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.
Not to be confused with 
Utah Phillips was a great folk singer, poet and much respected labor organizer. Phillips first picked up a ukulele when he was a child but soon switched to guitar after he moved to Yellowstone Park to work on a road crew. It was there that he was exposed to the music of 
Morris Levy’s checkered career in the music industry began in the late ’40s when he owned multiple New York City nightclubs, including the famous jazz venue, Birdland. Because of his venues, Levy learned that performers were required to pay royalties on the songs they performed to the publishing owners, so he started his own publishing company where he began making his fortune. In 1956, Levy launched Roulette Records which was, at one time or another, home to