Blind Alfred Reed (June 15, 1880 – January 17, 1956) was an American folk, country, and old-time musician and singer-songwriter.
[nb 1] He was raised in a very conservative family, the son of a farm laborer, and he acquired a violin at a young age.
After the Bristol Sessions, Reed kept recording until 1929, which was the year of his most famous song's release "How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?".
[nb 1] Reed continued to perform locally until 1937 when a statute was passed prohibiting blind street musicians.
[nb 4] In addition to being recording artist and a musician, he also served as a lay preacher Methodist church minister.