot, You're Hot". You might also know his song "East Bound and Down", which was the theme song for the movie Smokey and the Bandit. Jerry Reed also acted in that movie!

Jerry Reed was so good that he was added to the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Jerry Reed was born in Atlanta, Georgia. His parents separated when he was very young. For several years, he and his sister lived in foster homes or orphanages. In 1944, he was reunited with his mother and stepfather.

Even as a small child, Jerry loved playing the guitar. He once said, "I am gonna be a star. I'm gonna go to Nashville and be a star." He learned to play guitar when he was young and started writing and singing music in high school.

When he was 18, Jerry signed his first record deal with producer Bill Lowery. He recorded his first song, "If the Good Lord's Willing and the Creek Don't Rise". At Capitol Records, he was seen as a new "teen-age sensation". He recorded both country and rockabilly songs. Other artists, like Gene Vincent, even recorded songs that Jerry had written.

In 1959, Jerry married Priscilla Mitchell. They had two daughters, Seidina Ann and Charlotte Elaine.

Music Career Takes Off

After serving in the United States Army for two years, Jerry moved to Nashville in 1961. He wanted to focus on writing songs. His songs were becoming popular, and he also became a well-known guitarist for other musicians.

In 1962, he had some success with songs like "Goodnight Irene". This caught the attention of Chet Atkins at RCA Victor. Chet Atkins later produced some of Jerry's music.

The "Guitar Man" and Elvis Presley

In 1967, Jerry Reed's song "Guitar Man" became a hit. Soon after, Elvis Presley decided to record the song himself!

Jerry Reed remembered how Elvis's producer called him while he was fishing. They wanted Jerry to play guitar on Elvis's version of "Guitar Man" because they couldn't get it to sound like Jerry's original. Jerry played on the session, and Elvis loved it. Jerry also played guitar for Elvis's song "Big Boss Man".

Elvis Presley recorded a total of four songs written by Jerry Reed. These included "Guitar Man", "U.S. Male", "A Thing Called Love", and "Talk About The Good Times". Later, Johnny Cash also had a big hit with "A Thing Called Love" in 1971.

Hits and Acting in the 1970s

In 1970, Jerry Reed released the song "Amos Moses". It was a mix of rock, country, and other styles, and it became a Top 10 hit on the U.S. pop charts. He also worked with Chet Atkins on an album called Me & Jerry, which won them a Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance.

In 1971, Jerry had his biggest hit, "When You're Hot, You're Hot". This song was mostly spoken, like a story, and it reached number one on the charts. It also won him another Grammy Award. The album When You're Hot, You're Hot sold over a million copies!

Jerry Reed and Chet Atkins worked together again on the album Me & Chet in 1972. In 1973, Jerry had another number one hit with "Lord, Mr. Ford".

Chet Atkins often produced Jerry's music. He said that Jerry was an amazing fingerstyle player. Jerry Reed was one of only five people to receive the special title of Certified Guitar Player from Chet Atkins. This award is given to guitar players who have completely mastered the instrument.

Jerry Reed even appeared as a cartoon character in an episode of The New Scooby-Doo Movies in 1972. He sang and played "Pretty Mary Sunlight" in the episode.

In the mid-1970s, Jerry Reed started acting more. He became good friends with actor Burt Reynolds. They starred in several movies together, including W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings (1975), Gator (1976), and the very popular Smokey and the Bandit (1977). In Smokey and the Bandit, Jerry played Cledus Snow, also known as "the Snowman". The movie's theme song, "East Bound and Down", became a big hit for him.

He also made guest appearances on the TV show Alice.

Later Career and Legacy

In 1980, Jerry Reed re-recorded "Guitar Man" with Elvis Presley's vocals. This new version became a number one country hit.

In 1982, Jerry had another big hit song, "She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft)", which topped the charts. He followed that with "The Bird", which reached number two. He also acted in movies like The Survivors with Robin Williams.

In 1992, Jerry Reed and Chet Atkins released another album together called Sneakin' Around. This album also won a Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance.

Jerry Reed played the role of Coach Red Beaulieu in the 1998 Adam Sandler movie The Waterboy. This was his last film role.

He also joined a group called Old Dogs with other country stars like Waylon Jennings and Bobby Bare. They recorded an album in 1998.

Jerry Reed's music continued to be popular. His song "Amos Moses" was featured in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas in 2004. Another song, "You Took All the Ramblin' Out of Me", was used in Grand Theft Auto V in 2013.

Jerry Reed also appeared on the fishing TV show Bill Dance Outdoors. He was known for his funny moments on the show.

Personal Life and Passing

Jerry Reed was married to Priscilla Mitchell for many years. They had two daughters.

Jerry Reed passed away on September 1, 2008, at the age of 71. He had a health condition that affected his lungs. He had been a heavy smoker for many years. He even made a public service video called "Jerry Reed - Another Puff" to encourage people to quit smoking.

Many musicians were influenced by Jerry Reed's unique guitar playing style. His style was sometimes called the "claw" because of how his hand looked when he played. He was also influenced by comedians and loved to make people laugh. His music and acting made him a true original in country music.

Awards and Recognition

Jerry Reed received many awards for his talent:

Country Music Association

• 1970 CMA Instrumentalist of the Year
• 1971 CMA Instrumentalist of the Year

Grammy Awards

• 1971 Best Country Instrumental Performance - with Chet Atkins for Me & Jerry
• 1972 Best Country Vocal Performance, Male - for When You're Hot, You're Hot
• 1993 Best Country Instrumental Performance - with Chet Atkins for Sneakin' Around

Film and Television Roles

Jerry Reed appeared in many movies and TV shows:

See also

In Spanish: Jerry Reed para niños