(July 8, 2021) Sam Reed, a saxman who became an institution in the jazz and R&B communities in Philadelphia, has died at age 85. Named a “Jazz Hero” by the Jazz Journalists Association in 2012, Reed was part of classic Philly soul hits from such artists as Teddy Pendergrass, Billy Paul and The Intruders, to name a few. Reed also served as music director for Pendergrass for several years.
Reed moved from his native South Carolina as a child. He had a natural love of music, and over the years, he trained and worked with some of the biggest stars in jazz. He began playing around the Philadelphia area as a teenager, and by the early 60s was the bandleader at Philly’s famed Uptown Theater. This led to him getting on the radar of Philadelphia International Records, where he played on several albums from the famed Gamble & Huff production team, where he made his biggest mark on the soul music world.
Jazz and R&B fans will be mourning this great loss, even as they marvel at an incredible career. Rest in peace, Mr. Reed.
