Editing Vernon Reid

{{short description|British-American guitarist and songwriter}}
{{About|the British American musician|the New Zealand politician|Vernon Reed}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name                = Vernon Reid
| background          = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| image               = Lozlivingcolour-2016-05-31-04h35m58s185.png
| image_size          =
| caption             = Reid in 2016
| birth_name          = Vernon Alphonsus Reid
| alias               =
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1958|8|22}}
| birth_place         = London, England
| genre               = {{flatlist|
* [[Alternative metal]]
* [[funk metal]]
* [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]]
* [[hard rock]]
* [[funk rock]]
}}
| occupation          = {{flatlist|
* Musician
* songwriter
* producer
}}
| instrument          = Guitar
| years_active        = 1979–present
| label               = [[Mascot Label Group|Mascot]]
| associated_acts     = {{flatlist|
* [[Living Colour]]
* [[Spectrum Road]]
* [[Masque]]
* [[Free Form Funky Freqs]]
* [[Yohimbe Brothers]]
* [[Defunkt]]
* [[Ronald Shannon Jackson]]
* [[Burnt Sugar]]
* [[Jack Bruce]]
* [[James Blood Ulmer]]
* [[Pharoahe Monch]]
* [[Immortal Technique]]
* [[Kashif]]
}}
| website             = {{URL|https://www.facebook.com/vernonreid}}
}}'''Vernon Alphonsus Reid''' (born 22 August 1958)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://espanol.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/Week-in-Rock-History-August-21-27.aspx |title=This Week in Rock History August 21 – 27 |last=Erickson |first=Anne |date=22 August 2017 |website=Gibson.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#ace/writer/125843379/REID%20VERNON%20ALPHONSUS |title=ACE Repertory - Vernon Reid |website=ASCAP.com}}</ref> is a British-born American [[guitarist]] and [[songwriter]] best known as the founder of the rock band [[Living Colour]]. Reid was named No. 66 on ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine's 2003 list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time,<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Fricke |first=David |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-greatest-guitarists-david-frickes-picks-146383/kim-thayil-227804/ |title=100 Greatest Guitarists: David Fricke's Picks |date=3 December 2010 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref> and in August 2023, was ranked #42 in Rolling Stone Magazine top 250 Greatest Guitarists of all time.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last= |first= |date=2023-10-13 |title=The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-guitarists-1234814010/ |access-date=2024-02-09 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> Critic Steve Huey writes, "[Reid's] rampant eclecticism encompasses everything from heavy metal and punk to [[funk]], R&B and avant-garde [[jazz]], and his anarchic, lightning-fast solos have become something of a hallmark as well."<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p117729|pure_url=yes}} Vernon Reid] at AllMusic</ref>

==Early life==
Reid was born 22 August 1958 in London, England, to parents from [[Montserrat]].<ref name="EUROWEEKLY">{{Cite web|url=https://euroweeklynews.com/2023/07/12/exclusive-vernon-reid-of-living-colour-speaks-to-euro-weekly-news/|title=Exclusive: Vernon Reid Of Living Colour|last=Smith| first=John|date=12 July 2023|website=Euro Weekly News}}</ref> In 1959 the family moved to [[New York City]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/back-in-black-2-95063/ |title=Back in Black |last=Fricke |first=David |date=24 September 1987 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/music-popular-and-jazz-biographies/vernon-reid|title=Vernon Reid {{!}} Encyclopedia.com|website=Encyclopedia.com|access-date=9 February 2019}}</ref><ref name="EUROWEEKLY" /> He attended [[Brooklyn Technical High School]], then [[New York University]].

==Career==
===Early career===
He first came to prominence in the 1980s in [[Ronald Shannon Jackson]]'s avant-jazz-rock band [[Ronald_Shannon_Jackson#The_Decoding_Society_and_Other_Projects_%281979–1999%29|The Decoding Society]], and is on six studio and three live albums recorded with that group from 1980-1986. ''[[Smash & Scatteration]]'' was a duo record with guitarist [[Bill Frisell]] recorded in 1984. In 1985, Reid co-founded the [[Black Rock Coalition]] with journalist [[Greg Tate]] and producer Konda Mason.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nypl.org/blog/2016/03/01/black-rock-coalition|title=The Black Rock Coalition: Empowering Artists Who Break the Mold|website=The New York Public Library|access-date=9 February 2019}}</ref>

