Herbert owen reed biography

American classical composer

Herbert Owen Reed (June 17, 1910 – January 6, 2014) was an American composer, conductor, and author.

Personal life

Reed was raised in rural Odessa, Missouri, where his first exposure to music was his father's playing of the old-timefiddle (accompanied by his mother at the piano).

Reed was married twice, for nearly fifty years to Esther, who preceded him in death; and for 31 years to Mary, who traveled the world with him and survived him. He had two daughters, three step-children, fifteen grandchildren, and twenty-two great-grandchildren.

Reed was an avid fisherman and world traveler.^[1] After starting to play jazz in college, he continued beyond his hundredth year, including membership in a Michigan State faculty combo known as the "Geriatric Six."^[2]

Education

In addition to his childhood with musically inclined parents, he was also attracted to the popular piano music of the 1920s (such as the novelty