Reeves was born in Sparta, North Carolina, in July 1932 , United States, the youngest of 11 children.

[3] While his older brothers served in World War II, Reeves learned how to play their musical instruments.

[2] By age 12, Reeves began performing on the Merry Go Round Show on local radio station WPAQ.

[4] After completing his military service, Reeves began performing regularly on Chester Smith's radio show on Modesto station KTRB around 1955.

[2] Moving to Nashville in 1962, Reeves and wife Ellen Schiell co-wrote "Sing a Little Song of Heartache", a top five hit for Rose Maddox that year.

His career declined in the mid-1970s, and then started to slowly move away from country music, although he recorded some duets with Billie Jo Spears in 1976.