I am deeply sad to report that one of my personal favorite musicians and entertainers, Jerry Reed, has passed away at 71. Here are some related links.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080902/ap_en_mu/obit_jerry_reed_8
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gtCKwgisw0t7ftgEpx3zQa1gEjtQD92UROC00
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/03/content_9761203.htm

I got nothin' much else to say at the moment... I'm kind of in shock here. Didn't even know he was ill. Thought y'all should know.

A great loss. Jerry Reed was a true original.

Sad news indeed.

A friend of ours called from the hospital and told us on Tuesday about JR. That dude could pick the fire out of that telecaster.

Tony told me last night that Jerry Reed had died and that he was going to mark off work for bereavement. While there seems to be a bit of whimsy in that comment, the truth is that a person can't help but be affected when such a pop culture staple--someone you have just "known of" all your life--passes away.
Susan

There's a fine article about Jerry Reed in 'The Tennessean' today by Peter Cooper for those interested in learning more about his life and career. He was a multi-talented true original, and from all accounts, a very fine person as well.

Thanks for the tip, Tom... and here's a link to that article.

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080902/TUNEIN/80902039/1005/ENTERTAINMENT

Yesterday was just a sad day with the loss of the great Don LaFontaine and Jerry Reed. When I was 5 years old, my mom took me to the movies to see Smokey and the Bandit. The reason I wanted to go see it was Jerry Reed. I loved his music when I was a kid and I was crazy about trucks because my PaPaw Laws drove one. It was the perfect movie! HA! He did some really good music from his really popular stuff like "East Bound and Down" to his lesser known tunes like "Today is Mine" which was used as the theme song to the Bill Dance Show.

In the early 70's, my friend Wayne Bridge, who has been a session man in Nashville since the Dead Sea wasn't even sick yet, was once asked, "Who is the best picker in Nashville?"

Without hesitation, Wayne replied, "Jerry Reed. That cat can pick."

Tony, who knows, maybe Don LaFontaine did the movie-trailer voiceover for Smokey and the Bandit... I may have to look that one up.

It's been a tough year for celebrity deaths, no question about that. Bernie Mac, Roy Scheider, Heath Ledger, Steve Fossett, William F. Buckley, Jeff Healey, Charlton Heston, Jim Hager (of Hee Haw's 'Hager Twins'), Eddy Arnold, Dick Martin, Bo Diddley, Harvey Korman, George Carlin, Tim Russert and Tony Snow, Isaac Hayes... and these are just the ones I remember hearing about...

These and more are on a looong list to be found here:
http://wcbstv.com/slideshows/celebrity.deaths.2008.20.651675.html?rid=0

I just want to ask the band if you guys are gonna come back to Oklahoma. This boy needs a fix of some swampadelia in the midwest.Maybe you can book a show at the world renowned Cains Ballroom.Hope to see ya'll soon!!

Jerry was really one of the greats. Peter Cooper's article is great. People may not realize it but, Don Helms(original steel guitar player for The Drifting Cowboys as in HANK WILLIAMS, SR. passed away in the last few weeks as did record industry, giant and R & B legend, Jerry Wexler. There ain't no more comin' like Jerry Reed, Don, Wexler, Bo Diddley, Mick Waller. Man...breaks my heart. Salute! WW

I ditto what Tony said... I remember Jerry Reed's music and seeing him on TV .... my mother was a big Burt Reynolds fan... (but whose mother wasn't back then).... so Smokey was a natural and yes my Papaw drove a big rig too... making me a huge fan of 18 wheelers (love Trick my Truck on CMT).... and Reed's music for the movie was perfect for the time, the setting and will forever more be long lasting .... I also always liked "The Bird", "She got the Coalmine...", among others.

Anyone remember his guest spot on the TV show ALICE as himself - kept getting his outfit for his concert ruined and Flo kept getting her dry cleaner get it ready - to have it ruined again.... classic TV...featuring JR.

E

Check out his classic instrumental, "The Claw." WW

>>on the TV show ALICE
They cut up his big honkin' bass, too! http://www.answers.com/topic/alice-the-jerry-reed-fish-story-tv-episode

Cool I do remember the fish story now...

Trivia - name 3 different things that happen to Jerry's outfit during the first (concert) episode.... without consulting the internet.

I won't give it away if anyone really wants to answer.... for some reason I remember them vividly... guess I liked that episode.

E

Hey Webb - how about Lightnin' Rod

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOGiW-y-Vhs

E

The top 40 hits that Jerry had in the early 70s [esp Amos Moses, Alabama Wild Man] were exceptionally funky numbers for what was ostensibly country crossover material. His material of that era bears consideration along with Tony Joe White as being prime country funk, and a definite influence on Rick Miller of Southern Culture On The Skids playing.

"Lightnin' Rod" is somethin' else! Boy, he was good! WW

A monster,monster player. I am truly bummed.

She got the goldmine.......I got the shaft.

Good grief - I typed coalmine.... not Gold mine .... I'm guessing you were helping me out there pauldogx... or even if you didn't notice I booboo'd ...I just did... from one of my earlier posts.

By the way - I watched another good instrumental on youtube with Jerry & Chet Atkins .... wow another beauty with CHET.... I guess I always thought of him as a song writer and performer/entertainer.... didn't actually realize his guitar prowse until we re-visit his life..... Guitar is the reason he became all those things ... toured with several famous folks before going out on his own... I think I read age 17 when he was out on the road for good as a player.... Thanks for the music Jerry.

E

His song "Guitar Man" is purty much his story, I'm sure. It's a real good 'un, too. He played on Elvis's version as well. WW

I have the 45 single of Elvis doing "Guitar Man" with Jerry on it. Awesome stuff.

You may also want to check out another great version of "Guitar Man" by another great picker - "Junior Brown". You'll find it on his CD "Mixed Bag"