It is with great disappointment and deep regrets i have to inform you of the passing of such a prolific organist on Christmas Eve 2022
Mr MIKE REED
Mike played the Hammond organ and not a Lowrey, but his playing was second to none, a superb organist and musician with a great talent and will be sadly missed. Fortunately for us his music lives on, as he made a lot of videos on YouTube nearly everyday for a number of years, and his music can be found here.
https://www.youtube.com/@mikereed3444/videos
Below is probably his last video he ever made, and talks about his illness, God bless you Mike you will be sadly missed
Here is how mike describes himself and his music.
I am an Organist…..I hope you enjoy my music….. the Hammond Organ truly is “Music’s most glorious Voice”. I have recorded three albums, “Make it with Mike”, “I believe in Music”, and “My Way” on my Hammond B-3; [the organ in the videos is my home organ, a 1974 Hammond Grandee with a model 700 Leslie speaker] I love this sound ! I am a semi-retired Entertainer and Music Education Specialist. I hold a BME, MTh, and MSM in Music and Theology. Thank God for the Gift of Music and a wonderful family. “Soli Deo Gloria”. My music is inspired by my wonderful wife, our children, and our granddaughters.
A Celebration of Life – Mike Reed
I have been appreciating MIke’s YouTube videos for some time, and was concerned when I saw the one where he said he was ill, then the later one where he said he had pneumonia. I kept hoping there would be more news about him getting better, but I just learned today that he had passed away. I’m thankful for the gift he left us of so many wonderful musical videos. He must have been a very remarkable fellow. My degrees are in Music History, but I love all kinds of music, and I certainly enjoyed Mike’s wonderful arrangements. As many have said, he will truly be missed. My condolences to his family. Mike was a treasure!
I have just leant of the death of Mike Reed. I am very much saddened for I enjoyed his playing so much…..a great musical loss….I saw the piece where he said he had pneumonia. God bless Mike.
I have watched Mike’s videos for many years and am saddened by his death.
I took up the organ in the 70s and played it for about 20 years. Mike was the artist that I could never become.
Heaven now benefits from his talent.
And, the world will continue to benefit from his videos.
I was saddened to hear of Mike’s passing. Thank God that his videos will live on. He is a master on the Hammond and I especially liked his foot work.
Wish I had met the man.
My mother and I are extremely saddened to hear of Mike’s passing. He truly had a wonderful talent; I’ve never heard another organist play the way he played. My mother has a Hammond organ from the early 70’s; I started music lessons on the organ and have fond memories. She and I enjoy listening to Mike’s music all the time.
I was searching YouTube for a good version of the impossibly catchy jazz piece, “Robbins Nest,” and came upon Mike Reed’s video. It’s a wonderful song. Songs can live or die according to the quality of their bridges, and the bridge in “Robbins Nest” could not have been deadlier to anyone who hoped not to develop a lifelong dependence on that joyous song.
I did a bit of scrolling, watched the disturbing video in which Mr Reed talked about his pneumonia, then found just after it the announcement that he had died. As sad as that made me, seeing his announcement, “Soli Deo Gloria,” just now exhilarated me. I know that this man, who had such a large talent and such obvious relish in using it, is with The Lord Jesus Christ and with another fellow with a fine way with a keyboard, J.S. Bach.
I have enjoyed Mike’s videos for years. Truly a master of the Hammond. I loved his song selections, too!
Just discovered Mike’s channel yesterday, and today read his passing. So much videos to watch and listen, his music speaks for his character : kindness, humanity, simplicity. So long, Mike, love you.