The members of Ohio’s String Therapy are mourning the loss of their founder and mandolinist. Jim Reed, age 47, passed away on January 3, 2014, in Shelbyville, KY.
Jim not only served as mandolinist with String Therapy for the past 15 years, he was also a founding member of the Musicians Against Childhood Cancer (MACC) bluegrass festival in Columbus, OH. The festival was a passion for he and his wife, Lisa, who together ran the artist hospitality area at the MACC each year.
Prior to String Therapy, Reed was involved in the founding of Three Fox Drive.
Though known primarily for his mandolin playing, Josh Click, bass player with String Therapy, recalls Jim as all-around master picker.
“Jim was well known as a mandolin player, but could play anything with strings and make it sing.
He was raised in Lake Worth, FL and got his start in bluegrass with his mother’s band where he was featured on just about every instrument in the band. I often remember Jim telling the story of him standing on a milk crate and playing upright in his mother’s bluegrass band as a young child.
This is an extremely tough loss for his family and friends.”
Click also mentioned that the band was in the process of recording a new project when Jim passed
“We do plan to finish it, when the time is right, in Jim’s honor.”
Outside of bluegrass, Jim was general manager and partner in O’Brien Ford of Shelbyville, KY. He is survived by his loving wife of 27 years, Lisa Reed, son Jesse Reed (Columbus, OH) and daughter Allison Reed (Huntington, WV).
The Reed family suggests that remembrances and expressions of sympathy be made as donations to Musicians Against Childhood Cancer, benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital:
MACC
1434 S 3B’s and K Road
Galena, OH 43021
R.I.P., Jim Reed.
