Sheldon Reynolds R.I.P.

[Roburt]

Ohio funk / soul guitar player Sheldon Reynolds has passed. . . . R.I.P. 

He was a member of Sun, the Commodores + E,W & F down the years ... he also worked in conjunction with Al Boyd @ Motown for a short period ...   

SUN  --  Give Your Love To Me    ... www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2vtNEY8GZo  

For UK soul fans, his work was never really more high profile than the March 76 release of the 1st UK Sun 45. This was coupled in the 3 x 45 demo package put together by EMI as their CAPITOL SOUL PROJECT release ... this 45 being teamed with a Tavares single & Barrett Strong's "Man Up In The Sky" 45 in a special promo package..

Edited May 24, 2023 by Roburt

[Guest]

Hi Roburt,

Thanks for highlighting Sheldon Reynolds' passing but you have under represented his legacy. My soul mates in London in the 80s/ 90s would certainly have known of his work as he was a lead guitarist and vocalist with later versions of Earth, Wind & Fire. In fact he was one of the top funk guitarists of his generation as witnessed here (from 4;20).

 

[Roburt]

I did make mention of his stint with E,W & F.

He was certainly on the radar of every UK funk fan, but not so much with the NS, MS crowds.

Edited May 25, 2023 by Roburt

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Roburt said:

I did make mention of his stint with E,W & F.

He was certainly on the radar of every UK funk fan, but not so much with the NS, MS crowds.

Strange how his numerous obituaries today including one on the radio this afternoon haven't mentioned his contribution to the first Sun 45 . I doubt Sheldon was featured as he'd only have been fifteen or sixteen.  Incidentally his 'stint' with Earth, Wind & Fire' lasted seventeen years or so. 

Edited May 25, 2023 by Dukeofburgundy
Additional information.

[Roburt]

I wouldn't be too sure that Sheldon wasn't involved with the group at the age of 15 / 16.

He was a bit of a guitar prodigy, in the same way that George Benson was.

In George's case, he had gone professional at age 10 and already had a music manager / booking agent (1953). Shortly after this in 1957 (so aged 14), he joined his first group, the Altairs. They cut a track with Anne Keith in 1958 which was released on Memo. In 1959, with George now in charge of the group (& their lead vocalist), they cut some tracks in their own right & had a 45 out on Amy. One of the tracks they cut (for Otis Blackwell) was the first recorded version of "Return To Sender". So, at age 16 George was a group leader & fully fledged recording artist. In 1960, he went solo and started forging his own music career.

I'm sure Sheldon was equally capable.