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Jimmy Reed

Jimmy Reed

Baby What You Want Me To Do

The Chicago bluesman whose loping, harmonica-laced shuffle became one of the most influential grooves in American music.

APPLE MUSIC

Baby What You Want Me To Do

Jimmy Reed

About

MOODS · laid-back · shuffling · hypnotic · groove-driven · harmonica-laced · danceable · bluesy · warm · mid-tempo · rootsy · classic · soulful

BIOGRAPHY

Mathis James "Jimmy" Reed (1925-1976) was born in Dunleith, Mississippi, and became one of the most popular blues musicians of the post-World War II era. Beginning in 1953 he recorded for the Chicago label Vee-Jay, developing a signature style built on playing guitar and harmonica simultaneously with a neck-brace harmonica holder. His hits, including "Honest I Do," "Baby, What You Want Me to Do," "Big Boss Man," and "Bright Lights, Big City," crossed over from the R&B charts to the pop Hot 100. Much of his catalog was written by his wife, Mary Lee "Mama" Reed, who sometimes sang duets with him, while his childhood friend Eddie Taylor supplied the guitar work behind many of his records.

WHY THEY'RE COOL

From 1955 to 1962, no Chicago blues artist landed more songs on the charts than Jimmy Reed, and he crossed over to the pop charts eleven times, an unmatched run for a blues performer of the era. Critic Cub Koda described his music as having "no sound in the blues as easily digestible, accessible, instantly recognizable, and as easy to play and sing." His songs were later recorded by Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, the Grateful Dead, and Neil Young, cementing his influence on rock and blues alike. He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.

ON WOKE-1

Played 4 times on WOKE-1.