Musicians pay tribute to late Jerry Reed

NASHVILLE, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- Numerous musicians performed a free concert at Nashville's Douglas Corner Monday night as a tribute to late country music star Jerry Reed.

Reed, who died Aug. 31 of emphysema at the age of 71, made it clear he wanted a low-key funeral and his family and friends respected his wishes.

However, those who admired the singer, songwriter and some-time actor still wanted to honor him and decided to do so with a concert, the Nashville Tennessean reported.

"We heard the news, and everyone was gutted," guitarist Richard Smith, organizer of the event, told the newspaper. "And there were a lot of musicians who wanted to pay their respects to Jerry in their own way. For all of us who miss him so much, this is our way to get out and celebrate Jerry Reed."

Brent Mason, Merle Travis' son, Thom Bresh, and Reed's grandson Jerry Roe were all on the bill for "A Celebration of the Music of Jerry Reed," the Tennessean said.

"He took country guitar and Ray Charles blues piano licks and Earl Scruggs banjo rolls and put them together," Smith said of Reed. "He was dubbed a country artist, but there was plenty of jazz there. It's difficult to know what to call it. It's just 'Jerry Reed Style.'"