===Living Colour===
{{Main|Living Colour}}
Reid formed Living Colour in New York City in 1984, and its lineup was solidified in 1986. Their debut album ''[[Vivid (Living Colour album)|Vivid]]'' was released in 1988 and sold double Platinum.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/living-colours-time-is-now-192320/|title=Living Colour's Time Is Now|last=Fricke|first=David|date=1 November 1990|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|language=en-US|access-date=9 February 2019}}</ref> Its successor ''[[Time's Up (Living Colour album)|Time's Up]]'' was released 1990 and was gold-certified. They received two consecutive [[Grammy Awards]] in the category of Best Hard Rock Performance. They opened for the [[Rolling Stones]]' 1989 "[[Steel Wheels]]" tour; and appeared on the first [[Lollapalooza]] tour in the summer of 1991.

Living Colour broke up in 1995 but reformed in 2000. Since then, they have released three more albums: ''[[Collideøscope]]'' in October 2003 on [[Sanctuary Records]], ''[[The Chair in the Doorway]]'' in September 2009, and ''[[Shade (Living Colour album)|Shade]]'' in September 2017 on [[Megaforce Records]].

===Solo career===
[[File:Vernon Reid 06N5991.jpg|thumb|Vernon Reid, [[Moers Festival]] 2011]]
In addition to his work with Living Colour, Reid has been engaged in a number of other projects. He released [[Mistaken Identity (Vernon Reid album)|''Mistaken Identity'']], his first solo album, in 1996,<ref name="LarkinHR">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=1999|edition=First|isbn=0-7535-0257-7|pages=367/8}}</ref> and has collaborated with the choreographers [[Bill T. Jones]] on ''Still/Here'' and [[Donald Byrd]] on ''Jazztrain''. He performed "Party 'Til The End of Time" at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) with [[The Roots]], an end of the 2000 millennium tribute featuring the music of [[Prince (musician)|Prince's]] album [[1999 (Prince album)|''1999'']]. He also composed and performed "Bring Your Beats" a children's program for BAM.

Reid has also undertaken significant work as a record producer, including two Grammy-nominated albums: ''[[Papa (album)|Papa]]'' (1999) by the African vocalist [[Salif Keita]] and ''[[Memphis Blood: The Sun Sessions]]'' (2001) by guitarist [[James Blood Ulmer]]. Ulmer's subsequent albums, ''[[No Escape from the Blues: The Electric Lady Sessions]]'' (2003), ''[[Birthright (album)|Birthright]]'' (2005), and ''[[Bad Blood in the City: The Piety Street Sessions]]'' (2007), were also produced by Reid.

Reid also appears on ''[[GTR OBLQ|Guitar Oblique]]'' ([[Knitting Factory Records|Knitting Factory]]) with guitarists [[David Torn]] and [[Elliott Sharp]]. Reid was also featured in the program presented by BAM and the Experience Music Project in Seattle entitled "Magic Science", which includes [[Medeski Martin & Wood]] and the [[Gil Evans]] Orchestra performing Gil Evans' arrangements of songs by [[Jimi Hendrix]].

Reid composed the score for the film ''[[Paid in Full (2002 film)|Paid in Full]]'', directed by [[Charles Stone III]] (well known for creating the "Wasssup!" series of commercials for [[Budweiser (Anheuser-Busch)|Budweiser]] as well as directing three videos for Living Colour) and released by [[Miramax]] in the fall of 2002. Reid also composed the score for the celebrated documentary ''Ghosts of Attica'' (directed by Brad Lichtenstein), which aired on [[Court TV]] in the fall of 2001 and has been featured at several film festivals. He composed the score for another documentary directed by Lichtenstein, ''Almost Home'', which aired in 2006 on the PBS series ''Independent Lens.''

Reid and [[DJ Logic]], calling themselves "Yohimbe Brothers", released an album in September 2002 entitled ''[[Front End Lifter]]''. The Yohimbe Brothers have been touring on and off since the release of the album. Reid was also the music supervisor for the film ''[[Mr. 3000]]'', starring [[Bernie Mac]] and directed by Charles Stone III; the film was released in September 2004. Vernon's album with Masque ([[New York Electric Piano|Leon Gruenbaum]] – keyboards and [[Samchillian]], Hank Schroy – bass and Marlon Browden – drums), an instrumental album entitled ''[[Known Unknown (album)|Known Unknown]]'', was released in April 2004, and on 18 April 2006 Vernon Reid and Masque released ''[[Other True Self]]'', both on [[Favored Nations]] records, owned by another guitarist, [[Steve Vai]].

