Known as “The Guitar Man,” Jerry Reed enjoyed a successful career writing hit songs to major acting roles in Hollywood. His long career that began with his first record at the age of eighteen spanned to releasing more than forty albums and garnering accolades such as Grammy Awards.
He truly made indelible marks on country music as a respected guitarist, songwriter, and singer – an all-around entertainer onstage. Check out these facts to get to know more about Jerry Reed.
1. He’s a native of Atlanta, Georgia.
Jerry Reed Hubbard was born on March 20, 1937, to parents Robert and Cynthia Hubbard, who separated four months after his birth.
2. He and his sister spent seven years in orphanages.
He was only reunited with his mother in 1944.
3. He started learning to play guitar as a boy.
By the time he was eighteen, he had already signed a recording contract to cut his first record and was promoted as the new teenage sensation.
4. He’s also known for his acting in movies.
In fact, Reed appeared in more than a dozen films, including the 1977 road action-comedy film Smokey and the Bandit.
5. He’s a married man.
In 1959, Reed tied the knot with country singer Priscilla Mitchell. They were married until his death in 2008 and had two daughters who are also country artists.
Sadly, Jerry Reed passed on at the age of 71 following complications from emphysema. While he’s no longer with us, his legacy lives on. Jerry Reed songs include “A Thing Called Love,” “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot,” and so much more.
