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. He had a son named David Reed, born 11 December 1983, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Biography

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 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.

Recent activity

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 Bob Malone (born Robert Maurice Meloon, December 2, 1965) is an American keyboardist, singer, and songwriter. He has toured extensively as a solo artist as well as with former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman John Fogerty, and has recorded ...

, 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.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Reed, Wiley 1944 births 2012 deaths Australian blues musicians American emigrants to Australia Musicians from Jacksonville, Florida 20th-century Australian musicians 20th-century American musicians