Reid has a prolific session output in a variety of contexts. He has played live or on record with The Roots, Eye & I, [[Mick Jagger]], Ambitious Lovers, [[Rollins Band]], Spearhead, [[Public Enemy (group)|Public Enemy]], [[Janet Jackson]], [[Mariah Carey]],  [[Colonial Cousins]], [[Tracy Chapman]], [[Ronald Shannon Jackson]], [[Don Byron]], [[Defunkt]], [[Santana (band)|Santana]], [[Bernie Worrell]], [[MC 900&nbsp;Ft. Jesus]], [[B.B. King]], [[Madeleine Peyroux]], Meridiem, [[Jack Bruce]], [[Terry Bozzio]], Black Sugar Transmission (Reid solos on the title track of 2009's ''USE IT'' EP) and [[DJ Spooky]].

Reid played at America's Millennium Gala, New Year's Eve 31 December 1999, and 1 January 2000, at the [[Lincoln Memorial]], performing "[[Fortunate Son]]" with [[John Fogerty]]. Among those in the audience were [[Bill Clinton|President Bill Clinton]] and [[Hillary Clinton|First Lady Hillary Clinton]].

In March 2007, Reid played with [[Jamaaladeen Tacuma]], and [[G. Calvin Weston]] at Tonic in New York and Tritone in Philadelphia, which led them to record as Free Form Funky Freqs. Their debut recording, ''[[Urban Mythology Volume One]]'', was released in 2008.

In July 2008, Vernon Reid assembled a one-off solo band for his appearance at the [[G-TARanaki Guitar Festival]] in [[Taranaki Region|Taranaki]], [[New Zealand]], with keyboard player Jonathan Crayford, bassist Crete Haami and drummer [[Magesh]] Magesh. At the [[Puke Ariki]] "Midnight Session" concert, Vernon performed an all-star jam with [[Uli Jon Roth]], [[Gilby Clarke]] and [[Alex Skolnick]].

In 2008, Reid also played a series of Blue Note Club tribute concerts to the [[Tony Williams Lifetime]] in Japan with [[Jack Bruce]], [[Cindy Blackman]] and [[John Medeski]]. In June 2012 the collaboration released a self-titled album ''[[Spectrum Road]]'' on the US jazz record label [[Palmetto Records|Palmetto]]. This was accompanied by a series of dates at large jazz festivals in North America and Europe throughout June and July.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.northseajazz.com/en/program/2012/friday-6-july/15933-spectrum-road/|title=Spectrum Road &#124; NN North Sea Jazz Festival|website=Northseajazz.com|access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref>

In 2018, Reid signed with [[Mascot Label Group]]. He has an album slated for release in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mascot Label Group Celebrates Breakthrough Year |url=https://usa.mascotlabelgroup.com/Mascot-Label-Group-Celebrates-Breakthrough-Year |website=Mascot Label Group |access-date=12 July 2018}}</ref>

In 2023, Reid wrote an article titled "The Promise And Peril Of AI Music: What Have We Unleashed?<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Promise And Peril Of AI Music: What Have We Unleashed? |url=https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/383051/the-promise-and-peril-of-ai-music-what-have-we-un.html |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=www.mediapost.com |language=en}}</ref>" that was published by Media Post.

===An Underground Railroad of the Mind===
In 2017, Reid debuted his semi-monthly broadcast on the streaming radio station Home. His show, titled "An Underground Railroad of the Mind", features Reid playing vinyl records from his record collection.

==Personal life==
Reid resides in [[Staten Island]] with his wife [[Gabri Christa]], a choreographer and filmmaker, and their daughter born in 2003.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/31/nyregion/vernon-reid-savors-the-mellower-music-of-home.html|title=Savoring the Mellower Music of Home|work=The New York Times |date=30 March 2013 |access-date=10 November 2018|language=en|last1=Leland |first1=John }}</ref>

