Jody Reynolds had
a million-seller in 1958 with "Endless Sleep." The
single became a forerunner of death rock classics such as
"Tell Laura I Love Her" from Ray Peterson and "Teen
Angel" by Mark Dinning. Reynolds charted for the last
time that same year with a number titled "Fire of Love."
Despite the lack of a string of chart successes, his one big
seller was enough to ensure Reynolds' membership in the Rockabilly
Hall of Fame, which inducted him in 1999. In conjunction with
the honor, Tru Gems Records issued a double-CD set of Reynolds'
recordings, featuring guest performances by Bobbie Gentry,
Jimmy Bryant, and others.
Reynolds was born in Colorado in 1932, but he was raised in
Oklahoma. He learned how to play guitar during his early teen
years, when he gravitated to the Western swing sounds of Hank
Thompson, Bob Wills, and Eddy Arnold. In 1952, he founded
a group called the Storms. Within three years, he was in Texas,
where he played rockabilly, caught Roy Orbison's live act,
and enjoyed the music of such performers as Carl Perkins and
Elvis Presley.
Herb Montei, a Hollywood music publisher, turned
down Reynolds when he heard his first demo submissions. After
hearing "Endless Sleep," however, Montei agreed
to manage the young rockabilly singer and he arranged for
Reynolds to record the song for Demon Records. Reynolds had
written the song in a single afternoon in 1956 in Yuma, AZ.
Some of Reynolds' songs, including "Endless Sleep,"
give a writing credit to Dolores Nance, but the name is a
pseudonym that Reynolds used.
Reynolds and the Storms later recorded a honky
tonk sounding instrumental, "Thunder," for Indigo.
The flip side was "Tarantula." Reynolds also released
"Stormy" on Smash Records, which was backed by "Don't
Jump." For Brent, he recorded "Raggedy Ann,"
which was produced by Alan Freed. "Fire of Love"
has been featured in a few films, including Doctor Chance
in France.
Reynolds remained with the Storms throughout
the 1960s. He left the limelight during the 1970s. He settled
in Palm Springs, CA, where he sells real estate. ~ Linda
Seida, All Music Guide
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