Buddy moved to Northern California 5 years ago and lives in the Eureka area.
He will be on tour in Europe
with Maury "Hooter" Saslaff
from Feb 11, '08 until Apr 27th, '08.
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"Lots of guys today have studied and learned correct blues guitar, But...if you want the real, lowdown, soulful and natural feel, you get Elmo "Buddy" Reed to play it. He's the real deal, straight from his Big ol' Okie Heart."
~James Harman
Buddy Reed, from Rialto, California, is indeed "the real deal." Along side George "Harmonica" Smith and , he played in the house band at The Small Paradise (aka "Smalls" in Los Angeles in the late 60's, backing up Lightnin' Hopkins, J.B. Hutto,
Pee Wee Crayton and many others. The band toured nationally with Big Mama Thornton, sharing the stage with Muddy Waters,
John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Reed, Howlin' Wolf,
T-bone Walker, Bo Diddley and more. Under the name Bacon Fat, the band toured overseas and recorded five albums produced by Mike Vernon for the Blue Horizon label.
After a stint in Little Richard's band, Reed struck out on his own. Working as a trio, Buddy Reed & th' Rip It Ups played saloons and roadhouses of the Southwest for the next 25 years.
Singing and playing with a sweat drenched intensity rarely matched by his peers, Buddy Reed never gives less than 100% on stage. His guitar style reveals the influence of Hubert Sumlin, Tampa Reed, Arthur Crudup and slide masters Muddy Waters, Elmore James and J.B. Hutto. His repertoire reflects his love for early rock & roll, including songs of The Coasters, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, and Jerry Lee Lewis. His originals speak of the hard life of an uncompromising blues veteran.
Buddy has recorded with Jimmy Rogers, Clarence Edward, Jimmy Dotson, Louisiana Red, Cheif Schabutte Gilliame, and James Harman. His latest solo recording is "Livin' It" on Ruby Records. Backing Reed on the CD are th' Rip It Ups: Brett Miller, piano: Al Hixon, drums; and Dave Brown, bass.
Buddy was inducted into the
Arizona Blues Hall of Fame in 1998.
Be sure to stop the player above before starting this video so they don't conflict with each other.