==Influences==
Reid has cited [[Miles Davis]], [[James Brown]], [[Jimi Hendrix]], [[Robert Fripp]], [[John Coltrane]], [[Frank Zappa]], [[Jeff Beck]], [[Carlos Santana]], [[Eddie Hazel]], [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]], [[Jimmy Page]], [[Eddie Van Halen]], and [[Dr. Know (guitarist)|Dr. Know]] among his influences.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/vernon-reid-mn0000268762/related|title=Vernon Reid &#124; Similar Artists|website=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref><ref>{{ cite web | access-date = 26 April 2017 | url = http://www.musiciansfriend.com/resources/article/Musicians-Friends-Artist-Spotlight-Exclusive-Interview-A-conversation-with-Vernon-Reid/m711046 | quote = [...] Robert Fripp is definitely another one who I would consider an influence. | title = Interview:Musician's Friend's Artist Spotlight Exclusive Interview- A conversation with Vernon Reid | publication-date = 27 July 2010 | website = Musiciansfriend.com }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Berndtson|first=Chad|date=5 October 2017|title=Interview: Living Colour Guitar Wizard Vernon Reid Talks 'Shade' & Worldwide Touring|url=https://www.jambase.com/article/interview-living-colour-guitar-wizard-vernon-reid-talks-shade-worldwide-touring|access-date=4 December 2020|website=Jambase}}</ref>

== Equipment ==
[[File:Vernon Reid.jpg|thumb|Reid in 2008]]
During the early years of Living Colour, Reid used a multi-colored [[ESP Guitars|ESP]] Mirage with [[EMG, Inc.|EMG]] pickups, and he was an endorser of the A/DA MP-1 preamp. During the mid-1980s, Reid commissioned a highly figured maple custom guitar from Vancouver-based luthier Martini Guitars.  This guitar was later acquired by Bob Wiseman, a founding member of the band Blue Rodeo.  In later years, Reid has used custom [[Hamer Guitars|Hamer guitars]], and started a relationship with [[Parker Guitars]], who built the ''DF824VR'' Vernon Reid signature model based on their ''Dragonfly'' design. it has EMG-X pickups in a [[Humbucker|H]] [[Single coil guitar pickup|SS]] layout with 5-way switching system, a [[Floyd Rose]] vibrato (a first for Parker), and a [[Roland Corporation|Roland]] GK divided pickup.
In 2016, he switched to [[PRS Guitars|PRS]] and was working on a signature model with them.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vernon Reid - PRS Guitars Featured Artist|url=https://www.prsguitars.com/index.php/artists/featured_artist/vernon_reid|access-date=4 March 2021|website=www.prsguitars.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mixdownmag.com.au/prs-unveil-vernon-reid-signature-guitar|title=PRS Unveil Vernon Reid Signature Guitar|website=Mixdownmag.com.au|date=9 August 2017 |language=en|access-date=9 February 2019}}</ref> The result is the PRS S2 VR Vela.
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prsguitars.com/index.php/news/story/introducing_the_prs_s2_vr_vela|title=Introducing the PRS S2 VR Vela|website=Prsguitars.com}}</ref>

ESP Released the 86-run limited edition Cult '86 based on the original used on "[[Cult of Personality (song)|Cult of Personality]]."
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espguitars.com/articles/2004996-vernon-reid-on-the-ltd-cult-86|title=Vernon Reid on the LTD Cult '86|website=Espguitars.com|date=16 January 2017 }}</ref>

==Selected discography==
===With Living Colour===
{{main article|Living Colour discography}}

===With Masque===
* ''[[Mistaken Identity (Vernon Reid album)|Mistaken Identity]]'' (Sony, 1996)
* ''[[Known Unknown (album)|Known Unknown]]'' (Sony, 2004)
* ''[[Other True Self]]'' (2006)

===With Yohimbe Brothers===
* ''[[Front End Lifter]]'' (2002)
* ''[[The Tao of Yo]]'' (2004)

===Obscure and/or unreleased===
* ''This Little Room'' (Sony, 2000)

