Vernon Reid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vernon Reid
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Reid in 2016
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Vernon Alphonsus Reid |
| Born | 22 August 1958 London, England |
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| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Labels | Mascot |
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Vernon Alphonsus Reid (born August 22, 1958) is a talented British-born American guitarist and songwriter. He is most famous for starting the rock band Living Colour. Rolling Stone magazine has recognized Reid as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. In 2003, he was ranked No. 66, and in August 2023, he moved up to No. 42 on their list of the top 250 Greatest Guitarists. Music critic Steve Huey describes Reid's guitar style as very diverse. He mixes sounds from heavy metal, punk, funk, R&B, and even jazz. His fast and unique guitar solos are a big part of his musical style.
Contents
Vernon Reid's Early Life
Vernon Reid was born in London, England. His parents were from the West Indies. When he was young, his family moved to New York City, where he grew up. He went to Brooklyn Technical High School and later studied at New York University.
Vernon Reid's Music Career
Starting Out in Music
Vernon Reid first became known in the 1980s. He played in an avant-garde jazz-rock band called The Decoding Society, led by Ronald Shannon Jackson. He recorded many albums with this group from 1980 to 1986.
In 1984, he recorded an album called Smash & Scatteration with another guitarist, Bill Frisell. A year later, in 1985, Reid helped start the Black Rock Coalition. This group was created with journalist Greg Tate and producer Konda Mason. It aimed to support Black artists in rock music.
Living Colour: The Band
Reid started the band Living Colour in New York City in 1984. The band's final members came together in 1986. Their first album, Vivid, came out in 1988 and sold over two million copies! Their next album, Time's Up, was released in 1990 and also sold very well.
Living Colour won two Grammy Awards in a row for Best Hard Rock Performance. They even opened for the famous Rolling Stones on their "Steel Wheels" tour in 1989. In 1991, they were part of the first-ever Lollapalooza tour.
The band broke up in 1995 but got back together in 2000. Since then, they have released three more albums: Collideøscope (2003), The Chair in the Doorway (2009), and Shade (2017).
Vernon Reid's Solo Work and Collaborations
Besides Living Colour, Vernon Reid has worked on many other exciting projects. He released his first solo album, Mistaken Identity, in 1996. He has also worked with dancers and choreographers like Bill T. Jones and Donald Byrd.
He even performed a special show for children at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). This show was called "Bring Your Beats."
Reid is also a successful record producer. He produced two albums that were nominated for Grammy Awards. These were Papa (1999) by Salif Keita and Memphis Blood: The Sun Sessions (2001) by James Blood Ulmer. He continued to produce several more albums for James Blood Ulmer.
Vernon Reid also wrote music for films. He composed the score for the movie Paid in Full (2002). He also wrote music for documentaries like Ghosts of Attica (2001) and Almost Home (2006).
In 2002, Reid and DJ Logic formed a group called "Yohimbe Brothers." They released an album called Front End Lifter. Reid also helped with the music for the movie Mr. 3000 (2004), which starred Bernie Mac.
In 2004, Reid released an instrumental album called Known Unknown with his band Masque. They released another album, Other True Self, in 2006.
Reid has played with many famous musicians. These include Mick Jagger, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Santana, B.B. King, and John Fogerty. He played "Fortunate Son" with John Fogerty at America's Millennium Gala in 1999-2000. This event was held at the Lincoln Memorial and attended by President Bill Clinton.
In 2007, Reid formed the group Free Form Funky Freqs. They released their first album, Urban Mythology Volume One, in 2008. In 2012, he released an album called Spectrum Road with Jack Bruce, Cindy Blackman, and John Medeski.
In 2023, Vernon Reid wrote an article for Media Post. It was titled "The Promise And Peril Of AI Music: What Have We Unleashed?"
An Underground Railroad of the Mind
Since 2017, Vernon Reid has had his own radio show. It's called "An Underground Railroad of the Mind." On this show, he plays vinyl records from his personal music collection.
Vernon Reid's Personal Life
Vernon Reid lives in Staten Island with his wife, Gabri Christa. She is a choreographer and filmmaker. They have a daughter who was born in 2003.
Musical Influences
Vernon Reid has been inspired by many great musicians. Some of his influences include Miles Davis, James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, Robert Fripp, John Coltrane, Frank Zappa, Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana, Eddie Hazel, John McLaughlin, Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, and Dr. Know.
Vernon Reid's Equipment
In the early days of Living Colour, Vernon Reid often used a colorful ESP Mirage guitar. He also used a special preamp called the A/DA MP-1. Later, he used custom Hamer guitars. He also worked with Parker Guitars to create his own signature model, the DF824VR, which was based on their Dragonfly design. This guitar had special pickups and a Floyd Rose vibrato system.
In 2016, he started using PRS guitars. He worked with them to create his own signature model, the PRS S2 VR Vela. ESP also released a limited edition guitar called the Cult '86. This guitar was based on the original one Reid used for the famous song "Cult of Personality."
Selected Discography
With Living Colour
With Masque
- Mistaken Identity (1996)
- Known Unknown (2004)
- Other True Self (2006)
With Yohimbe Brothers
- Front End Lifter (2002)
- The Tao of Yo (2004)
Obscure and/or Unreleased
- This Little Room (2000)
In Collaboration
- With Bill Frisell: Smash & Scatteration (1984)
- With Elliott Sharp and David Torn: GTR OBLQ (1998)
- With Jack Bruce, John Medeski and Cindy Blackman Santana: Spectrum Road (2012)
- With Melvin Gibbs/Mary Halvorson/Lee Ranaldo/Vernon Reid/Elliott Sharp Christian Marclay: Graffiti Composition (2010)
With Free Form Funky Freqs
- Urban Mythology Volume One (2008)
- Bon Vivant (2013)
- Hymn of the 3rd Galaxy (2022)
As Sideman
- With Geri Allen: The Gathering (1998)
- With Cindy Blackman: Another Lifetime (2010)
- With Jack Bruce: More Jack than God (2003)
- With Tracy Chapman: Matters of the Heart (1992)
- With Jay Hoggard: Riverside Dance (1985)
- With Whitney Houston: The Bodyguard (1992)
- With Ronald Shannon Jackson and the Decoding Society:
- Mandance (1982)
- Barbeque Dog (1983)
- Montreux Jazz Festival (1983)
- Decode Yourself (1985)
- With Mick Jagger: Primitive Cool (1987)
- With Garland Jeffreys: Don't Call Me Buckwheat (1991)
- With K'naan: Troubadour (2009)
- With Public Enemy: Yo! Bum Rush the Show (1987)
- With DJ Spooky and Dave Lombardo: Drums of Death (2005)
- With Mitch Winston and the Band of Natural Selection: Right Back (2002)
Media Appearances
- Cyberpunk (1990)
See also
In Spanish: Vernon Reid para niños
