Lou Reid
Contemporary Bluegrass
Lou Reid (born Louis Reid Pyrtle) is one of the most recognizable voices in bluegrass music — a veteran vocalist and multi-instrumentalist whose two stints with the Seldom Scene (since 1986 combined) and previous tenures with Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (founding member, 1979) and Ricky Skaggs's band (1982–86) have made him one of the most recorded traditional bluegrass performers of his generation.
- Born Louis Reid Pyrtle on September 13, 1954, in Moore Springs/Union Grove, North Carolina. Grew up on a tobacco farm.
- Started on acoustic bass in his early teens playing with the Bluegrass Buddies.
- Played banjo, fiddle, and sang with Southbound, an Atlanta-based progressive bluegrass band, 1973–1979. Recorded the 1977 Rebel album Southbound credited as Louis Pyrtle.
- Founding member of Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver in 1979 on bass alongside Terry Baucom and Jimmy Haley. Recorded three influential albums: Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver (1979), Rock My Soul (1981), and Quicksilver Rides Again (1983).
- Member of Ricky Skaggs's band 1982–1986 during Skaggs's mainstream country-chart peak. Played banjo, mandolin, guitar, and sang harmony on Skaggs's #1 hits including “I'm Just a Country Boy” (the first #1 country hit to feature banjo).
- Joined the Seldom Scene in June 1986 as lead singer and guitarist, replacing Phil Rosenthal. Stayed through 1991/1993.
- Formed Lou Reid, Terry Baucom & Carolina in 1992. Won IBMA Emerging Artist of the Year in 1994. Carolina Moon (1995) was nominated for IBMA Album of the Year.
- Briefly toured with Vince Gill and Vern Gosdin in the mid-1990s before rejoining the Seldom Scene in 1996 after John Duffey's death — this time on mandolin, replacing Duffey. Has been a Seldom Scene mainstay ever since.
- Recorded with Longview on Deep in the Mountains (2008) alongside J.D. Crowe, Don Rigsby, James King, Marshall Wilborn, and Ron Stewart.
- Continues to lead Lou Reid and Carolina while performing with the Seldom Scene.
- Married singer Christy Reid (who joined Carolina first as a bass player in 2001). They have two daughters.
- Inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2014 as a member of the Seldom Scene (historical lineup).
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Ain't it FunnyWhen It Rains (1991)
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Little MaggieTracks and Trains (2019)
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Lou ReidPlayed on recordings with Lou Reid
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Terry BaucomPlayed on recordings with Lou Reid
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Rickie SimpkinsPlayed on recordings with Lou Reid
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Ronnie SimpkinsPlayed on recordings with Lou Reid
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Tony RicePlayed on recordings with Lou Reid