Blind Alfred Reed
Encyclopedia
Blind Alfred Reed was an American folk, country, and old-time musician. He was one of the artists who recorded at the Bristol Sessions
in 1927, alongside more famous names such as Jimmie Rodgers
and The Carter Family
. He played the fiddle along with his son Arville, who played the guitar.
, 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. Reed consented, and he recorded four songs, one solo, "The Wreck of the Virginian
", and three with Arville's guitar accompaniment: "I Mean to Live for Jesus", "You Must Unload", and "Walking in the Way with Jesus". After the Bristol Sessions, Reed kept recording 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, he stopped recording and lived out the rest of his life mostly 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. In addition to being recording artist and a musician, he also served as a lay Methodist minister. In 1956, Reed died, supposedly of starvation. He is buried in Elgood, West Virginia
.
to forgive" their hair style. More than half of the songs he recorded were religious or political or spoke out against society's ills. Because of his social commentary, which was somewhat uncommon then, some people today consider Reed an early "protest" singer.
In 2007, Blind Alfred Reed was inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame, alongside other famous musicians from West Virginia. Also in 2007, a tribute album to Blind Alfred, named for one of his songs, 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
.
Bristol sessions
The Bristol sessions are considered the "Big Bang" of modern country music. They were held in 1927 in Bristol, Tennessee by Victor Talking Machine Company company producer Ralph Peer. They marked the commercial debuts of Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family....
in 1927, alongside more famous names such as Jimmie Rodgers
Jimmie Rodgers (country singer)
James Charles Rodgers , known as Jimmie Rodgers, was an American country singer in the early 20th century known most widely for his rhythmic yodeling...
and The Carter Family
Carter Family
The Carter Family was a traditional American folk music group that recorded between 1927 and 1956. Their music had a profound impact on bluegrass, country, Southern Gospel, pop and rock musicians as well as on the U.S. folk revival of the 1960s. They were the first vocal group to become country...
. He played the fiddle along with his son Arville, who played the guitar.
Early life
Reed was born completely blind. He was raised in a very conservative family, and acquired a violin at a young age. Later, he began performing at county fairs, in country schoolhouses, for political rallies, and in churches. He even played on street corners for tips. He used to sell out printed copies of his compositions for ten cents each. This is about all the information that can be gathered from him in his early life, as most of the events during this time were not written down nor talked about much in his later years.Career
While playing during a convention in 1927, Ralph PeerRalph Peer
Ralph Sylvester Peer was an American talent scout, recording engineer and record producer in the field of music in the 1920s and 1930s...
, who was the director of Bristol Sessions
Bristol sessions
The Bristol sessions are considered the "Big Bang" of modern country music. They were held in 1927 in Bristol, Tennessee by Victor Talking Machine Company company producer Ralph Peer. They marked the commercial debuts of Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family....
, heard Reed playing "The Wreck of the Virginian", and asked him if he wanted to make some recordings. Reed consented, and he recorded four songs, one solo, "The Wreck of the Virginian
The Wreck of the Virginian
The Wreck of the Virginian is an American folk song by Blind Alfred Reed. The song describes the occurrence of a train wreck in Ingleside, West Virginia. It can be heard on the album "Complete Recorded Works, 1927-29" by Blind Alfred Reed....
", and three with Arville's guitar accompaniment: "I Mean to Live for Jesus", "You Must Unload", and "Walking in the Way with Jesus". After the Bristol Sessions, Reed kept recording until 1929, which was the year of his most famous song's release "How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?
How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?
"How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?" is an American folk song originally recorded on December 4, 1929 in New York City. It was written, composed, and performed by Blind Alfred Reed, accompanying himself on the violin. The song tells of hard times during the Great Depression...
".
After 1929, he stopped recording and lived out the rest of his life mostly in the Princeton
Princeton, West Virginia
Princeton is a city in Mercer County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 7,652 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bluefield, WV-VA micropolitan area which has a population of 111,586. It is the county seat of Mercer County...
area in Mercer County, West Virginia
Mercer County, West Virginia
-External links:* * * * * * *...
. Reed continued to perform locally until 1937 when a statute was passed prohibiting blind street musicians. In addition to being recording artist and a musician, he also served as a lay Methodist minister. In 1956, Reed died, supposedly of starvation. He is buried in Elgood, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
.
Legacy
Reed's lyrics, all of which he composed himself, were ostensibly very conservative, but always were presented with a sense of humor; for example "Why Do You Bob Your Hair, Girls?" was an over-the-top commentary against women's hair style fashion of the 1920s, in which women who wore a shingle-bob were instructed to "ask JesusJesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
to forgive" their hair style. More than half of the songs he recorded were religious or political or spoke out against society's ills. Because of his social commentary, which was somewhat uncommon then, some people today consider Reed an early "protest" singer.
In 2007, Blind Alfred Reed was inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame, alongside other famous musicians from West Virginia. Also in 2007, a tribute album to Blind Alfred, named for one of his songs, 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
Little Jimmy Dickens
James Cecil Dickens , better known as Little Jimmy Dickens, is an American country music singer famous for his humorous novelty songs, his small size, 4'11" , and his rhinestone-studded outfits...
, Tim O'Brien
Tim O'Brien (musician)
Tim O'Brien is an American country and bluegrass musician. In addition to singing, he plays guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, bouzouki and mandocello...
and Ann Magnuson
Ann Magnuson
Ann Magnuson is an American actress, performance artist, and nightclub performer who first gained prominence in the 1985 film Desperately Seeking Susan...
.
Original discography
| Matrix | Title | Record # | Recording date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 39725 | "The Wreck of the Virginian" | Victor 20836 | July 28, 1927 |
| 39726 | "I Mean To Live For Jesus" | Victor 20939 | July 28, 1927 |
| 39727 | "You Must Unload" | Victor 20939 | July 28, 1927 |
| 39728 | "Walking In the Way With Jesus" | Victor 20836 | July 28, 1927 |
| 40790 | "Explosion In the Fairmount Mines" | Victor 21191 | December 19, 1927 |
| 40791 | "Fate of Chris Lively and Wife" | Victor 21533 | December 19, 1927 |
| 40792 | "Why Do You Bob Your Hair, Girls?" | Victor 21360 | December 19, 1927 |
| 40793 | "Always Lift Him Up and Never Knock Him Down" | Victor 21360 | December 19, 1927 |
| 40794 | "The Prayer of the Drunkard's Little Girl" | Victor 21191 | December 19, 1927 |
| 57571 | "Woman's Been After Man Ever Since" | Victor V-40196 | December 3, 1929 |
| 57572 | "Why Do You Bob Your Hair, Girls? - No.2" | Victor V-40196 | December 3, 1929 |
| 57573 | "There'll Be No Distinction There" | Victor 23550 | December 3, 1929 |
| 57574 | "We've Just Got To Have 'Em, That's All" | Victor V-40290 | December 3, 1929 |
| 57575 | "Beware" | Victor 23550 | December 3, 1929 |
| 57576 | "The Railroader" | Unissued | December 3, 1929 |
| 57742 | "The Old Fashioned Cottage" | Victor 23650 | December 4, 1929 |
| 57743 | "How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live" | Victor V-40236 | December 4, 1929 |
| 57744 | "Black and Blue Blues" | Victor V-40290 | December 4, 1929 |
| 57745 | "Bonnie Little Girl" | Unissued | December 4, 1929 |
| 57746 | "You'll Miss Me" | Victor 23650 | December 4, 1929 |
| 57747 | "Money Cravin' Folks | Victor V-40236 | December 4, 1929 |