Jerry Reed 1937-2008

This is a sad day for me.  Jerry Reed was the first musician I really connected with as a kid.  I wore the Live From Exit-In album out.  I mean, son, I Wore. It. Out.

When I was a kid I liked him because he was funny and charismatic, and I loved him as Snowman in Smoky and the Bandit.  But when I got older and started playing guitar I became a true fan.  The guy was a real genius, and a lot of people don’t really know just how great a musician he was and how many great songs he wrote (“Guitar Man”–Elvis, “Thing Called Love”–Johnny Cash).

And I’ll tell you folks about the way I feel

Too lazy to work and too scared to steal

B’sides pickin’ and singin’s all I ever done that’s ever been worth a damn!

Son!  Thank you Jerry Reed for being you all of those years.  East Bound and Down!!!