Died On This Date (February 12, 2011) Bud Reed / Bluegrass Pioneer
themusicsover Ralph “Bud” Reed
January 16, 1918 – February 12, 2011
Bud Reed was a respected bluegrass and old-timey musician who will be forever linked with his wife and musical collaborator, Ola Belle Reed. After serving his country during WWII, Reed came home to focus on a music career, mainly that of his wife. He can be heard playing guitar and harmonica on several of her records. Over the years, the Reeds opened a handful of music-themed amusement parks in Pennsylvania. Legends likes of Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, and Ralph Stanley have all graced their stages from time to time. In 1982, Reed cut his own album, a tribute to the songs of Jimmie Rodgers. Bud Reed was 93 when he passed away on February 12, 2011.
Doc Williams was a pioneering country music singer and band leader who, over a career that spanned nearly 80 years, entertained millions either on the road or over the airwaves of radio powerhouse, WWVA-AM. On clear nights, his voice could be heard across most of the eastern 2/3 of the United States and much of Canada. Williams was in the tenth grade when he dropped out of school to help support his family. He soon launched his music career, forming and band and landing performances on local radio stations. He eventually found himself performing on WWVA’s long running Jamboree program which was later renamed Jamboree USA when it’s broadcast stretched to further points of the country. Doc Williams & His Border Riders quickly became the most popular act on the program while their traveling show put them in front of fans across the U.S., Canada and even England. Williams met the future Chuckie Williams after she sent him a letter asking if she could come on his show. They soon became singing partners and were married in 1939. Doc Williams retired from music in 2006. He was 96 when he passed away on January 31, 2011.
Milton Babbitt was an American composer who helped develop the world’s first synthesizer during the 1950s. Babbitt was just 4 years old when he took up the violin, and within a few years he branched out to the saxophone and clarinet. He was arranging songs by the time he was 7, and winning songwriting contests by 13. In college, Babbitt received honors for his studies in both music and mathematics. After the development of RCA’s Mark II synthesizer, Babbitt devoted his time and energy to making electronic music, often combining synthesizer and conventional instruments. Milton Babbitt passed away on January 29, 2011. He was 94.
