Theodore Samuel Reig (November 23, 1918 – September 29, 1984) was a self-described "jazz hustler" who worked as a record producer, A&R man, promoter, and artist manager from the 1940s through the 1970s.

After leaving school without a diploma, he began hanging out at New York ballrooms, jazz clubs, and music hot spots, ingratiating himself with musicians, managers, and impresarios.

[1] Jazz historian Patrick Burke wrote that Reig "initially earned his club-going money with schemes such as selling worn-out records that had been doctored with shoe polish to look brand new.

"[4] "Eventually, he was given small jobs, like placing signs announcing a gig," wrote jazz historian Richard Carlin.

"[5] Jazz critic Leonard Weinreich wrote that "Reig lumbered around Harlem’s demimonde like a small mountain permanently enveloped in its own ganja mist.

In 1945, Reig, who was familiar with all the groundbreaking beboppers on the New York scene, made a deal with Lubinsky to produce jazz recordings for the label.

He also produced recordings by Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan, Don Byas, Erroll Garner, Dexter Gordon, J.J. Johnson, Lester Young, Johnny Smith, Bud Powell, Quincy Jones, Redd Foxx, Sonny Stitt, Lee Morgan, Maynard Ferguson, and countless others.

Parker had been performing in New York for several years prior, and he'd done a handful of sessions as a sideman, but due to a recording ban that lasted from 1942–44, his bebop stylings had largely gone unrecorded and were unknown outside the jazz club circuit.

[9] Dave Gelly, at Jazz Journal, wrote that "Savoy’s producer, Teddy Reig, had his work cut out assembling the musicians, paying them cash-in-hand, dealing with the union and turning out four masters per session.

Listen to anybody: Ben [Webster], Hawk [Coleman Hawkins], Lester [Young], and you'll hear the personality of the artist come through.

He also produced releases on Continental, Reprise, Mercury, Duke, United Artists, Command, ABC-Paramount, Brunswick, Dot, and Tico.

While handling A&R for Roulette Records, Reig guided the Count Basie orchestra through its most prolific and popular period.

[8] He produced recordings by Willie Bobo, Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, Machito, Eddie Palmieri, and Ruth Fernandez.

[12] He is credited with discovering and furthering the career of saxophonist Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams,[13] all of whose Savoy sides Reig produced.

[14] In 1955 Reig was instrumental in helping sign an obscure St. Louis-based R&B singer named Chuck Berry to his first agency booking contract.

Reig's management roster included Count Basie, Erroll Garner, guitarist Johnny Smith, Paul Williams, The Solitaires, and others.

"The only time I saw Teddy scared was when we were mixing the Basie Beatles album out in California at the TTG Studios," recalled MGM-Verve producer Peter Spargo.