Wiley Dean Reed (5 January 1944 – 7 October 2012) was an Australian-based African-American blues musician and songwriter, who sang and accompanied himself on the piano. He was a multi-award winning artist who played with some of the genre's biggest artists.
Born in Jacksonville, Florida on 5 January 1944, Reed began singing in the local church choir at the age of nine, and was already an accomplished musician in his native United States before he arrived in Australia in 1967. He toured extensively throughout the United States, Australia and Europe, and made three trips to Vietnam (1967, 68, 69) to entertain troops.
Reed began his career in Australia at the Two Eyes Club where he performed with fellow blues artists Billy Thorpe, Phil Manning, Doug Parkinson and Jeff St John.
He became well known for his deep soulful style and his generosity, helping many musicians over the years in the style of great mentors such as Miles Davis.
In 1996, he was personally selected by Michael Jackson for a private welcoming concert during his History tour.
His last recording titled Straight from the heart (2003) won several awards including three Sunnie awards for Best Male Vocalist, Best Blues Album and Best Male Vocalist at the Gold Coast International Jazz and Blues Festival.
In November 2010, Reed collaborated with a new lineup of Brisbane musicians to create and record original material under the pseudonym Moses 'Turkey Slap' Washington, a fictional Delta Bluesman who sings blues-rock with comedic lyrics. This was slated for release in 2011.
In 2012 Wiley Reed and his band opened the 2012 Broadbeach Blues Festival with Bob Malone, Chris Jagger, Phil Emmanuel and other international acts and was a highlight act on the main stage at the 2012 Noosa Jazz Festival.
Reed died in hospital due to complications from an earlier fall on 7 October 2012 in Brisbane, Australia. At the time of his death, he had a large following in Queensland and other states where he had played in festivals.
(courtesy Wikipedia, May 2017)
Tributes have started to flow after international Blues legend Wiley Reed died following complications from a fall
International Blues legend Wiley Reed died this week after complications from a fall. Wiley, 68, was admitted to the Royal Brisbane Hospital last month and died on Sunday.
He had been scheduled to headline the Goodna Jacaranda Festival this month. Ipswich performer and close friend Yasmin Rajah was with Wiley and his family when he passed. She said Wiley was the embodiment of Blues and touched many hearts in the community. "He was a national treasure and a very close friend of mind,'' Ms Rajah said. "He was the epitome of blues. You just looked at him and he was blues - he was unreal.''
He had been scheduled to headline the Goodna Jacaranda Festival this month. Ipswich performer and close friend Yasmin Rajah was with Wiley and his family when he passed. She said Wiley was the embodiment of Blues and touched many hearts in the community. "He was a national treasure and a very close friend of mind,'' Ms Rajah said. "He was the epitome of blues. You just looked at him and he was blues - he was unreal.''
Wiley was born in Jacksonville, Florida, learning to sing in his local church at the age of 9 and studying the piano from 15. He arrived in Australia in 1967 and adopted the country as his home. Wiley's 2003 album Straight From the Heart won three Queensland Recording Industry Association Awards, including best male vocalist.
Ms Rajah said Wiley was going to headline the Goodna Jacaranda Festival, which will now take on an extra note of emotion.
"My song with Wiley was Georgia on My Mind, a Ray Charles number, and I'll be singing that with the Wiley Big band,'' she said. "We've got Doc Span stepping in, another phenomenal blues international performer to fill in with the Wiley Big Band as well.''
Ms Rajah said many other tribute concerts celebrating his life were being organised and his funeral, yet to be organised, would be "huge''.
"I met Wiley when I was 17, ten years ago, by chance,'' Ms Rajah said. "I was at Sanctuary Cove and walking down the street I heard this voice coming out of this bar and I was drawn to it straight away. "I went in and sat down and watched him and I was in awe of the big, black, American man just singing the blues. "On his break, he made a beeline for me and sat down and goes, `You look like you're a singer' and I had my first jam with Wiley there and then. "I got close to him over the years. For some reason he really took to me as a young person who does his style of music.''
Reed is survived by wife Sofia and daughters Jasmine, Syreeta and Myriah.
Douglas Estwick, Ipswich News, Quest Newspapers, October 10, 2012
Comments
Post a Comment