Terry Reid

Terrance James Reid (13 November 1949 – 4 August 2025), who was nicknamed Superlungs, was an English musician, songwriter and guitarist, best known for his emotive style of singing in appearances with high-profile musicians as vocalist, supporting act and session musician. As a solo recording and touring artist he released six studio albums and four live albums. Described as an "artists' artist" by Rolling Stone, Reid was recognised by his contemporaries as an eminent talent in English rock music, both as a guitarist and a vocalist. Robert Plant praised his vocal "flexibility, power and control" and Graham Nash was quoted as saying he should have been "a gigantic star".

Reid's music career began in the early 1960s. While performing in a local British club, he was invited to join Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers as lead vocalist and opened for The Rolling Stones on their 1966 tour. In the later '60s, Reid was solo supporting act for Rolling Stones, Cream, Jethro Tull and Fleetwood Mac tours. He turned down offers from Jimmy Page to be lead vocalist of the band that became Led Zeppelin, and from Ritchie Blackmore to front Deep Purple.

Terrance James Reid was born in 1949 in Paxton Park Maternity Home, Little Paxton, St Neots, Huntingdonshire, England, the only child of Walter Reid, a salesman of cars and agricultural equipment, and Grace. He lived in the fens village of Bluntisham and attended St Ivo School, St Ives. He listened to classical music, Bulgarian folk and jazz, and was particularly inspired by the sound of American R&B and soul singers such as Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye. He bought his first guitar at the age of ten; he formed his first group, the Redbeats, at the age of 13, and they played in village halls and youth clubs. The other band members were in their late teens. At 14 he wrote his first song, "Without Expression", which many other artists later recorded. His father was supportive and persuaded his mother to allow him to pursue music as a career instead of "picking up potatoes in a muddy field", drove him to gigs, bought guitars and later accompanied him on tours.

After leaving school at the age of fifteen, Reid joined Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers after being spotted by the band's drummer, Peter Jay. At the time, Reid was playing for a local band, The Redbeats, who regularly performed at the River Club in St Ives. In 1966, The Jaywalkers were named as a support act for the Rolling Stones during their 23-show British Tour, from September to October 1966. At the concert at the Royal Albert Hall, Graham Nash of The Hollies became friends with Reid and suggested The Jaywalkers sign up with UK Columbia Records, an EMI label, to record with producer John Burgess. Their first single, the soul-inspired "The Hand Don't Fit the Glove" was a minor hit in 1967, but by then The Jaywalkers had disbanded.

Reid came to the attention of producer Mickie Most, who became his manager and who was in partnership with Peter Grant at the time. His first single with Most, "Better by Far", became a radio favourite. His debut album, Bang Bang, You're Terry Reid, was released in 1968. With accompanying musicians Eric Leese on organ and Keith Webb on drums, a 1968 tour of the United States with Cream did much to gain Reid a loyal following. His final performance of the tour at the Miami Pop Festival received positive reviews from the music press.

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.