Blind Alfred Reed

Blind Alfred Reed was born in 1887 in Danville, Virginia, and lost his sight at age four. He learned to play guitar and harmonica, and by the 1920s he was recording for Columbia Records. His voice had a rough, direct quality that suited the material he sang.

In 1931, during the Great Depression, he recorded "How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times And Live." The song gave plain-spoken voice to the hardship people were facing, and it became one of his best-known recordings. He worked with other musicians like Dicey Howard on guitar and Sam Butler on harmonica.

Reed's personal life had difficulties, including allegations of domestic violence and substance abuse. He died in 1954. Later collections like "Complete Recorded Works" (1972) helped preserve his music, and artists including Bob Dylan have covered his songs.