Reed is no late comer to the most original of all American music. Growing up in Rialto, CA, he picked up a guitar in the early sixties when the blues revival of that era began. He started his professional career with Bacon Fat, one of the landmark blues bands of the 60’s and 70’s. Featuring harmonica great George Smith and a young Rod Piazza, with Buddy on lead guitar and vocals, the band quickly became one of the hottest blues acts in the Los Angeles area.

Bacon Fat eventually came under the tutelage of producer Mike Vernon, who at the time was making records with Fleetwood Mac, Otis Spann, Johnny Young, and Eddie Boyd. After embarking on a successful tour of England, Vernon and the band entered the studio and cut material for five LP’s on the British labels Blue Horizon and London.

From 1969 to 1972, Buddy and the band toured the U.S. with George Smith and Big Mama Thornton. When not on the road, the band worked regularly throughout Southern California playing with Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, J B Hutto, John Mayall, Jimmy Reed, John Hammond Jr., Jimmy Rogers, Margie Evans, Howlin Wolf, T-Bone Walker, Pee Wee Crayton, and Johnny Otis. Buddy left Bacon Fat in the early seventies to join Little Richard’s touring band.