“Undoubtedly, his iconic performance on ‘Turn the Page’ helped elevate us to another level. He has been with us on virtually every show since,” continues Seger, who gives Reed his stage name after being inspired by the alias. used in Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band. “And whether it was ‘Turn the Page’, ‘Mainstreet’ or ‘Old Time Rock and Roll’, the audience roared every time he played his role. In our group, Alto was the rock star.”
As a member of Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, Reed won a 1980 Grammy for best rock performance by a duo or group with a voice for Against the wind. The group’s fourth studio album topped the Billboard 200 six weeks ago in the spring of 1980. It was their only number 1 album.
Apart from his work with the Silver Bullet Band, Reed also performed Grand Funk Railroad, Ted Nugent, Little Feat, Foghat, Dave Mason, Spencer Davis, the Blues Brothers, George Thorogood, Robin Gibb and the Motor City Horns. Together with Steve Dickinson he was the leader of the Reed & Dickinson Band and released an album with the title Tonight We Ride.
He is survived by his children, Chelsea Reed Radler and her husband Jon Radler and Victoria Reed and her husband Erik Deutsch; his grandson Harry Radler; his mate Christiana Van Ryn; his stepdaughter Sophia Van Ryn; his ex-wife Monica Reed; and his sister Nancy Neumann.
Instead of flowers, Reed’s family requested that fans, friends and others donate in his name to the Detroit Symphony’s Detroit Harmony Fund, which aims to place an instrument in the hands of every student in his hometown. They also encouraged people to check regularly for colon cancer and to get to know other preventative methods.
“His ability, dedication and brilliance as an artist and performer have made him a hero, not only for us but also for thousands of others, if not millions,” Chelsea and Victoria wrote as part of his family’s statement. “He lived for the stage, and most importantly, his role for nearly 50 years in the Silver Bullet Band with his musical family; Bob, Craig, Chris, and so many other talented musicians who played with him. We are sincerely comforted. knowing that his spirit would shine brightly through the music he left behind, and the impression he had on so many souls in concert. ‘