Blues Artists
Jimmy Reed (September 6, 1925 – August 29, 1976) was born in Dunleith, Mississippi. His full name was Mathis James Reed.
Jimmy Reed had a major influence on rock musicians, including Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Billy Gibbons and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones has said that he modelled his vocal style on Jimmy Reed.
Here are some websites with more information on Jimmy Reed:
Here’s a video of Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) giving a lesson on JImmy Reed’s playing style:
Here’s an outtake of the Rolling Stones doing a Jimmy Reed style jam, circa 1978-1980:
Here are some covers of various Jimmy Reed songs.
Baby What You Want Me To Do
Elvis Presley covering Jimmy Reed’s Baby What You Want Me To Do on his Come Back Special in 1968:
John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers (Mick Tayor on lead guitar), with Etta James covering Baby What You Want Me To Do in 1982:
Etta James covering Jimmy Reed’s Baby What You Want Me To Do at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1991:
Ron Wood and Mick Taylor (current and former Rolling Stones) covering Jimmy Reed’s Baby What You Want Me To Do in 2013:
Bright Lights, Big City
Jerry Lee Lewis performing Bright Lights, Big City at Farm Aid, 2006:
Ron Wood and Mick Taylor (current and former Rolling Stones) covering Jimmy Reed’s Bright Lights, Big City in 2013:
You Got Me Dizzy
Ronnie Wood and Mick Taylor (current and former Rolling Stones) covering Jimmy Reed’s You Got Me Dizzy in 2013:
Jimmy Reed on a local TV station in Houston, Texas 4 December 1975. Unfortunately, the effects of Reed’s decades of acute alcoholism are evident here:
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