Customer Reviews

Big Boss Man: The Life and Music of Bluesman Jimmy Reed

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This book looks at the life of Jimmy Reed. His music was and still is wonderful and very influencial. This book tells of his troubles of trying to make it to his successes to comebacks and all of the struggles he faced inbetween. It's a fascinating story that is very historical in it's content, but also a captivating read.

The miraculous progress in blues scholarship over the last 20 years or so continues with this book about the great Jimmy Reed. There were virtually no liner notes on Jimmy Reed albums, so a well researched book like this one fills in much needed information. The bonus of a book like this is the circular effect of reading it. Jimmy Reed's music draws you to the book, and reading the book sends you back to the music to hear musical observations the author points out. The end result is a better appreciation for music you already loved!

This biography is a useful effort to chronicle the life and music of the great Jimmy Reed. I wish the author had been closer to Chicago and had ongoing relationships with more of Reed's family members and his fellow African American musicians. This would have allowed for a better-flowing story with much more insight into his life and character.

Romano does have a good ear for describing Reed's music and the role of his stage partner, the late Eddie Taylor.


--Reviewed by the co-author of Stepson of the Blues: A Chicago Song of Survival the autobiography of Eddie Taylor's stepson Larry Taylor