A.C. Reed – born Aaron Corthen on May 9, 1926 in Wardell, Missouri – was a blues saxophonist. He grew up in southern Illinois and, during World War II, he relocated to Chicago. He began making a name for himself on the Chicago blues scene when he played with acts like Earl Hooker and Willie Mabon. He took his stage name from his friend, legendary blues vocalist and guitarist Jimmy Reed. He continued to play locally and by the 1950s, he was a popular sideman, touring with artists like Dennis ‘Long Man’ Binder. In the ‘60s, he had become an in-demand session musician, backing up musicians that recorded for the Chief, Profile, and Age labels. He recorded for the Age Records label, releasing the single “This Little Voice” in 1961. In the late ‘60s, he joined Buddy Guy’s band and remained with him for the next decade. He also spent time in bands led by Junior Wells and Albert Collins. Reed then released his solo album Take These Blues and Shove ‘Em (1982), followed four years later by the album I Got Money (1986). He signed to Alligator Records in 1987 and released the album I’m in the Wrong Business, which featured musical assistance from Stevie Ray Vaughan and Bonnie Raitt. Reed and his band the Spark Plugs continued to tour and record, releasing the album Junk Food in 1998. A.C. Reed died of cancer on February 24, 2004.
