Mathis James Reed, known as Jimmy Reed, was an influential American blues musician and songwriter born on September 6, 1925, in Dunleith, Mississippi. He passed away on August 29, 1976, in Oakland, California, just shy of his 51st birthday. Reed was renowned for his electric blues style, which resonated with a broad audience and produced hit songs like "Honest I Do," "Baby What You Want Me to Do," "Big Boss Man," and "Bright Lights, Big City." These tracks achieved success on both Billboard's R&B and Hot 100 charts.

Reed's music left a lasting impact on many artists, including Elvis Presley, Hank Williams Jr., Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and the Rolling Stones, who covered his songs. Music critic Cub Koda once described him as "perhaps the most influential bluesman of all," due to his accessible style.

Reed learned to play the harmonica and guitar from his friend Eddie Taylor. After performing in Mississippi, he moved to Chicago in 1943 and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Post-war, he returned to Mississippi briefly, married his girlfriend Mary (known as Mama Reed), and moved to Gary, Indiana, where he worked at a meat-packing plant.

By the 1950s, Reed had become a popular musician, joining the Gary Kings and playing on the streets. Although he failed to secure a contract with Chess Records, he signed with Vee-Jay Records and released his first hit, "You Don't Have to Go." Despite his struggles with alcoholism and undiagnosed epilepsy, Reed continued to produce hits with the help of his wife, who often assisted him during recordings.

Reed's career waned after Vee-Jay Records closed, and although he signed with ABC-Bluesway, he never achieved another hit. He toured Europe in 1968 with the American Folk Blues Festival. Reed was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.