Eli "Paperboy" Reed announces Benelux shows in May and June

A soul-blues revivalist who isn't strictly a traditionalist, Eli "Paperboy" Reed synthesized several strands of 1960s soul, marrying gritty Southern funk with gutsy Chicago blues. Although his 2008 breakthrough Roll with You was thoroughly steeped in retro sounds, a pair of major-label records -- 2010's Come and Get It! and 2014's Nights Like This -- proved that he could thread in such relatively modern elements as drum loops, and on 2019's 99 Cent Dreams, he invited rapper Big Daddy Kane in for a verse. Such stylistic hybrids were a common theme in his catalog, also appearing on Down Every Road, his soulful tribute to country legend Merle Haggard.

Growing up in Brookline, Massachusetts, Eli Reed was exposed to a variety of music. His father was a critic and lent his extensive record collection to his son, who soaked up as much as he could, gravitating toward gospel, soul, blues, and R&B albums. Teaching himself piano, guitar, and harmonica and busking in Harvard Square to practice his chops and performing skills, he found work in Clarksdale, Mississippi after finishing high school. Upon his arrival, however, he found that his job had fallen through, so he introduced himself to Clarksdale's music community, playing frequently at local clubs and even ending up under the tutelage of drummer Sam Carr.

It was in Mississippi that Reed also got his nickname, "Paperboy," thanks to the newsboy-styled hat he was wearing at the time, but after nine months, he moved north to attend the University of Chicago at his parents' behest. In Chicago, Reed met soul singer Mitty Collier, who'd had a hit in 1964 with the single "I Had a Talk with My Man" but had since turned to ministry. The young musician impressed her so much -- he auditioned on the piano in his dormitory -- that she asked him to be the Minister of Music at her church.

Starting in 2013 Reed began teaching at an after-school music education based in Harlem called for Gospel for Teens during his breaks from touring. The program worked with at-risk youth from around the New York City area and Reed specifically began teaching these young men about Gospel Quartet music, its history and harmony. Out of those classes emerged a new project that Reed dubbed The Harlem Gospel Travelers. He produced, arranged and played guitar on their debut album which came out on the revered soul label Colemine records in 2019 to rave reviews. Now The Harlem Gospel Travelers are at work on their second full-length and have begun conquering festival stages as well. 

Parenthood gave Reed a newfound wisdom and self-reflection. His daughter Stella was born in 2016 and son Oscar in 2019. With that in mind he returned to the south to record his 7th full-length “99 Cent Dreams” at the legendary Sam Phillips Recording studio in Memphis, TN. This time around he was joined by Soul legends The Masqueraders on background vocals. Now approaching the 15-year mark in his career and finishing up his 8th album, Reed has improbably become an elder statesman of the genre, and he’s begun seeing new artists who are taking inspiration from his unique sound. A sound that, over everything else, prizes feeling, energy, and, yes, Soul. 

Go see Eli "Paperboy" Reed this in May:

01/05: Lessines, BE - Roots & Roses 
02/05: Den Haag, NL - Paard
03/05: Ospel, NL - Moulin Blues
08/06: Oud-Turnhout, BE - Goezot 't in Hofke
09/06: Raalte, NL - Ribs n Blues