Jerry Reed’s Heavenbound Now

Posted on September 2, 2008 by GingerSnaps

The man who made “Eastbound and Down, loaded up and truckin’” the well-known theme song from Smokey & The Bandit, has passed on today. Jerry Reed, star of stage and screen, died in hospice care from emphysema at age 71.

I used to be neighbors with Jerry’s guitar player and he always spoke so highly of Jerry. Sometimes being an employer can be an entirely different ballgame than being an entertainer, but my neighbor said Jerry was great to work for. In an industry where players can tend to not stay with one tour for very many years, Bobby was with Jerry for at least 20 years. That’s practically unheard of these days.

I think my favorite Jerry Reed song was “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot” and when you’re not, you’re not! hahaha… He was such a talent at blending his brand of comedy and music.

He will be missed. RIP Jerry Reed.

Updated to add: Sadcox has a heartfelt post about Reed, as does Sista Smiff (I just knew she would…she has the best stories!!!)  Also: Newscoma, Thunder Jones, Sharon Cobb, and Blowing Smoke.

Filed under: Music, Obit | Tagged: , ,

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33 Responses

  1. heartbreaktown, on September 2nd, 2008 at 12:19 pm Said:

    Oh, that’s a bummer. I really liked him. He was very talented.

  2. Cole, on September 2nd, 2008 at 12:36 pm Said:

    Damn, that sucks… :-(

  4. Larry Cohn, on September 2nd, 2008 at 12:46 pm Said:

    Much too young.
    The only consolation is: he’s now in
    “Picker’s Heaven,” along with Merle,
    Chet and Mose Rager.
    RIP!

  5. mike, on September 2nd, 2008 at 12:54 pm Said:

    I’m beginning to feel old. RIP Jerry Reed.

  6. John, on September 2nd, 2008 at 1:02 pm Said:

    I hadn’t heard the news until just now. Too many people are dying lately! (and I’m not kidding) I liked Jerry Reed too. He played at our county fair some years ago; he was drunk as a skunk, but he could still pick a guitar. : )

  7. sadcox, on September 2nd, 2008 at 1:33 pm Said:

    Thanks for the link. Man…sad to see this guy go.

  8. Greg Smith, on September 2nd, 2008 at 1:47 pm Said:

    Jerry didnt drink I work with him for years a beer every now and then when we played golf you never saw Jerry Drunk!!!

  9. Steve, on September 2nd, 2008 at 2:39 pm Said:

    Jerry Reed was a “roadgeek tunes” favorite of mine for years.

    RIP, my fellow Georgian, and tell Chet, Elvis, Bill, and the rest of the crew “Hey” for us.

    Thanks for the music, homeboy!

  10. Donnagip, on September 2nd, 2008 at 3:48 pm Said:

    How sad to learn of his passing. Always thought him to be much cuter than Burt Reynolds.

  11. Jodi, on September 2nd, 2008 at 3:59 pm Said:

    The greats are dwindling, aren’t they?

    I feel so fortunate that we were “in the biz” when we were… being able to see all of them still in their glory.

    Good memories…

  12. Robert_Nashville, on September 2nd, 2008 at 4:08 pm Said:

    The nice thing about not dying is that you aren’t dead but one of the bad things about not dying is seeing so many good people go before you do.

    I loved Jerry Reed’s music even when I was just a kid and long before he started showing up in movie roles; then he went and not only had a major role in one of my all-time favorite movies (Smoky and the Bandit) but had several great songs in the movie (I still have the soundtrack on LP)…I owned an original 50th Anniversary Black/Gold TransAm at the time so you can imagine how much I loved the movie!

    I’m so sorry to see him go – I know I’m but one of millions of fans who are mourning his passing today.

    Rest In Piece, Jerry.

  13. Derek Laronde, Barrie Ontario Canada, on September 2nd, 2008 at 4:45 pm Said:

    undoubtily the greatest entertainer of all times, i heard his qoute that said he was not a musician he was an entertainer. Jerry Reed was my fravorite musician and entertainer since i was 16 yrs old when other kids were listening to the 80s big hair bands iwas listening to jerry and today my kids listen to him. you will be sadly missed my friend

  14. michelle2005, on September 2nd, 2008 at 4:53 pm Said:

    I love your site and had to visit again today. However, I was unprepared to hear of Jerry Reed’s passing :(

    The music that he put out brings back the most wonderful memories. It’s amazing…when you like a musician so very much, and they have a new song out…you can remember exactly where you were the FIRST time you heard it.

    May the Lord bless and comfort his family, friends…and all of us (fans) that loved him, too.

    GingerSnaps…thank you so very much for bringing this to the attention to all of us…your readers.

    Kindest Regards,

    Michelle

  15. Kevin Kyle, on September 2nd, 2008 at 6:45 pm Said:

    The Snowman has melted. There will never be another Jerry Reed.

  16. Ray/Mae, on September 2nd, 2008 at 7:52 pm Said:

    Sorry to hear that one of the great comics/ guitar players has gone home. We loved to see him act/ the funnist songs was she got the coal mineand I got the shaftand cat5ch that bird. We watch smokyand the bandit every time it comes on … jerry we wil see you again in a few years at lest some of us will by snowman

