Biography
Alto Reed, a Detroit native, established his reputation through decades as the primary saxophonist for Bob Seger's Silver Bullet Band. He became a member in 1972, contributing his distinctive solos to Seger staples including "Turn the Page," "Horizontal Bop," and "Main Street." Beyond his Seger collaborations, Reed lent his talents to recordings by other artists, ranging from fellow Michigan group Grand Funk Railroad to figures such as Robin Gibb, Foghat, and Little Feat. In later years, Reed issued a pair of solo albums blending jazz and rock elements and composed the music for Jeff Daniels' movie Escanaba in Da Moonlight. Born as Thomas Neal Cartmell, Reed's early years involved guitar playing, choir participation, and eventual focus on saxophone as his principal instrument. Following his completion of studies at a California music college, he connected with Bob Seger, another Detroit resident, leading to the creation of the Silver Bullet Band in 1972. Reed's saxophone work defined the Silver Bullet Band's style across the 1970s and 1980s, appearing on prominent tracks such as "Turn the Page" and "Main Street." While devoted mainly to the Silver Bullet Band, Reed also took on scattered session performances and production roles. Reed launched a solo endeavor in the late 1990s alongside his band commitments, choosing to pursue modern jazz fusion rather than intense rock music. His first solo effort, Cool Breeze, arrived toward the end of 1997 and incorporated elements of pop, rock, and R&B within a jazz framework. The year 1999 saw Reed chosen to provide the score for the cinematic adaptation of Jeff Daniels' Escanaba in Da Moonlight. Reed participated in Seger's 2019 tour, which the Detroit rock figure declared as his concluding series of live performances. This engagement marked one of Reed's last undertakings, as he passed away on December 30, 2020, aged 72, due to colon cancer.
Albums
