[3] Reed influenced many other musicians, including Elvis Presley, Hank Williams Jr., Neil Young, and the Rolling Stones, who recorded his songs.

[4] Music critic Cub Koda describes him as "perhaps the most influential bluesman of all," due to his easily accessible style.

[1] He was discharged in 1945 and returned briefly to Mississippi,[1] marrying his girlfriend, Mary (henceforth known as Mama Reed).

[4] When Vee-Jay Records closed, his manager signed a contract with the fledgling ABC-Bluesway label, but Reed never produced another hit.

[12] The Yardbirds recorded "I Ain't Got You" for the B-side of their second single "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" with guitarist Eric Clapton.

[13] With Jeff Beck, they recorded the Reed-inspired instrumental "Like Jimmy Reed Again", which was released on a reissue of their album Having a Rave Up.

[14] The Animals considered Reed one of their main sources of inspiration and recorded versions of "I Ain't Got You" and "Bright Lights, Big City".

[16] "Big Boss Man", sung by Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, was regularly performed by the Grateful Dead in the 1960s and early 1970s and appears on their live album Grateful Dead[17] Elvis Presley recorded several of Reed's songs, having a hit with "Big Boss Man" in 1967 and recording several performances of "Baby, What You Want Me to Do" for his 1968 TV program.