Jimmy Reed (born September 6, 1925 in Dunleith, Mississippi as Mathis James Reed; † August 29, 1976 in Oakland, California) was an American blues singer and musician.
Reed learned the basics of playing the guitar and harmonica from his friend Eddie Taylor, who himself was a semi-professional in pubs. In 1943, Reed went to Chicago, where he was initially drafted into the Navy for two years of military service. After his release and after marrying Mary (“Mama Reed”), he worked as a meat packer in a factory in Gary, Indiana in 1945. Here he came into contact with the blues scene in the neighboring city of Chicago, where he was briefly accepted into John Brim's Gary Kings band, in which Eddie Taylor also played at times. After Reed was not accepted by the Chicago blues label Chess Records, he went to the neighboring Chance Records label, where, with the support of John Brim (guitar) and Morris Wilkerson (drums), he recorded the single High and Lonesome / Roll and Rhumba (Chance # 1142) was allowed to be recorded on June 6, 1953. It was released in July 1953 to no particular response, and Chance Records was in the liquidation process shortly afterwards; Reed was now working again in a slaughterhouse in Chicago.
Then Reed heard about the Vee-Jay Records label, which was founded in April 1953 and was initially based in his former place of residence and work in Gary. On December 29, 1953, the first recording session took place with Jimmy Reed & His Trio (Eddie Taylor, bass; Morris Wilkerson, drums), in which High and Lonesome / Roll and Rhumba were recorded again. Although Vee Jay had already recorded the Spaniels in May, Jimmy Reed (Vee-Jay #100) was chosen as the first record in the catalog. The privilege was of no use, as the single failed to chart after its release in July 1953, while the Spaniels (Vee-Jay #101) reached number 10 on the rhythm and blues charts. His next single I Found My Baby / Jimmy's Boogie (#105), which was released in January 1954, was also unsuccessful. But his third single You Don't Have to Go / Boogie in the Dark, which came from a recording session on December 30, 1953, reached fifth place on the rhythm and blues hit parade after its release in October 1954. The single Ain't That Lovin' You Baby / Baby, Don't Say That No More (#168), released in January 1955, did even better at third place. You've Got Me Dizzy / Honey, Don't Let Me Go, which was released in November 1956, also achieved the same ranking. A first crossover was achieved with The Sun Is Shining / Baby, What's on Your Mind (#248), which, after its release in June 1957, reached number 12 in the R&B charts and reached number 65 in the pop hit parade
