Jerry Reed, American country music singer, Died at 71

Dead, Jerry Reed Hubbard on September 1, 2008 at the age of 71, known professionally as Jerry Reed, he was an American country music singer, guitarist, and songwriter, as well as an actor who appeared in more than a dozen films.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, the second child of Robert and Cynthia Hubbard on March 20, 1937, Reed’s grandparents lived in Rockmart, and he would visit them from time to time.

He was quoted as saying as a small child, while running around strumming his guitar, “I am gonna be a star. I’m gonna go to Nashville and be a star.” Reed’s parents separated four months after his birth, and he and his sister spent seven years in foster homes or orphanages.

In 1959 Reed hit the Billboard “Bubbling Under the Top 100,” also known as Roar and Cashbox Country chart with the single “Soldier’s Joy.”

After serving two years in the United States Army, Reed moved to Nashville in 1961 to continue his songwriting career, which had continued to gather steam while he was in the Army, thanks to Brenda Lee’s 1960 cover of his “That’s All You Got to Do.” He also became a popular session and tour guitarist.

On January 15 and 16, 1968, Reed worked on a second Presley session, during which he played guitar on a cover of Chuck Berry’s “Too Much Monkey Business,” “Stay Away,” and “Goin’ Home” (two songs revolving around Elvis’s film Stay Away, Joe),as well as another Reed composition, “U.S. Male” (Reed’s quoted recollection of “U.S. Male” being recorded at the same session as “Guitar Man” being incorrect).

After releasing the 1970 crossover hit “Amos Moses,” a hybrid of rock, country, funk, and Cajun styles, which reached No. 8 on the U.S. pop charts, Reed teamed with Atkins for the duet LP Me & Jerry.

During the 1970 television season, he was a regular on The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, and in 1971 he issued his biggest hit, the chart-topper “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot,” which is a story song, with the majority of the lyrics being talked out rather than sung.

The song concerns the singer’s near success shooting dice, a police raid, and a judge who is supposedly a fishing buddy of the singer, but who nevertheless sends him down for gambling.

“Amos Moses” earned Mr. Reed a 1971 Grammy nomination for best male country vocal performance, an award that he won the following year with “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot.”

He and the producer and guitarist Chet Atkins received a Grammy in 1971 for best country instrumental performance, for their album “Me and Jerry.”

Mr. Reed and Atkins won another Grammy in that category, for their CD “Sneakin’ Around,” in 1993.

As an in-demand session guitarist in Nashville during the 1960s and ’70s, his staccato finger picking could be heard on Elvis Presley’s “Guitar Man” and “U.S. Male,” both of which were written by

Mr. Reed, and on hits by the singer Waylon Jennings, among others.

Reed is survived by Priscilla Reed, his wife of 49 years, and by two daughters, Sedina and Lottie, and two grandchildren, all of Nashville.