Jerry Reed
Jerry Reed ( born March 20, 1937 as Jerry Reed Hubbard in Atlanta, Georgia; † August 31, 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee) was an American country music singer, guitarist, actor and songwriter. He appeared in over twenty films. As a singer he is best known for the song When You're Hot, You're Hot, for which he received a 1972 Grammy Award.
Life
Reed was born in 1937 in Atlanta. He was the second child of Robert and Cynthia Hubbard. Reed's parents separated shortly after his birth. Together with his sister he spent seven years in orphanages and in foster care. In 1944, he moved back in with mother and stepfather. As a sophomore, he participated in various stage performances with as an actor. In high school, he began writing his own music. Later he met the music producer Bill Lowery.
Career
Reed played his songs in clubs from the surrounding area and received in 1955 by Capitol Records a three-year contract. In 1958 he moved to NRC Records, where he acted as guitarist and backing vocalist. In his NRC- years, he worked with Joe South and Ray Stevens. His wife Priscilla Mitchell worked as a background singer also at NRC. She took the duet Yes, Mr. Peters with Roy Drusky for Mercury Records.
In 1962 he went to Nashville and made acquaintance with Chet Atkins, his future mentor who discovered him as a talent for orchestrating compositions. Atkins, one of the most powerful men in the country music scene, was responsible for the recordings and artists of the RCA and worked with, among others, Elvis Presley, Jim Reeves, Waylon Jennings, Charley Pride, Hank Snow and the Everly Brothers. Atkins recorded from Reed as " Certified Guitar Player ".
From the work with RCA three number - one hits followed: When You're Hot, You're Hot (1971 ), Lord, Mr. Ford (1973) and She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft) (1982 ). He received two Grammy Awards for Best Country Instrumental Performance in 1971 and 1993. Reed's songs have been covered by many artists, including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Engelbert and Tom Jones. The acting career of Reed began in 1975 with his debut film WW and the Dixie Dance Kings. He became known for the role of Cledus Snow in the three films of Smokey and the Bandit on the side of Burt Reynolds, Sally Field and Jackie Gleason.
End of 2004, Reed moved from show business back a little and occurred only sporadically from then on. 2008 Reed released the album The Gallant Few. He dedicated the work, like his previous album Let 's Git It On, the soldiers and veterans of the United States of America. He also donated the entire proceeds of both CDs to a nonprofit fund, which also works for the veterans. On 31 August 2008 Reed died of emphysema at the hospital in Nashville.