Blind Alfred Reed

Blind Alfred Reed (June 15, 1880 – January 17, 1956) was an American folk, country, and old-time musician and singer-songwriter. 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. He is perhaps most well known for the songs "The Wreck of the Virginian" and "How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?", the latter of which has been covered many times, including versions by Bruce Springsteen, Ry Cooder, and the New Lost City Ramblers.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 15, 1880 (Floyd County), Died January 17, 1956

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1929

Roles Represented in DAHR: baritone vocal, violin, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-39725 10-in. 7/28/1927 The wreck of the Virginian Blind Alfred Reed Male vocal solo, with fiddle (violin) composer, instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-39726 10-in. 7/28/1927 I mean to live for Jesus Blind Alfred Reed Male vocal solo, with violin and guitar composer, instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-39727 10-in. 7/28/1927 You must unload Blind Alfred Reed Male vocal solo, with violin and guitar composer, instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-39728 10-in. 7/28/1927 Walking in the way with Jesus Blind Alfred Reed Male vocal solo, with violin and guitar composer, instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-40790 10-in. 12/19/1927 Explosion in the Fairmount mines Blind Alfred Reed Male vocal solo, with violin and guitar composer, instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-40791 10-in. 12/19/1927 Fate of Chris Lively and wife Blind Alfred Reed Male vocal solo, with violin and guitar composer, instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-40792 10-in. 12/19/1927 Why do you bob your hair, girls Blind Alfred Reed Male vocal solo, with violin and guitar composer, instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-40793 10-in. 12/19/1927 Always lift him up and never knock him down Blind Alfred Reed Male vocal solo, with violin and guitar composer, instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-40794 10-in. 12/19/1927 The prayer of the drunkard's little girl Blind Alfred Reed Male vocal solo, with violin and guitar composer, instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-57571 10-in. 12/3/1929 Woman's been after man ever since Blind Alfred Reed Male vocal solo, with fiddle (violin) and guitar composer, instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-57572 10-in. 12/3/1929 Why don't you bob your hair girls, no. 2 Blind Alfred Reed Male vocal solo, with fiddle (violin) and guitar composer, instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-57573 10-in. 12/3/1929 There'll be no distinction there Blind Alfred Reed ; Orville Reed Male vocal duet, with violin and guitar composer, vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, violin  
Victor BVE-57574 10-in. 12/3/1929 We've just got to have 'em, that's all Blind Alfred Reed ; Orville Reed Male vocal duet, with fiddle (violin) and guitar composer, instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-57575 10-in. 12/3/1929 Beware Blind Alfred Reed ; Orville Reed Male vocal duet, with violin and guitar composer, instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-57576 10-in. 12/3/1929 The railroader Blind Alfred Reed ; Orville Reed Male vocal duet, with violin and guitar instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-57742 10-in. 12/4/1929 The old fashioned cottage Blind Alfred Reed ; Orville Reed Male vocal duet, with violin and guitar instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-57743 10-in. 12/4/1929 How can a poor man stand such times and live Blind Alfred Reed Male vocal solo, with fiddle (violin) and guitar composer, instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-57744 10-in. 12/4/1929 Black and blue blues Blind Alfred Reed Male vocal solo, with fiddle (violin) and guitar composer, instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-57745 10-in. 12/4/1929 Bonnie little girl Blind Alfred Reed ; Orville Reed Male vocal duet, with violin and guitar instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-57746 10-in. 12/4/1929 You'll miss me Blind Alfred Reed ; Orville Reed Male vocal duet, with violin and guitar instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-57747 10-in. 12/4/1929 Money cravin' folks Blind Alfred Reed Male vocal solo, with fiddle (violin) and guitar composer, instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, baritone vocal  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Reed, Blind Alfred," accessed November 24, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111395.

Reed, Blind Alfred. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 24, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111395.

"Reed, Blind Alfred." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111395

External Sources

Wikipedia: Blind Alfred Reed

Discogs: Blind Alfred Reed

Allmusic: Blind Alfred Reed

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Reed, Blind Alfred - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no99044448

Wikidata: Blind Alfred Reed - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q884114

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/51324015

MusicBrainz: Blind Alfred Reed - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/b73930f3-bdad-436c-b7b0-40260056836b

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.