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jimmy and mary reed foundation Music
Charting Singles ( U.S.R&B)
1956 "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby"
"Can't Stand to See You Go"
"I Don't Go for That"
"I Love You Baby"
1957 "Honest I Do"
"Honey, Where You Going?"
"Little Rain"
"The Sun is Shining"
1958 "Down in Virginia"
1959 "I Told You Baby"
1960 "Baby What You Want Me to Do"
"Found Love"
"Hush-Hush"
1961 "Big Boss Man"
"Bright Lights, Big City"
"Close Together"
1962 "Aw Shucks, Hush Your Mouth"
"Good Lover"
1963 "Shame, Shame, Shame" -
Jimmy Reed, born Mathis James Reed was the ninth child born to the union between Joseph Reed and Virginia Ross in Dunlieth, Mississippi on September 6, 1925. He was the youngest boy in the family of ten children. As a young man, in 1942 Jimmy moved to Chicago, where he was drafted into the US Navy. He served in the Navy from 1943 to 1945 when he received a medical discharge for illness. During his time in the Navy Jimmy returned to his home for a visit and met Mary Lee Davis. He married her in 1945.
After he was discharged from the service, Jimmy moved wife and baby daughter Loretta to Chicago’s southeast side. Despite the fact that he lived in a flourishing steel community Jimmy was unable to work in the steel mill because of his illness. He found work in meat packing houses, such as Swift and Armour Foods working as a boner. Jimmy started working nights playing guitar with a friend in a small nightclubs. Jimmy Reed played guitar, harmonicas and sang.
In 1953, Jimmy and his friend Eddie Taylor began to audition for recording companies such as Chess Records and Chance. They were unsuccessful until they auditioned by Vee-Jay records, who signed Jimmy Reed to a contract.
Jimmy was new at the recording business and had some difficulty reading and remembering lines. Mama Reed decided to go with Jimmy to support him. Mama sat beside Jimmy and whispered the lyrics, which he sang as he played the guitar and harmonica. The Vee-Jay owners were amazed at the difference Mama made by being there, and a recording session was ordered for that same week.
Jimmy cut his first record, “High and Lonesome” and before long, he had a hit. From the year of 1955 into the sixties, Jimmy, with Mama at his side, recorded one hit after another. Some of his greatest hits, “Baby What Do You Want Me to Do”, “Honest I Do”,”You Got Me Dizzy” and “Bright Lights, Big City”. Jimmy played Carnegie Hall, the Fillmore East, the Apollo Theatre, and toured England during the 1960’s. He was inducted into the Blues Foundation’s Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.
He worked until the day he died. Jimmy Reed departed this life on August 29, 1976. After finishing his gig in San Francisco that night, and spending some warm quality time with “Mama”, his oldest son Jimmy Jr. and some friends, he went to the living quarters that had been provided for him in Oakland California and there he died. The cause of death was a Grand Mal seizure. He is loved dearly, and still missed very much by his family, friends, and a host of fans.
Bright Lights Big City interview plus music
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Take Out some Insurance plus interview
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Honest I Do plus interview
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Aint that lovin you baby
plus Interview
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