BRISBANE, Australia (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — U.S.-Born, Australian-based bluesman Wiley Reed died on October 7 due to complications from an earlier fall. He was 68 at the time of his passing.
Born in 1944 in Jacksonville, Florida, Reed started singing in a church choir by the age of nine and studied piano. He would go on to become an accomplished musician, touring extensively in both the U.S. and Europe, as well as three visits to Vietnam to entertain U.S. troops deployed there.
In 1967, Reed visited Australia, where he met his wife and settled there.
His 2003 recording,'Straight from the heart' earned Reed several awards, including three Sunnies for Best Male Vocalist, Best Blues Album and Best Male Vocalist at the Gold Coast International Jazz and Blues Festival.
Reed was also actively performing, opening the 2012 Broadbeach Blues Festival and performed on the main stage at the 2012 Noosa Jazz Festival. – CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
