-
liljimmyreed
- 73, Male
- Enterprise, AL
- United States
- Blog Posts (5)
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- Groups (2)
- Photos (15)
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LIL JIMMY REED BLUES PAGE
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- About Me:
- The Blues Project has done it again! We are proud to introduce to you, yet another, overlooked Alabama bluesman by the name of Leon Atkins.
Born in the late 1930's, to the parents of Morris and Velma Atkins, Leon Atkins (aka Lil, Jimmy Louisiana, a small town outside of the City Baton Rouge. He who now resides in Enterprise, AL, with his wife of 35 years
(Imogene). Leon is the eldest of five siblings, one sister, and four brothers.
Being the eldest child, Leon learned first hand the struggles and the discrimination of growing up poor and in the deep South. At an early age, to escape the depressions which many of the blacks experienced in the poverty stricken South, Leon adopted a love for music. He favored the guitar and the harmonica immediately, and often dreamed of some day becoming a famous guitar player and travel far beyond the hatred of Southern Louisiana. For Leon growing up across the street of a nightclub fascinated him, hearing the sounds of the guitar, pianos, and the jukebox music echoing throughout the night was to him a pure joy. When he saw the local Men playing music he would often initate them on his childlike imaginary guitar. But soon that would change. When he was just six years old, one of the older Men who had taken notice of Leon's love for music surprised him by making him his very first guitar out of a small cigar box. Leon loved it and that sparked the beginning of a life long relationship of a Man and his guitar.
As Leon grew into his teenage years, he spent most of his after school days working in the local saw mill and the town shoe shop after school. Growing tired of fixing shoes, Leon let it be known to his father that he wanted to play music. One Monday after his father returned home from a good days work with gifts for the family, Leon patiently waited his turn and was speechless, when his Dad handed him a brand new guitar. By that Saturday evening, Leon played music by ear without any teachings or lessons ever taken. Soon he entertained the locals around town and realized there must be a better way to help provide for his family and himself.
In the year 1957, Leon turned 18 and went to Barber College in Little Rock Ark. He continued to pursue his musical talent as he quickly advanced with simple jobs such as playing in the local juke joints and blues alleys. In these lumber walls and saw dust covered floors, Leon became a favorite of the locals, and others who heard him play. One night in an upper scale blues club, Leon was able to get that one lucky break. A well known blues artist by the name of "Jimmy Reed" was sccheduled to perform. Leon knew Jimmy Reed's music really well, from childhood listening to jukebox music from the nearby nightclub. Leon had always wanted to see the real Jimmy Reed and finally he'd gotten the chance to do just that. Be it unknown to Leon, this nighe would change his life forever. As Leon recalls, Mr Reed had obviously gotten drunk, and Leon was asked to take his place. "They snuck him out back, and came and got me" Leon recalls clearly. Mr. Reed was just too drunk to play" The crown couldn't tell the difference and the show was a hit. Leon gave a show stopping performance. And thus he was born "LIL of his hometown, which made a tremendous impact for becoming a renowned blues entertainer. Leon also realized that he would need something more stable and therefore decided to join the military and fulfill a 20 year career in the Army. Upon retiring from his military duties he then was free to follow through with his childhood dream of being a full time Blues Entertainer. Lil Jimmy Reed has done opening acts and performed with well known artists such as, (USA) Bobby Blue Bland, Ike Turner , Little Milton, Marvin Sease, Shirley Murdock, Clarence Carter, Rafel Neal and Family, Lynn White, The Love Doctor, Billy Soul Bonds, Willie Clayton, Bobby Rush.
Lil Jimmy Reed continues to play as stater "it just get better with time!!".
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lil jimmy reed plays again
July 19, 2010 I'll be leaving of the UK for a week performing at the Dundee Blues Festival this will make my third time in Scotland.
Posted on July 19, 2010 at 7:30am
MR GIP'S IN BESSEMER, AL
ON 17TH JULY 2010 LILJIMMYREED WILL BE PLAYING AT MR GIPP'S IN BESSEMER, AL
Posted on July 1, 2010 at 11:04pm
DUNDEE BLUES BONANZA
LILJIMMYREED WILL BE PLAYING AT THE DUNDEE BLUES FESTIVAL IN SCOTLAND ON THE 23RD THRU 28TH OF JULY HOPE TO SEE MOST OF MY FRIENDS THERE! TAKE CARE. LILJIMMYREED
Posted on July 1, 2010 at 10:54pm
HAYWARD RUSSELL BLUES FESTIVAL
LILJIMMYREED WILL BE PLAYING THE HAYWARD RUSSELL BLUES FEST ON 10TH & 11 JULY 2010, SO ALL YOU BLUES LOVER'S YOU DON'T WON'T TOO! MISS THIS, SEE YOU ALL IN CALIFORNIA.
Posted on July 1, 2010 at 10:48pm
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Gil from Tennessee
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