Alfred was son of Riley Reed and Charlotte Akers, and husband of Nettie J. Sheard born Nov 18, 1882 Wv. - Oct 28, 1948 Pipestem, Summers County, Wv.
Alfred was born blind, in Floyd, Virginia. He received a violin at a young age. He performed at county fairs, political rallies, and churches
During a convention in 1927, Ralph Peer, who was the director of Bristol Sessions, heard Reed playing "The Wreck of the Virginian", and asked him if he wanted to make some recordings. He made 4 songs, one solo, "The Wreck of the Virginian", and three with Arville's (his son) guitar accompaniment: "I Mean to Live for Jesus", "You Must Unload", and "Walking in the Way with Jesus".
After the Bristol Sessions, recorded until 1929, which was the year of his most famous song's release "How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?".
After 1929, Reed stopped recording and lived out the rest of his life in the Princeton area in Mercer County, West Virginia
Reed continued to perform locally until 1937 when a statute was passed prohibiting blind street musicians.
He also served as a lay Methodist minister
In 1956, Reed died, supposedly of starvation.
He is buried in Elgood, West Virginia.
Reed's self composed lyrics, were very conservative and humorous
for example "Why Do You Bob Your Hair, Girls?"
His songs were religious, political/against society's ills.
Because of his social commentary, which was unusual then, we consider him an early "protest" singer.
In 2007, Blind Alfred Reed inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.
In 2007,tribute album to Alfred was released.
Always Lift Him Up: A Tribute to Blind Alfred Reed features nineteen of Reed's most famous songs, recorded by artists from West Virginia, such as Little Jimmy Dickens, Tim O'Brien and Ann Magnuson.
Alfred was born blind, in Floyd, Virginia. He received a violin at a young age. He performed at county fairs, political rallies, and churches
During a convention in 1927, Ralph Peer, who was the director of Bristol Sessions, heard Reed playing "The Wreck of the Virginian", and asked him if he wanted to make some recordings. He made 4 songs, one solo, "The Wreck of the Virginian", and three with Arville's (his son) guitar accompaniment: "I Mean to Live for Jesus", "You Must Unload", and "Walking in the Way with Jesus".
After the Bristol Sessions, recorded until 1929, which was the year of his most famous song's release "How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?".
After 1929, Reed stopped recording and lived out the rest of his life in the Princeton area in Mercer County, West Virginia
Reed continued to perform locally until 1937 when a statute was passed prohibiting blind street musicians.
He also served as a lay Methodist minister
In 1956, Reed died, supposedly of starvation.
He is buried in Elgood, West Virginia.
Reed's self composed lyrics, were very conservative and humorous
for example "Why Do You Bob Your Hair, Girls?"
His songs were religious, political/against society's ills.
Because of his social commentary, which was unusual then, we consider him an early "protest" singer.
In 2007, Blind Alfred Reed inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.
In 2007,tribute album to Alfred was released.
Always Lift Him Up: A Tribute to Blind Alfred Reed features nineteen of Reed's most famous songs, recorded by artists from West Virginia, such as Little Jimmy Dickens, Tim O'Brien and Ann Magnuson.
Alfred was son of Riley Reed and Charlotte Akers, and husband of Nettie J. Sheard born Nov 18, 1882 Wv. - Oct 28, 1948 Pipestem, Summers County, Wv.
Alfred was born blind, in Floyd, Virginia. He received a violin at a young age. He performed at county fairs, political rallies, and churches
During a convention in 1927, Ralph Peer, who was the director of Bristol Sessions, heard Reed playing "The Wreck of the Virginian", and asked him if he wanted to make some recordings. He made 4 songs, one solo, "The Wreck of the Virginian", and three with Arville's (his son) guitar accompaniment: "I Mean to Live for Jesus", "You Must Unload", and "Walking in the Way with Jesus".
After the Bristol Sessions, recorded until 1929, which was the year of his most famous song's release "How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?".
After 1929, Reed stopped recording and lived out the rest of his life in the Princeton area in Mercer County, West Virginia
Reed continued to perform locally until 1937 when a statute was passed prohibiting blind street musicians.
He also served as a lay Methodist minister
In 1956, Reed died, supposedly of starvation.
He is buried in Elgood, West Virginia.
Reed's self composed lyrics, were very conservative and humorous
for example "Why Do You Bob Your Hair, Girls?"
His songs were religious, political/against society's ills.
Because of his social commentary, which was unusual then, we consider him an early "protest" singer.
In 2007, Blind Alfred Reed inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.
In 2007,tribute album to Alfred was released.
Always Lift Him Up: A Tribute to Blind Alfred Reed features nineteen of Reed's most famous songs, recorded by artists from West Virginia, such as Little Jimmy Dickens, Tim O'Brien and Ann Magnuson.
Alfred was born blind, in Floyd, Virginia. He received a violin at a young age. He performed at county fairs, political rallies, and churches
During a convention in 1927, Ralph Peer, who was the director of Bristol Sessions, heard Reed playing "The Wreck of the Virginian", and asked him if he wanted to make some recordings. He made 4 songs, one solo, "The Wreck of the Virginian", and three with Arville's (his son) guitar accompaniment: "I Mean to Live for Jesus", "You Must Unload", and "Walking in the Way with Jesus".
After the Bristol Sessions, recorded until 1929, which was the year of his most famous song's release "How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?".
After 1929, Reed stopped recording and lived out the rest of his life in the Princeton area in Mercer County, West Virginia
Reed continued to perform locally until 1937 when a statute was passed prohibiting blind street musicians.
He also served as a lay Methodist minister
In 1956, Reed died, supposedly of starvation.
He is buried in Elgood, West Virginia.
Reed's self composed lyrics, were very conservative and humorous
for example "Why Do You Bob Your Hair, Girls?"
His songs were religious, political/against society's ills.
Because of his social commentary, which was unusual then, we consider him an early "protest" singer.
In 2007, Blind Alfred Reed inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.
In 2007,tribute album to Alfred was released.
Always Lift Him Up: A Tribute to Blind Alfred Reed features nineteen of Reed's most famous songs, recorded by artists from West Virginia, such as Little Jimmy Dickens, Tim O'Brien and Ann Magnuson.
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