Alto Reed, Longtime Bob Seger Saxophonist, Dies at 72
Alto Reed, longtime saxophonist for Bob Seger s Silver Bullet Band, has passed away from colon cancer. He was 72. Our hearts are deeply broken by this enormous loss, but also filled with gratitude as we reflect on his legacy and how incredibly lucky we ve been to get to call such a special guy, dad, Seger and Reed s daughters said in an official statement provided by Seger s publicist. He led an extraordinary life, marked by passion, determination, and dreams come true – an action-packed adventure filled top to bottom with love, magic, dear friends, family, and unspeakable joys. The stuff of legends, really.
Detroit musician Alto Reed, best known as the saxophone player in Bob Seger s band, died Wednesday at age 72 after battling stage four colon cancer.
His musicality and woodwind chops are forever part of rock and roll history with his contributions to songs such as Old Time Rock and Roll and Turn the Page. The saxophonist also is remembered for the electric showmanship he brought to the Silver Bullet Band s live concerts, most notably, Live Bullet at Cobo Hall in 1975. Alto has been a part of our musical family, on and off stage, for nearly 50 years, said Seger in a statement issued Wednesday. I first starting playing with Alto in 1971. He was amazing he could play just about anything … he was funky, could scat and play tenor sax and alto sax at the same time.
Alto Reed, saxophone player and longtime bandmate of Bob Seger, dies at 72
Posted at 1:22 PM, Dec 30, 2020
and last updated 2020-12-31 12:21:39-05
Alto Reed, a saxophone player who was a longtime member of Bob Seger s Silver Bullet Band, has died at 72 years old after a battle with colon cancer.
Bob Seger posted a tribute to his longtime bandmate on his Facebook page this afternoon:
Reed was born in Detroit and part of Seger s Silver Bullet Band since its inception, according to a news release from Plan A Media. I loved him like a brother, Seger said in a statement. I may have been the leader, but he was our rock star. He was the audience favorite, hands down. He was bold, and worldly. I learned so much from the guy. And he was a great ambassador to the fans. He took time for everybody, any picture, anywhere. I can t say enough good things about him.
Bob Seger remembers longtime bandmate Alto Reed, dead at 72: ‘He was funky, could scat’
Updated Dec 30, 2020;
Posted Dec 30, 2020
Musician Alto Reed passed away on Wednesday, December 30, 2020 after a battle with colon cancer. (Photo by Chris Clark | MLive)
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Bob Seger is remembering his lifelong friend and bandmate, Alto Reed, who has passed away at the age of 72 after battling colon cancer. Reed, a Detroit native, was the saxophonist for the Silver Bullet Band for nearly 50 years.
“Under the light of the full moon and surrounded by family at home, our beautiful father passed gently on to the next realm,” the family said in a statement. “Our hearts are deeply broken by this enormous loss, but also filled with gratitude as we reflect on his legacy and how incredibly lucky we’ve been to get to call such a special guy, dad. He lead an extraordinary life, marked by passion, determination, and dreams come true; an action packed adventure filled top to bot
Tom Hill/WireImage
Bob Seger performs with saxophonist Alto Reed at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium on Aug. 29, 1976, in Atlanta.
Alto Reed, the longtime saxophonist for Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, died Wednesday (Dec. 30) after a long battle with colon cancer. He was 72. It is with a heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of our lifelong friend and band mate, Alto Reed, Seger wrote in a social media tribute to his former bandmate. Alto has been a part of our musical family, on and off stage, for nearly 50 years.
Born Thomas Neal Cartmell on May 16, 1948, the gifted Detroit musician began playing with Seger in 1971 before joining the Silver Bullet Band three years later. He s widely recognized for his saxophone solo in Turn the Page from the band s