Susan Reed (singer)

Susan Reed ( born January 11, 1926 in Columbia, South Carolina, † April 25, 2010 in Greenport, Long Iceland ) was an American folk singer.

Life and work

Susan Reed grew up in South Carolina, California and New York and became known in the American folk scene of the 1940s; she sang Irish folk songs in which she accompanied herself with the zither, harp and autoharp.

Through her father, Daniel Reed, an entertainer, actor, theater director and author, she came early with artists such as Carl Sandburg or Leadbelly in contact. Her special interest in Irish folk music was aroused by guest performances by the Abbey Theatre Company of Dublin; her debut was in 1946 in the New York Town Hall at age 19, when she sang for disabled veterans. Previously, she had completed some gigs at the Cafe Society.

In 1947, she praised the author Alan Lomax when he put them in the New York Times in a row with artists like Burl Ives, Josh White and Woody Guthrie. She then had appearances in nightclubs in New York City and took on records for RCA Victor, Columbia ( Songs of the Auvergne ) and Elektra Records. A film appearance was in the role of folk singer Jennie Higgins in the B- movie glamor girl, on the side of Gene Krupa and his orchestra.

After the war, she was part of the American folk scene; End of the 50s it was gradually forgotten; she lived in Nyack, where she has a handmade shop. However, their style became the model of the British folk revival, as 1948 Shirley Collins saw it in the cinema and her singing style took over. In 2007, the former Oyster band musician Ian Kearey the album cover Cheesy, pretty girl with lots of lipstick and folksy dress, playing harp, in which he pointed to Susan Reed's influence.

Reed was for a time married to actor James Karen. From this connection a child went forth.

Discography

• Folk Songs (Columbia, 1950)
• I Know My Love (RCA)
• Susan Reed Sings Old Airs ( Elektra )