  17. keith, on September 2nd, 2008 at 8:33 pm Said:

    we all just got a little bit older ………rest in peace jerry

  18. roadhammer, on September 2nd, 2008 at 9:01 pm Said:

    i regret to inform you but here it goes

    today at 1208pm on the bill mack show it was announced that singer, song writer,
    and actor best known as snowman on the movie smokie and the bandit and known best for the song east bound and down jerry reed has passed on at the age of 71

    he is and will always be the reason most truck drivers (including me) became a truck driver

    snowman you now have no pain and you will be missed

  19. roadhammer, on September 2nd, 2008 at 9:02 pm Said:

    about a year ago when i was on the road it was the anniversery of the smokey and the bandit in missouri
    i was doing a 34 hr restart and we all went to the truck stop and found out there was a special showing of the movie that night and jerry and burt was going to be there

    well during the movie all of the sudden the film projector stopped (we was at a drive in for trucks it was done by OOIDA)

    all of the sudden we hear sirens and coming down the road was a 77 trans am and behind it was about 50 police cars and a replica of the snowmans semi he used in the movie and about 20 d o t cops behind it

    burt, jerry, and all of us didnt expect it at all
    it was memorible and jerry just cried at it

    it was one of his last days he was seen im public

    snowman
    your now in no pain and now you can roll on and get the load delivered on time and without the log book
    you will be missed by this former trucker
    and we will see you again
    roadhammer signing off

  20. randy smith, on September 3rd, 2008 at 6:24 am Said:

    East bound and down Snowman R.I.P

  21. Kevin Varnell, on September 3rd, 2008 at 6:50 am Said:

    Jerry was one of the most innovative guitar players EVER !!! He and Chet caused me to put down my guitar for great lengths of time out of sheer frustration. I was lucky enough to see him in concert in Long Island, I believe his only trip to the N.Y. metropolitan area. What a great show, and showman. It was also my first REAL concert. A few years later , while driving back from college in Texas, I met his daughter Sedeina. What a voice, what a beauty, and a real sweetheart, to this funny looking 19 year old with a mohawk. She informed me that “daddy” didn’t act in Smokey and the Bandit, that he was the same way at home, and just drove momma CRAZY. Well I guess type casting works too. It is a terrible loss to us all to lose such a talent. Jerry I will allways remember you and your music. Sedeina, if you read this, I want to also thank you for being a friendly person to a lonely kid.

  22. Matt(pushrod)Daniel, on September 3rd, 2008 at 7:49 am Said:

    What can I say, when I heard I cried. The SNOWMAN was the reason I bought an A model Kenworth. And why we all still drink Coors religously. Im only 27yrs old but when I was young Smokey and The Bandit was and still is my favorite movie. When I first seen that it made me wanna drive a truck! Thanks for the memories! R.I.P. Jerry Reed Hubbard…………..

  23. eric, on September 3rd, 2008 at 10:24 am Said:

    Wow…yep…it’s a loss. Jerry Reed has always been a favorite of mine too. He could flat play guitar. Wow…I hate that for his family, friends and fans.

  24. eddie, on September 3rd, 2008 at 10:29 am Said:

    the snowman is east bound and down………………..we will miss ya buddy

  25. GingerSnaps, on September 3rd, 2008 at 10:48 am Said:

    Hey guys, I just wanted to chime in and let you know that I’m very honored that you’ve chosen to come here and comment on your thoughts about Jerry Reed. As you leave your condolences, I will do my best to forward them to his family.

    Best,
    Ginger

  26. Sean, on September 3rd, 2008 at 11:59 am Said:

    We’ll miss you Jerry! Dang this sucks.

  27. wes, on September 3rd, 2008 at 12:02 pm Said:

    Jerry Reed , was the first “concert ” I ever attended . It was in North Georgia and what struck me was how personel he was. It was the late 70’s and after the show he came out and greeted everyone who stayed behind . Laughing and telling jokes just like he always knew us. Not till I went back did I realize that Everybody didn’t do that .

    I have seen many bands to date but none measure to the Alabama Wildman

  28. Chris, on September 3rd, 2008 at 2:52 pm Said:

    Im another truck driver that was made out of being a fan of the Snowman. My career is actually as a pilot, but truck driving got in there too at some point because of the inspiration that Jerry was to me. It was a life ambition to meet him in person one day, right from when I was a child in the UK in the 1980s. Ever since, I’ve always closely followed him, bought his movies, got his music and read everything that was ever published on the internet about him. He really was a huge inspiration to me, and always will be.

    His voice and things that he used to say, will always live on inside us all. He touched many fans by being personal the way he was, and I can feel that without ever having met him.

    Now that he’s no longer with us in person, I don’t think that’s changed. He’s still and idol, and an inspiration to us all.

    Im sure you feel that too Prissy, Siedina, Chet & Lottie plus his Grand Children. My thoughts are with all you guys. The Legend will live on in all of us, so stay strong.

  29. pkayfit, on September 3rd, 2008 at 3:00 pm Said:

    That is so sad. I can not believe this. OMG! he will definitely be missed. Thanks for the post

  30. luther ray bright, on September 6th, 2008 at 2:27 am Said:

    WELL, WITH CHET AND JERRY, THE TWO GREATEST CAT GUT FINGER PICKERS IN HEAVEN NOW, I WOULD HATE TO BE STEVIE RAY VAUGHN WITH THAT 1959 FENDER OF HIS AND A STRAIGHT PICK. HE IS ABOUT TO LEARN TO PLAY THE BLUES THE RIGHT WAY, FINGER STYLE !! R.I.P. MY FRIENDS.

  31. Ken Spooner, on September 6th, 2008 at 8:44 pm Said:

    A little tribute to The Clawman

  33. Ken Down Under, on October 27th, 2008 at 6:41 am Said:

    Well a sad day for country music, as many people have said Jerry’s part in “Smokey and The Bandit” made that movie. I wore out the tape I had of teh movie sound track. Jerry will be greatly missed by everyone.

    Can anyone please pass on info on the trucking movie Jerry did with Peter Fonda I think the title was High Rollin.???? I woudl appreciate any info.
    Thanks for some great country music Jerry Rest in Peace ol mate!!

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