Good-bye Jerry Reed

[Piggy]

Guitar great Jerry Reed passed away this week, at age 71, from complications from emphysema.

But sadly, news of his passing has been eclipsed by hurricanes, a political convention, and stories about the pregnancy of a politician's teenage daughter.

Yes, I did say "guitar great". These days he's probably better remembered by most for his humorous songs and comic acting roles. But what I recall with fondness, and sometimes amazement, is his incredible -- and influential -- picking on that beat-up old Baldwin strung with nylons.

Good-bye, Jerry. Thanks for everything.

Here's Jerry with his long-time picking partner, Chet Atkins, playing Jerry's Breakdown:



Damn, that boy makes it look easy, doesn't he?

 

[Elizabeth I]

I remember him in a movie where he played a hit man who had a completely normal suburban family life. His family had no idea what he did for a living. It was a really good movie (at least that's how I remember it) and I wish I could remember the name of it.

Jerry Reed rocked.

 

[applecorped]

He's running Coors in Heaven now being chased by Buford T. Justice!

 

[CptColumbo]

I remember him in a movie where he played a hit man who had a completely normal suburban family life. His family had no idea what he did for a living. It was a really good movie (at least that's how I remember it) and I wish I could remember the name of it.

Jerry Reed rocked.

You might be thinking about Survivors With Robin Williams and Walter Mathau.

I know him better from his movies and appearances on "Scooby-Doo" more than his music, but he was pretty good and funny as an actor.

 

[Drudgewire]

Good musician and a great comedic mind. He'll be sorely missed.

 

[Gagglegnash]

Hi

Please note, that the use of proper grammar while talking about country guitar picking is an arrestable offense.

The proper situational grammar is:
"Damn, that boy make it look easy, don't he?"

So long Jerry. I loved every minute of it.

 

[Piggy]

Good musician

He was better than good. Every chicken-pecker out there owes him a debt of gratitude.

Jerry playing Alabama Jubilee:



Jerry picks Lightning Rod:



Jerry just a few years back doing The Claw:



One of the most underrated pickers of our time, at least by the general public. A great showman, a tremendous talent all around.

 

[calebprime]

...

Damn, that boy makes it look easy, doesn't he?

great stuff.

wow, on that last one The Claw someone is playing the same part he is almost note-for note--the guitarist visible behind him...

 

[Piggy]

great stuff.

wow, on that last one The Claw someone is playing the same part he is almost note-for note--the guitarist visible behind him...

Yeah, they do those sync-ups like Duane and Dickie used to do, but in a different style. Of course, those old boys have been at it a while.

 

[applecorped]

He was better than good. Every chicken-pecker out there owes him a debt of gratitude.

Jerry playing Alabama Jubilee:



Jerry picks Lightning Rod:



Jerry just a few years back doing The Claw:



One of the most underrated pickers of our time, at least by the general public. A great showman, a tremendous talent all around.

In regards to Jerry Reed playing Lightning Rod. I had never seen it before but now I know were Trey Anastasio of Phish got a lot of his sound. Its all in there. I used to love Phish when I was younger but methinks its time to give Jerry a real good listen to!

 

[Piggy]

In regards to Jerry Reed playing Lightning Rod. I had never seen it before but now I know were Trey Anastasio of Phish got a lot of his sound. Its all in there. I used to love Phish when I was younger but methinks its time to give Jerry a real good listen to!

Jerry was always held in much higher regard among guitarists than anyone else. I think it's because he was so practical with his records. His hits weren't the instrumentals, so he always pushed the songwriting on his albums -- you know, "She Got the Goldmine, I Got the Shaft", that kind of stuff.

Fortunately, Chet pushed back and managed to get his incredible fingerpicking in there somewhere. And he liked to show it off on his TV appearances where the camera could come in close.

Be sure to check out "Me & Jerry" and "Me & Chet", his duo records with Chet Atkins.

Jerry was tremendously influential among fingerstylists, and had a large part in popularizing the "chicken picking" technique among country artists in the 70s and after (which you see on those wonderfully tasty runs in Jerry's Breakdown).

I always loved his work.

 

[Piggy]

applecorped, if you like Trey Anastasio, you might want to also check out -- if you haven't already....

Adrian Legg:



Leo Kottke:



Both of those guys are very much in the same style as Reed.

In fact, I have to say they're better. Kottke because he does it on a 12-string, and Legg because... well, because he's just incomparable.

But I do have to say, in Jerry's favor, I can listen to him longer, because he's more fun and has a better sense of what makes a song... and when to stop.

 

[applecorped]

applecorped, if you like Trey Anastasio, you might want to also check out -- if you haven't already....

Adrian Legg:



Leo Kottke:



Both of those guys are very much in the same style as Reed.

In fact, I have to say they're better. Kottke because he does it on a 12-string, and Legg because... well, because he's just incomparable.

But I do have to say, in Jerry's favor, I can listen to him longer, because he's more fun and has a better sense of what makes a song... and when to stop.

Thank you.

I've been playing for over 20 years and I still never seem to get any better!

Sigh....player's lament.

Those were both highly enjoyable and fun to watch. Thanks for sharing them.

Don't hesitate to recommend more.