===In collaboration===
* With [[Bill Frisell]]: ''[[Smash & Scatteration]]'' (Minor Music, 1984)
* With [[Elliott Sharp]] and [[David Torn]]: ''[[GTR OBLQ]]'' (1998)
* With [[Melvin Gibbs]]/[[Mary Halvorson]]/[[Lee Ranaldo]]/Vernon Reid/[[Elliott Sharp]] ''[[Christian Marclay]]: [[Graffiti Composition]]'' (2010; [[Dog w/ a Bone Records]])<ref name="AllMusic Bio1 Melvin Gibbs">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p79805|title=Biography of Melvin Gibbs|last=Layne|first=Joslyn|year=2012|work=Allmusic Biography of Melvin Gibbs|publisher=Rovi Corporation|access-date=6 January 2012}}</ref>
* With [[Jack Bruce]], [[John Medeski]] and [[Cindy Blackman Santana]]: ''[[Spectrum Road]]'' (2012)
*''With The Big Ol' Nasty Getdown. Appears on 'Creatures of Habit' (Featuring [[Angelo Moore]]) from The Big Ol' Nasty Getdown 'Volume 2' (2017) <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/05/arts/music/playlist-justin-timberlake-bruno-mars-kendrick-lamar.html | title=The Playlist: Justin Timberlake Stays Funky (For Now), and 9 More New Songs | work=The New York Times | date=5 January 2018 | last1=Pareles | first1=Jon | last2=Caramanica | first2=Jon | last3=Russonello | first3=Giovanni }}</ref>
'''With Free Form Funky Freqs'''
*''[[Urban Mythology Volume One]]'' (2008)
*''Bon Vivant'' (2013)
*''[[Hymn of the 3rd Galaxy]]'' (Ropeadope, 2022)

===As sideman===
{{div col}}
'''With [[Geri Allen]]'''
*''[[The Gathering (Geri Allen album)|The Gathering]]'' (Verve, 1998)

'''With [[Cindy Blackman Santana|Cindy Blackman]]'''
* ''[[Another Lifetime (album)|Another Lifetime]]'' (4Q, 2010)

'''With [[Jack Bruce]]'''
*''[[More Jack than God]]'' (Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., 2003)

'''With [[Tracy Chapman]]'''
* ''[[Matters of the Heart (Tracy Chapman album)|Matters of the Heart]]'' (Elektra Records, 1992)

'''With [[Jay Hoggard]]'''
*''Riverside Dance'' (India Navigation, 1985)

'''With [[Whitney Houston]]'''
*''[[The Bodyguard (soundtrack)|The Bodyguard]]'' (Arista Records, 1992)

'''With [[Ronald Shannon Jackson]] and the Decoding Society'''
*''[[Mandance]]'' (Antilles, 1982)
*''[[Barbeque Dog]]'' (Antilles, 1983)
*''Montreux Jazz Festival'' (Knit Classics, 1983)
*''[[Decode Yourself]]'' (Island, 1985)

'''With [[Mick Jagger]]'''
* ''[[Primitive Cool]]'' (Columbia Records, 1987)

'''With [[Garland Jeffreys]]'''
* ''[[Don't Call Me Buckwheat]]'' (RCA Records, 1991)

'''With [[K'naan]]'''
* ''[[Troubadour (K'naan album)|Troubadour]]'' (A&M, 2009)

'''With [[Public Enemy]]'''
* ''[[Yo! Bum Rush the Show]]'' (Def Jam, 1987)

'''With [[DJ Spooky]] and [[Dave Lombardo]]'''
* ''[[Drums of Death (album)|Drums of Death]]'' (Thirsty Ear, 2005)

'''With Mitch Winston and the Band of Natural Selection'''
* ''Right Back'' (2002)
{{div col end}}

==Media appearances==
* ''Cyberpunk'' (1990)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0398910/|title=''Cyberpunk'' (Video 1990)|website=IMDb.com|access-date=21 July 2021}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.facebook.com/vernonreid Vernon Reid] at [[Facebook]]
* [http://www.recordproduction.com/fenix-recording-studios.html Vernon Reid video interview]
* [http://bombsite.com/issues/43/articles/1654 Tracie Morris, Vernon Reid interview], ''BOMB'' 43/Spring 1993
*[https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/vernon-reid Vernon Reid Interview] at [[NAMM Oral History Program|NAMM Oral History Collection]] (2016)
{{Living Colour}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reid, Vernon}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American rock guitarists]]
[[Category:American lead guitarists]]
[[Category:Alternative metal guitarists]]
[[Category:American heavy metal guitarists]]
[[Category:American people of Montserratian descent]]
[[Category:English people of Montserratian descent]]
[[Category:British emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Living Colour members]]
[[Category:New York University alumni]]
[[Category:Musicians from Staten Island]]
[[Category:550 Music artists]]
[[Category:Brooklyn Technical High School alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:Thirsty Ear Recordings artists]]
[[Category:Ropeadope Records artists]]
[[Category:Knitting Factory Records artists]]
[[Category:African-American rock musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American musicians]]
[[Category:Black British rock musicians]]
[[Category:Musicians from London]]