Reggie Young, a Memphis guitarist best known for his work at Chips Moman’s American Sound Studio, passed away on Jan. 17, at the age of 82, at his home in Leipers Fork, Tenn., just outside Nashville.
Young, as part of the American Sound Studio house band, played on literally dozens of hit records on the R&B, country and pop charts in the ’60s and ’70s.
Although early on he toured with bands Young rarely played outside of studio environments throughout much of his six-decade career, including stints as a member of the house bands at the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, Memphis labels Goldwax and Hi Records and various studios in Nashville, as well as American Sound Studio.
One gig Young didn’t pass up was the chance to travel with The Beatles on their first U.S. tour in 1964 as a member of Bill Black’s Combo. The band opened the shows (including an Aug. 22 date at Empire Stadium in Vancouver) and then stayed on stage to back up the other opening acts including Jackie DeShannon, The Exciters and The Righteous Brothers.
The Beatles invited the Combo to continue with them on tour in the U.K. where Young met Eric Clapton. “One thing we had in common, we both used unwrapped third strings,” Young is quoted in a Country Music Hall of Fame piece, referring to a special way of lining up strings on an electric guitar. “All the blues players did that … He was one of the few players I’d run across who was into that.”
The Memphis session guitarist could play anything. That's why he was in such high demand. His work is really Ground Zero where blues, country, soul and rock come together.
Reggie Young playlist:
Bill Black’s Combo
Reggie Young was already more of a session player when Bill Black’s Combo got a slot on The Beatles 1964 tour. Black was Elvis Presley’s original bass player and can be heard on all of the classic early material. He probably met Young when Presley played the Louisiana Hayride. Black left Presley in an argument over money and started the Combo in 1959. They had several hits including “Smokie” Parts 1 and (especially) 2 and were named Billboard’s No. 1 instrumental group in 1960.
James Carr
Quinton Claunch sold his interest in Hi Records (after a dispute over a Bill Black’s Combo recording) and formed Goldwax Records in Memphis in 1964 with a business partner, pharmacist Rudolph V. “Doc” Russell. Soul singer James Carr made his first recordings for Goldwax, including Dan Penn’s “The Dark End of the Street” in 1967.
O.V. Wright
Former Sunset Travelers gospel singer O.V. Wright made his first “pop” record for Goldwax, the Deep Soul classic 45 “There Goes My Used to Be” b/w "That’s How Strong My Love Is.”
The Box Tops
Young had a hand in the sound of The Box Tops’ first two singles, “The Letter” and “Cry Like a Baby,” featuring 16-year-old frontman Alex Chilton on vocals. The latter recording includes Young’s first attempt at playing the electric sitar. A video of "The Letter" has The Box Tops lip-synching the recording for TV.
Dusty Springfield
Inspired by Aretha Franklin, U.K. pop singer Dusty Springfield traveled to Memphis in September, 1968 to make a “blue-eyed” soul album with the likes of Arif Mardin, Jerry Wexler and Tom Dowd for Atlantic Records. Even though most of the material was composed by Tin Pan Alley songwriters, including four by Gerry Goffin and Carole KIng, it is an iconic pop soul album accompanied by the Memphis Boys house band with Reggie Young on guitar.
Elvis in Memphis
In January, 1969, Elvis Presley began recording at American Sound Studio in Memphis with a $25,000 deposit using the 827 Thomas Steet Band (aka “The Memphis Boys”) which was Reggie Young on guitar, Tommy Cogbill and Mike Leech on bass, Gene Chrisman on drums, Bobby Wood on piano and Bobby Emmons on organ. Chips Moman and the band didn’t like the songs Presley’s RCA handlers had brought with them and steered the sessions towards the grittier sound heard on From Elvis in Memphis. The single release, “In the Ghetto” initially listed Presley’s RCA contact, Fenton Jarvis, as the producer even though it was Moman handling the sessions. On the non-album single, “Suspicious Minds,” Jarvis overdubbed a 15-second fade-out after he’d received the master tapes back from Moman at American Sound Studio
Dobie Gray
Young created the famous intro we hear on Dobie Gray’s “Drift Away” by doubling up on a two-bar riff on his Les Paul guitar. Released in February, 1973, the song, originally written by Mentor Williams in a country vein, became a soul pop smash.
Delbert McClinton
Ensconced in the Nashville scene, Young was part of the band that accompanied Delbert McClinton on a series of classic albums for ABC Records in the mid-'70s at Chip Young's Murfreesboro studio: Victim of Life’s Circumstances (all McClinton originals, 10/10), Genuine Cowhide (mostly covers, 9.5/10) and Love Rustler (last call, 8/10). All three albums are raucous rock 'n' roll, filtered through honky tonk and R&B sensibilities, and demand to be played loud. The title track on Love Rustler begins full-throttle in the deep end of the song and just keeps going.
J.J. Cale
Young plays lead guitar on “Cocaine” (even though J.J. wasn’t too shabby himself) which Cale recorded for his Troubadour album on Leon Russell’s Shelter Records label in 1977.
Ace Records
After six decades in the music business, Reggie Young made his solo recording debut on an instrumental album, Forever Young, released on the U.K. label Ace Records May 26, 2017. Prior to that Ace also released Memphis Boys - The Story Of American Studios in 2012. Reggie Young - Session Guitar Star, culling more of the iconic musician’s legacy, will be released on Feb. 8.
